Clash of the Titans

[my miss storm cat]

First knight was 8th.....

[my miss storm cat]

Helene Mascot wins!

THE MERCEDES-BENZ HONG KONG CLASSIC MILE
HK$ 8,000,000.00


Unofficial Dividends

1 5 HELENE MASCOT(J164) F Coetzee
2 9 HORACE'S CHOICE(H169) G Boss
3 8 FEARLESS(H301) D Whyte
4 1 GREEN BIRDIE(H245) O Doleuze

[my miss storm cat]

Full results.....

1 5 HELENE MASCOT(J164) F Coetzee 126 3 - 1.34.30
2 9 HORACE'S CHOICE(H169) G Boss 126 10 N 1.34.40
3 8 FEARLESS(H301) D Whyte 126 1 1-1/2 1.34.60
4 1 GREEN BIRDIE(H245) O Doleuze 126 13 1-1/2 1.34.60
5 4 HIGH POINT(H215) G Mosse 126 11 3-1/4 1.34.80
6 12 JACKPOT DELIGHT(J101) D Beadman 126 7 3-1/2 1.34.90
7 11 ISLAND SUPER(H297) E Saint-Martin 126 2 4-1/4 1.35.00
8 10 EXPRESS WIN(J042) M Nunes 126 9 4-3/4 1.35.10
9 2 NEVER LOOK BACK(J043) B Prebble 126 6 5-1/2 1.35.20
10 13 STOLEN THUNDER(J003) Z Purton 126 4 5-1/2 1.35.20
11 DH 3 AMBITIOUS GENERAL(J066) A Delpech 126 8 6-1/2 1.35.30
11 DH 7 VISIONARIO(J095) C Soumillon 126 5 6-1/2 1.35.30
13 6 LUCKYME(H012) K L Chui 126 12 7 1.35.40

[my miss storm cat]

Good Ba Ba Wins!


RACE 8(333)
Race Class: 3yo+ - 1600 Metres
THE CITI STEWARDS' CUP
HK$ 8,000,000.00

Going : Good
Course : Turf - "B+2" Course
Race Time : (24.70) (48.2) (1.11.7) (1.34.3)
Sectional Time : 24.70 23.50 23.50 22.60


Placing Horse No. Horse Jockey Actual Wt. Draw Length
Behind
Winner Finishing
Time
1 2 GOOD BA BA(E201) O Doleuze 126 4 - 1.34.30
2 4 FLORAL PEGASUS(G011) G Mosse 126 2 1-1/4 1.34.50
3 1 VIVA PATACA(G096) D Beadman 126 8 3 1.34.70
4 3 DOWN TOWN(G054) D Whyte 126 7 3-1/4 1.34.80
5 6 ABLE ONE(G108) G Boss 126 1 3-3/4 1.34.90
6 10 ROYAL PRINCE(H072) B Prebble 126 6 4-1/4 1.34.90
7 8 VIVA MACAU(H110) Z Purton 126 3 6-1/4 1.35.20
8 9 ART TRADER(E131) E Saint-Martin 126 10 10-3/4 1.36.00

Replay.....
http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/r...eno=8&venue=ST

[NoChanceToDance]

Well done to Salford Mill/Helene Mascot, he could be very good out there. In my opinion, he would be even better over 10 furlongs.

Over the moon for Good Ba Ba, I still think he is underrated. Not quite sure why Viva Pataca was made favourite over a mile. I suppose it's because he has such a following.

Hope you all made a profit playing these races.

[NoChanceToDance]

Viva Pataca was made odds on?!?!?

From HKJC

http://www.hkjc.com/english/news/news_2008012017963.htm

Good Ba Ba dazzles in Stewards' Cup cruise

20 January 2008

One international champion reaffirmed his status as Hong Kong's best miler and a new name shot to Derby favouritism on a terrific Group 1 mile double-header at Sha Tin on Sunday.

If anything, Good Ba Ba improved on the performance that earned a narrow victory in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile last month in the HK$8m Citi Stewards' Cup, the first leg of the Citi Triple Crown. Half an hour earlier, Helene Mascot made a winning local debut in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile, also worth HK$8m.

Good Ba Ba's length and a quarter victory from Floral Pegasus was unquestionably the highlight of the day, however, and it enhanced his status as one of the best milers in the world.

Just eight runners went to post in a race that was widely billed as a match between Good Ba Ba and Viva Pataca, surprisingly backed into odds-on favouritism despite dropping back to a distance short of his best.

