A high-class field will line up for Hong Kong’s newest Pattern race on Sunday.
The HKG3 Lion Rock Trophy (Handicap), and among the talented dozen aiming to be the first name on the mile contest’s roll of honour are two of the division’s stalwarts, Beauty Flame and Rewarding Hero.
Each could be termed a “nearly horse” at G1 level, Beauty Flame having placed second three times in that grade, most recently when a length and three quarters behind Contentment in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) in February, while Rewarding Hero was runner-up to Able Friend in last season’s Champions Mile.
Matthew Chadwick is edging towards the confident side of hopeful that Beauty Flame, slated to carry joint top-weight of 133lb, will appreciate the step down to local G3 level after a solid sixth last start in the G1 Champions Mile, that run coming off a two-month injury lay-off.
“I think with the drop in class he should find a nice run in the race and I expect him to be competitive,” said the rider.
“He ran well behind Maurice last time,” he continued. “I was surprised by his run, he’s an honest horse and if you take out the winner I wasn’t too far behind them in sixth. I believe he’s come on for that run - he’s stripped fitter for it.”
Chadwick is heartened by the six-year-old’s recent work, which has boosted his faith that Tony Cruz’s charge can notch a second win of the season to augment November’s unexpected defeat of Able Friend in the G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile.
“I’ve ridden him in some of his work and I think he’s improved,” Chadwick added. “He’s moving smoothly at the moment and I think we’ll see an improved run on Sunday.”
Through the first part of this season, Rewarding Hero (130lb) looked a shadow of the horse that had placed twice at the top level last term. But then a smart victory over Luger in a course and distance Class 1 mid-March put John Moore’s charge back on track. A solid second to Beauty Only in the HKG2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) followed and on Sunday the seven-year-old will attempt to bounce back from a moderate ninth in the Champions Mile.
“His form’s been quite good recently overall,” said jockey Neil Callan, who has been in the plate seven times previously for two wins. “He was a nice winner with Joao (Moreira) a couple of runs back so he’s holding his own.
“You saw how much he improved last season, he ran a nice second to Able Friend and he’s more than capable at this level so I hope he’s holding his form well enough that he’ll go in there with a nice chance.”
Beauty Only is set to re-oppose off 133lb but the biggest threats could lie towards the foot of the handicap in Rewarding Hero’s exciting stablemates Rapper Dragon (117lb) and Helene Paragon (116lb). The former, a three-year-old with lofty aspirations for next season’s four-year-old series, has won three of his last four starts, while the latter has won two of his last three, those victories coming either side of a solid fifth in the HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).
“John’s two up-and-coming young horses look potentially top class, so it’ll depend on whether Rewarding Hero can give the weight away, and you’ve got Beauty Flame and Beauty Only in there, too, so it’s a good race,” Callan said.
“I saw Rewarding Hero’s work with Rapper Dragon and with Rapper Dragon’s profile going upwards the weight difference will come into play. But Rewarding Hero gives everything and he tries hard. I won a Group 3 on him and I’ve been Group 1-placed on him so I know what he’s capable of.”
Rewarding Hero and Rapper Dragon worked in company last Tuesday and again on Saturday.
Dirt track star Gun Pit is also engaged in Sunday’s feature, as are Dundonnell, Secret Weapon, Romantic Touch, Flame Hero, Multivictory and Top Act.
