Caspar Fownes is hoping that Dubai will come knocking after Domineer dominated his rivals to win tonight’s (24 February) feature, the Happy Valley Trophy (Handicap) over 1200m, at Hong Kong’s city track.
“He’s done his job and now we’ll see if we get an invite for the Dubai Golden Shaheen and if we do I’ll take him,” said Fownes. “He was entered so we’ll see what happens.”
Five of Domineer’s seven Hong Kong wins have come at Happy Valley – the other two on Sha Tin’s all-weather track – including this same Class 1 contest last season, and the Shamardal gelding made light of top-weight, as well as a seven point increase in his rating from that previous success, to score by an easy two lengths in a time of 1m 09.87s.
Jockey Zac Purton parked Domineer in the box seat behind the pace-setting Pablosky, switched out at the top of the stretch and punched the six-year-old clear for a comfortable win. Mr Genuine ran on to mug Pablosky for second.
“I’m delighted with that, it’s great to come back carrying top-weight and win it again. He’s a nice dirt horse and he’s a very good Happy Valley horse but we’ve run out of options now,” said Fownes.
“I’d like to see him race ante-clockwise because he always has a tendency to hang, so going the other direction (in Dubai) might be alright, he should appreciate that. He’s a big, strong horse and it was a good effort. He won convincingly today, carrying 133lb.”
The night’s other Class 1 contest, the Shan Kwong Handicap (1650m), went to the Tony Millard-trained Horse Of Fortune. That success was leg two of a quick-fire double for jockey Karis Teetan who was little more than a passenger aboard the impressive Mr Stunning in the preceding Class 4 Village Handicap (1200m). The John Size-trained three-year-old made it two from two in emphatic style, enhancing his reputation as one of Hong Kong’s most exciting young horses. The Exceed And Excel gelding was hard on the bridle as he passed the post for a two and three-quarter lengths verdict under top-weight of 133lb.
