HK updates, etc.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I'm thinking Dr. Ho might agree with you...

Excerpt, SCMP...

Viva Pataca's owner, Stanley Ho Hung-sun, seemed disappointed with finishing second, but jockey Darren Beadman told him to be proud of Hong Kong's representative in his first foray on foreign soil.

"Dr Ho, that was a tremendous run, he's done you proud," Beadman said. "I really have no excuses. He crossed nicely from the wide barrier, there was a lot of speed on and he had cover all the way.

"We moved into the race nicely, always having cover and when I produced him to the outside he quickened up beautifully."

Beadman said that as the field charged to the championship furlong, the final 200 metres, he thought Viva Pataca would emulate Vengeance Of Rain, who lifted the Sheema Classic last year off a much slower tempo.

"He came to win the race but just peaked on his run," Beadman said. "The filly had a much easier run and she's drawn away from us in the final stages. I think she must be a pretty good filly, by the same token," the jockey added.

Trainer John Moore was pleased his four-time Group One winner had performed creditably, but admitted feeling a little empty after beating all but the Mike de Kock-trained four-year-old.

"You know me, I don't like running second, you don't come all this way with the goal of running second - I want to win," Moore said.

"But realistically, he's run a great race and reflected great credit on himself, on everyone associated with him, and on Hong Kong racing.

"In the end, the winner has received two kilos from us and had a much better barrier. The weight and the barrier has probably made the difference," the trainer added.

Cheers to the Fab Four from HK.

I agree to all the above, except my initial reaction after viewing the race a couple of times is Darren moved a little early on the horse which might have been precipitated by being too far back in the early stages of the race. I didn't have the benefit of having access to a head on but he looked to be covering a bit of ground turning into the straight. Saying that he still probably wouldn't have caught the filly, she is a deserved winner. But it did look like Viva hung just a little inside the 200, when you consider those factors it makes sense. What do you think?

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by CSC

I agree to all the above, except my initial reaction after viewing the race a couple of times is Darren moved a little early on the horse which might have been precipitated by being too far back in the early stages of the race. I didn't have the benefit of having access to a head on but he looked to be covering a bit of ground turning into the straight. Saying that he still probably wouldn't have caught the filly, she is a deserved winner. But it did look like Viva hung just a little inside the 200, when you consider those factors it makes sense. What do you think?

I'd have to watch it again and am much more the rooting type than the analytical type.....

[CSC]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I'd have to watch it again and am much more the rooting type than the analytical type.....

Well maybe me too...for both types.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by CSC

Well maybe me too...for both types.

The up-and-coming star of HK, Warrior (... the one i jinxed cause I gave him his own thread ??? )... he's really one to keep an eye on.

3 out of 3 at Sha Tin, just incase you ever feel like seeing his replays.

http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/h...p?HorseNo=H066

[CSC]

Feature race tonight.

Race 7 - THE CHAIRMAN'S TROPHY
Sunday, April 06, 2008, Sha Tin, 16:05
Turf ,"C" Course ,1600m ,Good

Prize Money: $3,000,000.00, Rating: -, Race Class: HONG KONG GROUP 2

MY STARTER LIST
Horse No. Colour Horse Wt. Trainer Horse Wt. (Declaration) Rtg. Jockey Draw Brand No. Gear Rtg.+/- Wt.+/- (vs Declaration)
1 ARMADA 123 J Size 1118 128 D Whyte 6 E246 0 -
2 HELLO PRETTY 123 A S Cruz 1122 123 B Prebble 5 E210 TT 0 -
3 DOWN TOWN 123 C H Yip 1111 121 C W Wong 3 G054 TT -2 -
4 JOYFUL WINNER 123 J Moore 1084 121 D Beadman 8 E045 TT 0 -
5 RIVER JORDAN 123 J Moore 1118 117 E Saint-Martin 2 G194 TT 2 -
6 ROYAL PRINCE 123 A S Cruz 1220 112 F Coetzee 9 H072 TT -1 -
7 HELENE BRILLIANT 123 A S Cruz 1139 109 K L Chui 4 H174 TT 6 -
8 JACKPOT DELIGHT 123 C Fownes 1173 103 G Mosse 1 J101 B 10 -
9 TOP HONOR 123 A Lee 1024 103 O Doleuze 10 E183 7 -
10 JOY AND FUN 123 D Cruz 1136 97 M Du Plessis 7 H014 SW 5

[my miss storm cat]

I seem to have lost my mind as i thought I started a thread for this one!

CAN'T WAIT!

[my miss storm cat]

Feel better, Chimera and Rise and Shine.

Good luck with the appeal, Douggie Whyte.

Retired... Dare to Win.

Behave! Wong's Success, R4.

Love half the field tonight and I've been on Helene Brilliant all along but i have to be sentimental here..... Hello Pretty. SO glad he and Armada are back. Down Town will be in the mix, as usual. Jackpot Delight is a reeeeally nice up-and-comer..... the forner Hamlet's Ghost.

Good luck to Katy's boy, Joyful Winner. Member of the old guard, I don't think he hits the board but gotta love the old timers.

Cruz entered Royal Prince here and withdrew from the Macau Trophy and even though Felix has been hot lately, I'm not seeing it.

Another nice field is R5 with Hail the Storm, Ever Bright, South Breeze and Lu Yue, (my super). (If I were playing, I mean!).

Tough field for Eight Plus Nine in the final but hope he can finish well. Nice horse.....

Come home safe, all of you.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I seem to have lost my mind as i thought I started a thread for this one!

CAN'T WAIT!

I always thought Armada was a decent type as a potential stks winner, I like his chances tonight; however with D Whyte riding his odds may be too low to offer a true betting chance...Will have to check the tote before investing.