There was little drama at the official barrier selection for the G1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday with connections’ reactions ranging from pleased to no worse than satisfied.
Photo by HKJC
John Size was smiling before he ascended the stage to open the envelope revealing gate 2 as the berth from which likely race favourite Glorious Days will break on Sunday – fate had already decreed his lot, as his charge was the last horse to be drawn.
“His last few starts he’s been hitting the gates pretty well and able to put himself up on the speed or pretty close to the lead off a good gate,” said the trainer afterwards.
New Zealand’s King Mufhasa looked good as he galloped on the turf just prior to the draw and his connections were even more pleased after the 10-time G1 winner drew gate six.
“Happy with that,” said jockey Michael Rodd. “The wider the better for him as I prefer to let him find his rhythm early rather than have to bustle him from an inside gate”
Trainer Bruce Wallace concurred: “Six is fine. He's an up-front runner but he is adaptable with a high cruising speed and from that draw Michael (Rodd) can be assessing those inside him and those outside. I'm confident of a good run.”
Nick Bradley, co-owner of Penitent under the Middleham Park Racing XVII banner, was content enough after the British raider was drawn in eight.
“We'd have preferred to draw lower but hopefully eight is no real problem in the small field,” he commented.
“He's flexible, he can go forward or back. A bit of rain would be ideal. The softer the better for him.”
Caspar Fownes seems to fare badly at these draw ceremonies and sure enough Packing Whiz drew widest of all in 10, but jockey Brett Prebble viewed that as being in no way detrimental to the five-year-old’s chances.
“I’m happy with the draw,” said the gelding’s big-race rider. “He’s going to sit last – I remember Bullish Luck, he’s the same sort of horse, it doesn’t matter if you draw one or 14 you’re going to be in the same position.”
Gold-Fun is the sole representative from the four-year-old crop and trainer Richard Gibson is “looking forward to the race on Sunday” after the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile winner drew gate 7.
“He raced well in the Derby and he trialled okay the other day and he’s come on from that,” said the Englishman.
“We thought after the Derby (2000m) we were always going to go back to a mile with blinkers and that’s where we are today. I think with only 10 runners, on this mile course, the draw’s not very important.”
Xtension is aiming for a third straight win in the race and will break from gate 5 while stablemate Dan Excel has drawn the inside gate.
“From gate one Dan Excel can get a softer run than he's often had and that could be a real plus. Weichong (Marwing) is confident he can win. The horse has never been better and he'll run well.
“Tom Berry reported that Xtension’s work was fantastic this morning. He said the horse is well-balanced and he’s got great character for a full horse.
"Given the right draw, which he’s got, where he can get cover for once instead of the jockey having to use him to get across and take a lot of gas out of him, the fact is that now he’s going to have a cushy run in behind.
"He’s got a world-class jockey in James McDonald riding him and if he can bring his a-game to the track at the weekend, he’s a live chance of winning it again.”
Pure Champion, trained by Tony Cruz, has drawn gate 9; the Moore-trained Admiration will break from three and Helene Spirit from the Fownes stable is to that horse’s outside in four.
