A classy field of nine will line up for a fascinating renewal of the HKG3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup at Sha Tin racecourse on New Years Day.
With the top four in the handicap seeking recompense for their Group 1 disappointments at the recent LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, the race has plenty of quality.
Two of those, the John Moore-trained pair of Sterling City (128lbs) and Charles The Great (130lbs), had race-eye views of Lord Kanaloa’s powerful hind quarters as that champion sprinted away to glory in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on 8 December .
While the Japanese hero was never in danger of defeat that day, Sterling City and Charles The Great might be deemed unlucky in their failed pursuits. The former ran on from the rear to claim fifth while his stable mate dropped out to finish 11th under Douglas Whyte after interference occurred.
“Sterling City has done everything right and was probably unlucky not to have finished closer in the Group 1 last time,” said Moore of October’s HKG2 Premier Bowl (1200m) winner, who will be ridden by Whyte this time with Neil Callan taking over on Charles The Great. “He got a little far back in the race but finished off very well despite a pretty chequered passage in the final furlong. Knowing that 1400m is his favourite distance, if he can reproduce that run, I think he’s the one to beat.
“Charles The Great has been a big surprise in the past year, going from winning at Happy Valley to winning at Sha Tin to the Group 2 win in November,” added Moore. “Douglas did say his run in the Hong Kong Sprint was a very good one considering he had a troubled passage over the last furlong. He said he had quite a lot of horse underneath him.
“There’s a big question mark over who would have beaten who home. I’m going into the race with Sterling City as the pick of the bunch but we all know luck in running can make the difference.”
Moore has four contenders in all with the smart Destined For Glory set to carry 115lbs under Umberto Rispoli and the Derek Leung-ridden Flash Knight at the foot of the handicap under 113lbs.
“Flash Knight is a horse that bled last season,” said Moore of the course and distance winner, who has caught the eye more than once in the past with his strong closing runs. “I don’t race him very often but I’m of the opinion that off a very light weight he could be the dark horse in the race.
“I don’t think Destined For Glory is at his peak at the moment, but off his mark he has every right to be there.”
Last season’s G1 Champions Mile runner-up Helene Spirit was seventh behind Glorious Days in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile most recently. Caspar Fownes’ charge heads the weights on 133lbs under Zac Purton, who teamed up with the horse for victory in this race 12 months ago. Fownes will also saddles Rainbow Chic, last of 12 in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup behind Akeed Mofeed.
Champion trainer Dennis Yip has an exciting contender in the last season’s Champion Griffin, the four-time course and distance winner All You Wish (113lbs), who has the assistance of Karis Teetan in the plate.
The Tony Cruz-trained Penglai Xianzi (116lbs) and the Derek Cruz-trained Fulfil A Wish (113lbs) complete the line-up.
Wednesday’s 11-race card at Sha Tin commences at 12.30pm with the Wong Leng Handicap (1400m) and the day’s final race is the 5.45pm Tai Mo Shan Handicap (1600m).
