Tony Cruz will launch three of his stable stars at the HK$10 million Group 1 Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, 1 March, in an attempt to derail the Designs On Rome juggernaut.
Blazing Speed, California Memory and Helene Super Star will all line up in the eight- runner field and Cruz is confident that his trio can all be in the shake-up.
Blazing Speed is the pick of the trainer’s three. The Dylan Thomas six-year-old won the first and third legs of the Hong Kong Triple Crown last year ˗ the Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) ˗ but failed to fire in this second leg: he is out to make amends this time.
“Blazing Speed is on target for the race. He has come along very well since the Stewards’ Cup and I’m happy with him. He has a good draw, too - I think Khaya will probably lead them along and we will be following,” said Cruz, who has given the nod to Umberto Rispoli with the gelding’s regular rider Neil Callan suspended.
Blazing Speed had Designs On Rome back in fifth when winning the Champions & Chater Cup last May, and was again ahead of the Hong Kong Horse of the Year when successful in the G2 Longines Jockey Club Cup at the course and distance in November. The six-year-old was put in his place behind the John Moore trainee when a disappointing 12th in December’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) but bounced back with a solid fourth last month behind star miler Able Friend.
“I was pleased with him in the Stewards’ Cup last month, he ran a good race,” said Cruz. “The 2000m on Sunday is more suitable for him than the mile though and I’m expecting him to run a very big race this time.”
Cruz is also hopeful that California Memory, his popular veteran, will be able to turn back the clock on Sunday. The little grey is a few shades paler nowadays than when winning the Hong Kong Gold Cup back in 2011. That victory was the now nine-year-old’s first at G1 level and was the springboard to a pair of wins in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup (2011 & 2012).
The Highest Honor gelding has not made the frame in five starts this term but ran on strongly last time when a length and a half behind Designs On Rome in the HKG3 Centenary Vase (Handicap, 1800m), albeit in receipt of 10lb from the winner.
“California Memory will be racing out the back door and he will be coming with a late run,” said Cruz. “I was happy with his run three weeks ago and he is much fitter now. The first time he ran in the Gold Cup was 2011 and he won the race. That was his breakthrough win at the top and he has gone on and had a great career, so it would be great to see him run well again on Sunday.”
Helene Super Star is shooting for his own breakthrough win, which would be his second in Hong Kong. Victorious in the G2 UAE Derby (1900m) in 2013 when trained by Aidan O’Brien, the War Front five-year-old has started nine times this season without success but was a sound fifth in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in December.
Helene Super Star again ran well last time, finishing only a neck behind Designs On Rome in the Centenary Vase, but has plenty to find given that the winner was conceding him 18lb that day. Cruz, however, is confident of a bold show.
“Helene Super Star will be very close this time,” he said. “He missed the start in the Group 1 so this time I hope he will be racing handier and I think he has a chance ˗ he should be in the money. He actually needs farther than 2000m ˗ he really needs a mile and a half, so the Champions & Chater Cup at the end of the season will be ideal for him.”
As well as Designs On Rome, Sunday’s G1 contest will feature Hong Kong’s former Horse of the Year, Military Attack. Caspar Fownes’s charge was a short-head second to his big rival in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup at his last start.
The John Size duo of Khaya and Endowing will take their chances, as will the progressive Moore-trained Harbour Master, the mount of Tommy Berry.
Sunday’s edition of the Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup is the first to be staged as an international Group 1 contest, the race having been a local Group 1 race previously.
