HK updates, etc.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by snowdrops

He tried! He'll do better next time .

Thanks for the results, mmsc! I've been looking forward to seeing how he would do .

Next time is right!

* * *

Howie gets some press for once.....

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Cheng lays claim to October 1 monopoly
Local ace wins National Day Cup for fourth time

MURRAY BELL


The Jockey Club might have to consider renaming the National Day feature the Howard Cheng Cup, with the leading local rider yesterday adding to his already amazing record in the race, this time with 32-1 chance Tiber.
Cheng has won four of the last five National Day Cups and did not have a ride in the other year. They've all been at double-figure prices too - Prime Witness (70-1 in 2003), Fokine (10-1 in 2005) and Flaming Lamborgini (11-1) last year.

This year, Cheng even scoffed at suggestions that his National Day luck could be extended even further and was as amazed as anyone when the John Moore-trained Tiber was able to hold off the late thrust of the unfortunate favourite Pocket Money.

"Even when people told me this horse had a chance, I did not believe them," Cheng laughed later. "But my luck in this race is just incredible, I cannot explain it. Even after I've won and been to the trophy presentation, I still don't believe it."

Part of Cheng's luck started in the paddock when Tiber - renowned for getting hot and upset before his races - was cool and serene, showing his years of local experience is finally counting for something.

But on the way out of the paddock and onto the course, it was a more vintage version of Tiber that came to the fore.

"Just as we were coming onto the track, he put on a real turn - he got very upset and was throwing his head around quite violently," Cheng said. "But once I got him out onto the turf, and cantered off, he settled down again."

For those new in town, seeing Tiber on the limit weight of 113 pounds in this Group Three handicap, they could be forgiven for thinking this was a lower-grade horse that scrambled a victory with a big pull in the handicaps.

But Tiber has already been to the top of the tree. The Irish-bred gelding is now seven, but as a four-year-old in 2004 he won the Group One Classic Mile and finished a gallant second to Lucky Owners in the Hong Kong Derby.

Moore confessed the win was as big a surprise to the stable as it was to most punters, though some clever shoppers trimmed him down from $520 to start at $330 (for $10).

"His work hadn't been great and, I have to be honest, it's quite a surprise. But it's one of these things that can happen in these early Group races when the horses are fresh, and a horse like Tiber has such a light weight," Moore said.

"I told Howard that Egyptian Ra would lead, and to use Tiber's light weight to go and sit outside him. This horse has always run us a good race fresh, and I'm very pleased for his owners, who have been great clients for a long time, that he's given them another big win."

Moore was three handed in the race and there was some encouragement for the future from Champions Mile hero Able One (Zac Purton), who finished fifth but only 1 1/4 lengths from the winner in a bunched finish.

"I thought he was a bit unlucky," Moore continued. "Purton told me there was three-quarters of a gap there for the horse, it wasn't enough - he should have been a lot closer. He was the one that seemed to be going very well and I would have liked Darren (Beadman) to ride him."

As for Joyful Winner (Beadman, 11th), Moore said the failed trip to Japan for the Yasuda Kinen in June has exacted its toll once again.

Jockey Felix Coetzee said runner-up Pocket Money was a good thing beaten, with a sharp early check costing the John Size-trained gelding important ground.