Blazing Speed and Victory Magic lunged towards the winning line in near-unison at the exciting crescendo to this afternoon’s (22 May) G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin.
When the result flashed up on the racecourse’s big screen moments later the number four was in the prime spot and Neil Callan was punching the air in celebration as a muted Zac Purton returned to unsaddle.
“It was a thrilling finish. So close – I was screaming!” said Blazing Speed’s elated trainer, Tony Cruz.
Cruz, Callan and Blazing Speed had won Hong Kong’s Group 1 finale two years ago, a result that handed the trainer his second success in the race following California Memory’s triumph in 2013. Today’s win, a nail-biting last-gasper, gave the handler four in a row, following on from Helene Super Star’s short-head verdict 12 months ago.
It was a short-head once again today. “It was a toss of a coin,” said Callan. “I asked Zac when we went past the line, I said ‘Did I hold on?’ and he said ‘I don't know’. I was gritting my teeth but I always had in the back of my mind that the horse was going to give me enough to win and he did.”
Blazing Speed enjoyed a plum run in fourth, one off the fence and one spot back from the vanguard as Helene Happy Star set a solid tempo under Karis Teetan, just ahead of Ambitious Champion. Werther, sent off the top pick at 1.7 following his imperious G1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (2000m) win last month, parked third under Hugh Bowman, tight to the rail.
Callan made his decisive move turning for home. Blazing Speed kicked upon straightening and overhauled the leader with under 200m to race; Bowman extricated Werther for his rail-side challenge as Purton urged Victory Magic to full flight for a centre track assault.
“It was a nice even tempo and then when the pace lifted halfway around the turn he was actually so much more relaxed that I had to give him a shake to get him going,” said Callan. “Once we hit the corner and I straightened him up I just gave him one slap down the shoulder and he immediately came into the bridle and I knew he’d give me everything to the line; whether that was win, lose or draw I knew he’d go out fighting. And he did but on the right end!”
With Blazing Speed extended to the full, Victory Magic gained with intent, ultimately failing by a shade less than when a head second to Werther in the HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) back in March. This time Werther was a short-head the other side of his John Moore-trained stablemate, a close third but some way removed from the breathtaking victor seen at his previous start.
“He’s just not as effective at that distance,” was Bowman’s assessment as he walked back to scale.
The Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup is well-known for its upsets. A tough challenge for favourites, only three of the last 19 jollies have been successful.
Blazing Speed, 25.0 when successful in 2014 and the 2.5 favourite when turned over last year, was today sent off the fourth pick of eight at 9.3. The Dylan Thomas gelding’s winning time was 2m 26.18s, well inside standard. Designs On Rome stayed on to take fourth, a length and a quarter back.
The win was Blazing Speed’s second at international G1 level, the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup having been upgraded to that status ahead of the 2015 edition.
“He’s easy to train, he has a fantastic character. He’s seven years old but as long as he keeps going we’ll keep going with him,” said Cruz, who landed a five-timer on the day that included Peniaphobia in the HKG3 Sha Tin Vase (Handicap).
A crowd of 24,676 turned out to watch the exciting action. Turnover for the day was HK$1.39 billion.
