The first shot in competition in Hong Kong’s International racing spectacular was fired by Japanese champion jockey Yuichi Fukunaga with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Two winners in the first two races of the Jockeys’ Challenge all but assured the first outright victory for Japan in the prestigious four-leg title.
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The tight confines of Happy Valley were not new to Fukunaga – he finished last in his only other invitation to the IJC in 2011 – but the results were a mile apart.
Personal success will be even more important on Sunday when Fukunaga gets to the open stretches of Sha Tin for Hong Kong’s showpiece of international competition.
He will be legged aboard Japanese mare Straight Girl in the Hong Kong Sprint (1200 metres). The sprint is a wide open affair and Straight Girl’s prospects were dealt a savage blow at Thursday’s barrier draw. She will exit gate 13 while the more fancied local Peniaphobia (Douglas Whyte) fared much better, securing the six gate. Zac Purton’s steed Aerovelocity drew gate seven while four-time Group1 winner Buffering is one gate wider again.
His prospects were not greatly harmed by the draw but they certainly were not enhanced.
Buffering’s trainer Robert Heathcote, who has been battling a hoof abscess with the gelding, was not fazed: “I was asked prior to coming here what I preferred and I said four to seven. So eight, I will go home with that all day long, he said moments after the Sha Tin barrier draw.
“I guess there’s still an element of caution there because on Tuesday morning he couldn’t walk ...it’s as simple as that. The staff here are brilliant – the vets and the farrier – we drained the abscess and the relief to the horse was basically instantaneous.
“Even the farriers and vet couldn’t believe he was walking as well as what he was within an hour of the abscess bursting. I chose not to work him for two days, mainly to allow the hoof to settle down.
Fitness is not really an issue, but I had a smile on my face this morning after I worked him as he felt brilliant.”
Buffering had been easy in betting prior to the draw but no horse has attracted sole attention in the Sprint.
That’s not the case in the Hong Kong Mile with local hero Able Friend a dominant elect. He drew barrier 11 – the widest in the select field – but trainer John Moore showed no sign of concern.
Since his dominant win over Gold-Fun on November 23 in a very fast time, Able Friend has had a ‘‘different’’ training regime.
“He’s had no quick gallops at all,” Moore offered.
“It’s a different preparation [to normal] but he’s got a lot of improvement in him.”
In the A$3.8million Cup over 2400 metres, Hong Kong Derby winner Designs On Rome – like Able Friend – will have the Moore training polish and the navigational genius of Joao Moreira aboard.
He meets seasoned rival Military Attack (Zac Purton), the globetrotting Cirrus Des Aigles and Australian Derby winner Criterion – now in the care of David Hayes.
A massive crowd of 85,000 is anticipated for this day of spectacular racing and unused inside rail position is in A-grade condition.
Locals will cheer Able Friend to a man and he’s the star bet of the day.