Hong Kong Cup Day Antepost Market Kicks Off

The Asian racing scene heats up in a very big way as Hong Kong runs a plethora of high-stakes graded action in two weeks time. A top-quality cast from all four corners of the globe is set to line up for a number of prestigious contests with some of the world’s biggest payouts up for grabs.

Early contenders are already starting to emerge and the antepost markets are now in full swing for the 2010 Hong Kong Mile, Hong Kong Vase, Hong Kong Sprint and Hong Kong Cup.

HONG KONG MILE

Paco Boy (Desert Style) leads the betting market here at a 3/1 price with most major bookmakers and the mere fact that this Irish-bred miler isn’t facing off against Goldikova (Anabaa) gives him a real chance for a potential score here. This is his first race since a disappointing fourth to the aforementioned mare in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and connections will be expecting a strong performance but a lot depends on how he takes to the Sha Tin surface.

Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan) has had a very forgettable 2010 campaign with a number of underwhelming showings in his last few races but he’s set to line up for this one and trades at a 16/1 price tag. The eight year-old gelding will be attempting to win the race for a fourth time. He scored over Happy Zero (Danzero) in the 2009 edition of this contest and also secured a victory in 2008- setting a course record of 1:32.71 in the process. He was sent off as the favourite in 2007 and didn’t disappoint either. His hat-trick of Hong Kong Miles will be difficult to add to based on the talent he’s up against here.

American-bred A Shin Forward (Forest Wildcat) looks one to watch at 10/1 and he comes into the race fresh off a score in the Grade 1 Kyoto Mile Championship. Masato Nishozono’s 5 year-old horse brings plenty to the table and could flourish with a clean trip.

HONG KONG VASE

Melbourne Cup winner Americain (Dynaformer) leads the field at as the lukewarm favourite for the 2010 Hong Kong Vase – a grassy 1.5m at Sha Tin. The talented globetrotter has amassed nearly £2,500,000 in earnings and will be making a major statement if he gets the score in his first go over the Hong Kong turf. A quality trip from Gerald Mosse will be essential but if he gets room to operate in the final furlong or two then there’s no reason why he won’t secure his sixth win on the bounce.

Both Joshua Tree (Montjeu) and Redwood (High Chaparral) could have a tilt at this one and their prices hover in the 14/1 region. Dubai World Cup fifth-place finisher Mastery (Sulamani) will represent Godolphin in this one and the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained colt enters this off a listed score at Kempton when sent off at 1/2. He hung on well in the final gallops in that one and looks to have really found his footing as a proper stayer.

HONG KONG SPRINT

2009 and 2007 winner Sacred Kingdom (Encosta De Lago) comes into this one having been a beaten favourite over course and distance in the Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Sprint when sent off at 1/2. He’s been undone by stall trouble at the break during most of his non-winning performances so a lot will depend on how well he comes out of the gate. You’ll find him trading as low as 15/8 and one wonders whether the seven year-old may be biting off a bit more than he can chew against a younger crop of talented 6f specialists.

Australian sprinter Rocket Man (Viscount) looks a popular wager and he’s priced just behind the two-time winner with a price as high as 3/1. Never finishing outside the top two in his career, the Patrick Shaw-trained five year-old gelding scored on his first trip over the Sha Tin surface when he conquered Sacred Kingdom and a talented field of 12 in the Jockey Club Sprint on November 21. He showed plenty of acumen that day and could be set to find even more this time out. He deserves plenty of respect and has just topped £1,000,000 in total earnings. He was a close second place in the Dubai Golden Shaheen earlier this year at Meydan after running into traffic trouble midway through.

HONG KONG CUP

Defending champ Vision D’Etat (Chichicastenango) looks set to return to Sha Tin for a shot at securing back-to-back scores in the world’s second richest race. Lightly-raced in 2010, he enters the race off a disappointing second place finish to Twice Over (Observatory) in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket back in mid-October. A potential victory here is likely going to come down to whether he gets a clear shot at the final furlong and he’ll be tough to beat if he does. He trades anywhere from 3/1 to 9/4.

2010 Epsom Oaks winner and multiple Grade 1-winning filly Snow Fairy (Intikhab) is looking like the firm second favourite here with 7/2 prices nearly across the board. She enters the race fresh off a score against females in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup over the Kyoto surface. She has only beaten males in listed company and will need to find another gear in this one.