Champion Hong Kong trainer John Moore will have a strong hand with three runners in Sunday's CXMile to be held on International raceday namely Xtension, Destined For Glory and Able One.
“Xtension has done everything right in all his lead up races, even from the wide gate the other day – he has had a perfect preparation. He has been at his peak for his last two races and I couldn't get him any fitter. From a good gate, he will be one of the horses to beat,” said Moore.
Meanwhile Destined For Glory is the dark horse in the race according to Moore.
“He has proved his ability to mix it at the very highest level and given the same sort of run as when he won the Group 2 (CX Jockey Club Mile) the other day, you would have to say he has an each-way chance. He has a tendency to sweat up, which is typical of Azamour's, so we will have to see how he handles the day.”
Stable stalwart Able One put in a very good performance first up this season and then second up was lacklustre in a funny run race, reflected Moore.
“ He can be forgiven that performance. If he's allowed to dictate in front, he's always a danger when getting away with cheap sectionals and then finishing strong to the line.”
“Able One is not yet showing his age – he has very few miles on the clock and is very well at the moment. He galloped Monday morning and his rider reported that he felt in fabulous shape”
Local sprint champion, the Ricky Yiu-trained Sacred Kingdom who will contest the CXSprint has done everything right for Sunday's assignment according to his trainer.
“Sacred Kingdom is as good as I can get him. I've been really happy with these last two weeks of preparation and now it depends on how well he holds his condition. I've kept him fresh, he's a good horse and we will find out on Sunday if he's as good as he was. The race is like last year with similar competitors.
Sacred Kingdom has already won the CX Sprint twice previously (2007/2009) and a win on Sunday would see his name written into the Honk Kong racing record books.
In other news, locals California Memory (Cup), Pure Champion (Cup) and Beauty Flash (Mile) continue to impress their trainer Tony Cruz.
“It was very disappointing last time that California Memory never got a clear run at all in the international trial (The CX Jockey Club Cup),” said Cruz.
“He came back with a few minor injuries too but they were nothing to worry about, just little bumps as he tried to come between horses, and they've all cleared up now. He's a very easy horse to train and he's done very well since that race. He should be right this time. He'll be taken back as usual and we'll just have to hope the gaps come for him.”
Cruz was also optimistic about the chances of his other Cup runner Pure Champion who ran second by a neck to Thumbs Up in that same race.
“He may have had an excuse too because Dougie (Whyte) thought he might have made his run a bit too early. I reckon he'll be better off now ridden with a bit more patience.”
“He's had his problems which is why he's taken a while to find his form in Hong Kong.”
“First he had such bad quarter cracks on his hind feet that required us to sedate him to get him shod. Then he had a constant mucous problem, but he's over all that now and he's a much improved horse this year.”
Speaking of his defending CX Mile hope Beauty Flash, Cruz said last year's winner had some little joint problems for the first time in his life which may be why he hasn't quite hit form yet this season, but he wasn't far behind the winner in his trial (the CX Jockey Club Mile) and on Sunday he should be spot on.”