The early tempo was sedate with the market leaders quietly ridden at the tail of the field. But when they swung for home Good Ba Ba let rip with a scalding turn of foot that left Viva Pataca chasing shadows and soon he overhauled Floral Pegasus with over 100m to race.

"I've never seen a miler who can relax off the pace and kick home in 22 seconds like he does. He's something special. I'd say that run was even better than winning the international mile because he didn't idle in front like he can do. He kept going all the way to the line and he looks to have improved," winning trainer Andreas Schutz said.

Good Ba Ba is likely to have his next start in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, the final leg of the Champion Sprint Series on March 16, to set up the prospect of a fascinating clash with the world's leading sprinter, Sacred Kingdom.

"There is no horse in Hong Kong with the same kind of acceleration as Good Ba Ba - except for Sacred Kingdom. We'll see who's best if they meet each other," Schutz added.

March 16 is also the date of the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby and Helene Mascot, trained by Tony Cruz, looks sure to figure prominently in the most prestigious event on the domestic programme judged on his tenacious success in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile.

Making his Hong Kong bow, Helene Mascot raced close to the pace under Felix Coetzee and ground down outsider Horace's Choice inside the final strides to score by a neck. It was the first time for a horse to land a local Gr.1 on its HK debut since Firebolt won the Centenary Sprint Cup in 2002.

Fearless ran third with Green Birdie in fourth. Race favourite Never Look Back set the early pace but weakened in the stretch to finish ninth.

"He travelled well, we had a nice prominent position and he fought on exceptionally well in the finish. Horace's Choice went away on us at the 200m but I always felt that we were going to catch up with him," Coetzee said of the colt who raced as Salford Mill last year in England where he won a Listed Race prior to finishing sixth in the Epsom Derby.

"I think he can improve but I'll leave that side of it to Tony because he is so good at getting them spot on for the big day. Not many can come in here from overseas and win first up, never mind win a Gr.1 so he's a very exciting horse.

"It feels already that the distance of 1800m in the Derby Trial and 2000m in the Derby is just what he wants," Coetzee summed up.

Allied to their winning cheque of HK$4.56m, Helene Mascot's owners also netted an extra HK$600,000 as part of the 'First Win Bonus' for horses that win in Class 1 or higher in its first season locally.

[my miss storm cat]

Photos...

http://www.hkjc.com/english/news/news_2008012017965.htm

http://www.hkjc.com/english/news/news_2008012017961.htm

Lucky Money wins 9 and Lu Yue / Win Pract / South Breeze / Singing Diners in 10 (NUmbers boy bumped),.

RACE 8(333)
Race Class: 3yo+ - 1600 Metres
THE CITI STEWARDS' CUP
HK$ 8,000,000.00

Course : Turf - "B+2" Course
Race Time : (24.70) (48.2) (1.11.7) (1.34.3)
Sectional Time : 24.70 23.50 23.50 22.60


Placing Horse No. Horse Jockey Actual Wt. Draw Length
Behind
Winner Finishing
Time
1 2 GOOD BA BA(E201) O Doleuze 126 4 - 1.34.30
2 4 FLORAL PEGASUS(G011) G Mosse 126 2 1-1/4 1.34.50
3 1 VIVA PATACA(G096) D Beadman 126 8 3 1.34.70
4 3 DOWN TOWN(G054) D Whyte 126 7 3-1/4 1.34.80
5 6 ABLE ONE(G108) G Boss 126 1 3-3/4 1.34.90
6 10 ROYAL PRINCE(H072) B Prebble 126 6 4-1/4 1.34.90
7 8 VIVA MACAU(H110) Z Purton 126 3 6-1/4 1.35.20
8 9 ART TRADER(E131) E Saint-Martin 126 10 10-3/4 1.36.00



Racing Incident Report
JOYFUL WINNER was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (fever). Prior to being presented in the marshalling yard, it was reported SIR ERNESTO had a fever. Acting on the advice of the Veterinary Officer that SIR ERNESTO was not suitable to race, the Stewards ordered the withdrawal of the horse. Before being allowed to race again, both JOYFUL WINNER and SIR ERNESTO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ROYAL PRINCE bounded in the air at the start and lost ground. In the early part of the Straight, ROYAL PRINCE had difficulty obtaining clear running between ABLE ONE and DOWN TOWN. VIVA PATACA, GOOD BA BA and FLORAL PEGASUS were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported ART TRADER had bled from both nostrils.


Hope Horace is okay.