The Japanese hope to wreak havoc on the local horses by sending three of their best to try and wrest the Hong Kong Cup crown from Hong Kong.
The battle is led by Sun Gazer, who has won three Gr. 2 races and was recently second behind the talented Rey De Oro in the Gr.1 Tenno Sho Autumn. Overall he has won seven times in 16 starts.
His jockey Joao Moreira was impressed with the way he stretched during track work said: “I was standing by the rail when he went by and I really liked what I saw.
I believe he has a really good chance.”
7 YO Stapahnos comes with a huge fan following. He is no stranger to the course, having contested at Sha Tin 4 times in the past. He was third placed in the 2017 edition of this race and has won give Gr.1 races. Interestingly the Stewards have approved for him to wear a Hood in the parade ring and on the way to the start but he isn’t allowed to wear it during the race.
4YO Japanese bred Deirdre has been to Dubai and stood third in the Gr.1 Dubai Turf. She is a top-class seven-time winner, who won her most recent Gr.2 in October over Vase contender Lys Gracieux. Globetrotting jockey Lemaire will be astride the daughter of Harbinger(GB) out of Dansili(GB).
After his Gr.2 win at Baden-Baden this spring, Stormy Antarctic came to Ascot with many expectations from his connections and the public in general. Unfortunately, he landed a fourth to Roaring Lion in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Let’s hope he does better in Hong Kong, away from his home ground!
Christophe Lemaire is undoubtedly the hottest rider in the global game right at this moment, having landed five Gr.1 successes in the space of just 13 days on the Japan Racing Association calendar in October and November.
Trainer Ed Walker is very confident about his charge. “Stormy Antarctic will no doubt be at long odds here because of a bad performance when he came here for the Champions Mile in 2017. But two of the differences between now and then is that he is now a gelding and he won't have the blinkers on. He's also got James Doyle on board, one of the best jockeys in the world right now don't you think?”
These international raiders will be going up against Hong Kong’s own and defending champion Time Warm. He recently won the Gr.3 Ladies’ Purse Handicap earlier this month. After winning the Gr.1 Hong Kong Gold Cup he was out of form for quite a long time but he seems to have his ‘buzz’ back!
Another firm Hong Kong favourite, is the 3 time Gr.1 winning Werther. The 7YO is the proud winning of the Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2015/16). He has won on the C&D include Hong Kong Derby, Gr.1 QEII Cup and Gr.1 Hong Kong Gold Cup. Although he is competing with much younger horses, he is no less talented or out of form and should be able to take on the field with aplomb.
The New Zealand bred entire comes from a fantastic pedigree. His sire Tavistock (NZ) is out of the Sadlers Wells (USA) line while his dam Bagalollies (AUS) is out the Zabeel line. The gelding needs a Hong Kong Cup win to complete a full set of Hong Kong majors at 2000m.
6YO Seasons Bloom was close behind Time Warp in G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup at the same C&D. However he’s just one Gr.1 and only had 7 wins from 21 starts. He doesn’t look like trifecta material.
Northern Superstar was a top horse in South Africa having won the Gr.1 Cape Drby and Daily News 2000. But Hong Kong seems to be a different kettle of fish and the superstar may not be star material in his field. 5YO Although Gold mount ran strong races and placed in both in the Gr.1 QEII and Gr.1 Champions & Chater Cup but he is a year older and may not do as well.
And finally we have Glorious Forever who at 4 has developed into a leading middl-distance runner. He’s even held the 2000m Sha Tin track record for a time.
1st Time Warp (A. Cruz,Z. Purton), 2nd Werther (J. Moore,T. Berry), 3rd Neorealism (N. Hori,J. Moreira), 4th Staphanos (H. Fujiwara,H. Bowman), 5th Smart Layer (R. Okubo,Y. Take), 6th Poet's Word (S. Stoute,A. Atzeni), 7th Secret Weapon (D. Yip,N. Rawiller), 8th Robin Of Navan (H. Dunlop,S. Clipperton), 9th Garlingari (C. Barande-Barbe,S. Pasquier), 10th War Decree (A. O'Brien,S. Heffernan), 11th Deauville (A. O'Brien,R. Moore), 12th Blond Me (A. Balding,O. Murphy)
1.Sungrazer (H. Asami,J. Moreira), 2.Time Warp (A. Cruz,Z. Purton), 3.Werther (J. Moore,H. Bowman), 4.Northern Superstar (A. Millard,K. Teetan), 5. Seasons Bloom (D. Shum,R. Moore), 6.Gold Mount (R. Gibson,O. Murphy), 7.Stormy Antarctic (E. Walker,J. Doyle), 8. Staphanos (H. Fujiwara,W. Buick ), 9.Glorious Forever (F. Lor,S. Sousa), 10.Deirdre (M. Hashida,C. Lemaire)
Distance: 2,000 metres (1 1⁄4 miles), Surface: Turf, Track: Right-handed, Qualification: Three-years-old and up, Weight: 123 lb (3y); 126 lb (4y+),Allowances,4 lb for fillies and mares, Purse: HK$28,000,000 (2018)