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Originally Posted by ArlJim78
which ones are the titans?
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ALL of them!
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SCMP.....
Friday, January 18, 2008
Centenary Vase is Vengeance's race, insists Ferraris
Champ to give Stewards' Cup a miss
MURRAY BELL
Horse of the Year Vengeance Of Rain has gone missing from Sunday's HK$8 million Citi Stewards' Cup line-up but trainer David Ferraris says all is well with the greatest prize money winner in the history of racing.
Ferraris and Vengeance Of Rain's managing owner, Raymond Chow Hon-man, have come up with an alternative battle plan, and the great stayer will now have his next run in the Group Three Centenary Vase over 2,000 metres at Sha Tin on February 2.
"I can assure all Vengeance Of Rain's fans that there is nothing wrong with the horse, in fact he's jumping out of his skin he's that well," Ferraris emphasised last night.
"He really pleased us with a strong piece of work earlier in the week, but we have decided to go for the Centenary Vase rather than the Stewards' Cup because we believe it's a race he could win.
"He might be able to run a place, with a bit of luck, at a mile in the Stewards' Cup. But even with a big weight in the Centenary Vase, it's a race he can win."
Ferraris said the late amendment to the champion's programme would mean he will now have a barrier trial over 1,050m on the all-weather track at Sha Tin on Tuesday.
Ferraris noted his plan for Vengeance Of Rain had a winning precedent, with John Moore having successfully run Super Kid under top weight of 133 pounds in the Centenary Vase two years ago before backing up to take the Hong Kong Gold Cup at his next start.
The HK$8 million Hong Kong Gold Cup on February 24 is the key race for Vengeance, an event he won last year by a neck, defeating Viva Pataca and Bullish Luck.
Provided he runs up to expectations again in that race, then it is hard to imagine the Dubai Racing Club not inviting him back for an attempt at defending his Dubai Sheema Classic crown at the end of March.
The Group One Stewards' Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday will be the first leg of the triple crown for four-year-olds. Apart from the defection of Vengeance Of Rain, the race also lost the progressive Pocket Money and the "dream world" entry of The Witch's Broom (still eligible for Class Three) to reduce the race to 10 starters.
Last night, Australian bookmaking company Centrebet issued a market on the race and installed Viva Pataca - to be ridden by Darren Beadman - as a $1.85 favourite to beat the top-class milers at their pet distance.
"It looks a clear cut three-horse race," according to Centrebet manager Neil Evans. "We have super consistent Good Ba Ba, who stormed to Group One victory on International Day, a pronounced second-elect at $3.20, with the highly capable Floral Pegasus on the third line at $5.50.
"Nothing else is any chance in the race," he declared.
Floral Pegasus will be reunited with his rider, Gerald Mosse, who stood down in favour of apprentice Marco Chui Kwan-lai last start when trainer Tony Cruz wanted to take advantage of Chui's five-pound allowance under handicap conditions in the Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) on January 1.