It’s a small field but a star studded one. The Japanese will be expecting their fifth win from either of the two top rated horses contesting the US$3.075 million AP QEII Cup.

 

“Naughty” Al Ain is the first of Japanese raiders contesting the field of eight. He stunned onlookers by creating havoc during his track work before the HK$24 m feature earning him the ‘naughty’ moniker. The Deep Impact colt (out of 2010 Breeder’s Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Dubai Majesty) won the Satsuki Sho last April in Japan. He recently placed third in the Gr.1 Osaka Hai.

 

This is his first international trip and “Naughty” Al Ain has shown he can cause an upset.

 

The other Japanese contender joining Al Ain is Otonashi trained Danburite who was unplaced in the Gr.1 Osaka Hai. However trainer Otonashi has a strategy to improve his race performance. “I think the best way to ride him is how he was ridden in the American Jockey Club Cup. The pace suited him and he was there on the speed. Jockey Mirco Demuro really gave him a good ride in the race.” He explained.

 

However there is a small kink in this grand plan.

 

Super star Time Warp is also racing in the APQEII.

 

Trainer Tony Cruz’s powerful chestnut has plans decimate his competition in order to add the hk$24 million feature to his already impressive wins this season. No horse has won the Gr.1 APQEII, the Gr. 1 Hong Kong Cup and the Gr.1 HK Gold Cup within the confines of a season.

 

His toughest rival in the race is one of his oldest, Pakistan Star. He is a crowd favourite horse at Sha Tin with his own series of plush toys.

The Shamardal offspring was second to Neorealism in the last APQEII.

 

A position he hopes to rectify by crossing the wire first under Kerrin Mc Evoy.

 

But there is an undefeated John Size trainee who is the wild card of the race. Ping Hai Star, the lightly raced four year old has taken HK racing by storm. The Nom Du Jeu gelding has won his last four starts with a sensational last-to-first win in the Hong Kong Derby under Ryan Moore.

 

This is every chance that this will be a challenge he is geared up for.

 

Ping Hay Star

Time warp

Al Ain

For the time form and more information about the Champions Day Race click HERE.