Must now go and faint.....
CAN'T WAIT!!!!!
Championship line-ups revealed for Cathay Pacific HKIR 2007
21 November 2007
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races 2007 will welcome several of the greatest names in world racing to Sha Tin on Sunday, 9 December.
Four Gr.1 races, worth a collective HK$62m (approx.US$8m) in stakes, have lured 28 international runners to join 22 from Hong Kong. Overall, there are 21 individual Gr.1 winners from 12 racing jurisdictions.
"We can hardly wait for the most prestigious day in Hong Kong sport. We believe our aim to host the Turf World Championships is borne out by the quality of the selections announced," said Mr William A Nader, Executive Director, Racing, of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
"We are thrilled that Europe's Horse of the Year, six-time Gr.1 winner Dylan Thomas could possibly make the final appearance of his brilliant career in Hong Kong by going head-to head in the Vase against last year's Breeders' Cup Turf hero, Red Rocks. Dylan Thomas would be the highest-rated horse ever to race in Hong Kong from an international rating of 128."
"In the Cup we can look forward to another Classic renewal with our local champions Vengeance Of Rain and Viva Pataca meeting Ramonti, a triple Gr.1 winner in Europe this year," he added.
"The Mile is equally exciting as both Darjina, the highest-rated female in the world, and Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Excellent Art face strong opposition from local stars that include Good Ba Ba and Floral Pegasus.
"And to cap it all, a world crown is on the line in the Sprint. We have lured the brilliant Australian mare Miss Andretti to tackle Sacred Kingdom, quite possibly Hong Kong's next international superstar, and the defending titleholder, Absolute Champion. Europe's leading sprinters Benbaun and Marchand D'Or will also be present.
"These fields underline the championship status of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races and the countdown has begun to one of racing's truly great occasions on Sunday, 9 December," Mr Nader concluded.
CathayPacific Hong Kong Vase
Gr.1 - 2400m - HK$14m - (US$1.8m)
British and French-trained contestants have won this title in 11 of its 13 editions and the challenge from Europe is stronger than ever with Dylan Thomas from Ireland joined by Gr.1 winners from Britain, France and Germany.
Selections
Dylan Thomas - The highest-rated horse ever to race in Hong Kong with Gr.1 triumphs including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, two Irish Champion Stakes and the Irish Derby.
Quijano - Joint-highest rated horse in Germany and successful in his homeland's most prestigious race, the Grosser Preis von Baden, in September.
Red Rocks - British-trained Breeders' Cup Turf hero and Classic placed in 2006; third in his repeat Breeders' Cup bid last month.
Doctor Dino - Globetrotting winner of the Man O' War Stakes at Belmont Park. Has also placed at the elite level in Singapore, Britain and France.
Sky Conqueror - Trained in Canada and first past the post in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Gr.1) at Churchill Downs.
Bussoni- Gr.2 Bosphorus Cup triumph in Turkey added to Gr.2 and Gr.3 European wins this term.
Egerton- Triple Group race winner in Germany and former runner-up in the Grosser Preis von Baden.
Vital King - Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby champion last season and finished strongly for 4th in the CX International Cup Trial recently.
Arch Rebel - Best achievement when coming within a nose of victory in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (Gr.2) last month.
Syllabus - Close 4th to Vengeance Of Rain and Viva Pataca in the Hong Kong Gold Cup last season.
Viva Macau - Gr.1 placed in France and 3rd in the Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup in June.
Sculptor - New Zealander successful in the Saab Quality at the Melbourne Spring Carnival
Ever Bright - One of Hong Kong's up-and-coming stayers and winner of the Gr.3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup in May.
Macleya- Dual Group winner in France in 2007 and short-head second in the Gr.1 Prix Royal Oak last start.
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint
Gr.1 - 1200m - HK$12m - (US$1.6m)
Hong Kong horses are unbeaten in the sprint since 2002 with four of five quinellas going to locally trained horses. The home defence is formidable, as is the challenge from abroad led by sensational Australian mare, Miss Andretti.
Selections
Absolute Champion - World's top-ranked sprinter for 2006 after winning this race by a record margin of over four lengths.
Benbaun - The first overseas horse home in the Sprint for the past two years; 3rd in 2006 and he landed a first Gr.1 win in Prix de l'Abbaye last month.
Sacred Kingdom - Simply awesome in his rout of Hong Kong's finest in the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial last weekend in track record time.
MarchandD'Or - Twice victorious in Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest also twice placed in Gr.1s on his last two starts.
Scintillation - One of the best sprinter-milers in Hong Kong of recent seasons and triple domestic Gr.1 winner.
Tiza- Formerly triumphant in a South African Gr.2 and twice a winner in French Gr.3 sprints in 2007.
Desert Lord - First past the post in last year's edition of the Gr.1 Prix de l'Abbaye and runner-up in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr.1) this term.
Why Be - Clearly the highest-rated horse in Singapore and winner of the Lion City Cup (SingGr.1-1200m) and a phenomenal 20 races overall at home.
Galeota- In form British sprinter, Gr.1 runner-up to Cape Of Good Hope at Royal Ascot (at York) two years ago, and a Listed winner on his last start.
Royal Delight - Bypassed the Sprint Trial to remain fresh for the big one having won the HKGr.3 Premier Bowl in then track record time.
Sunny Sing - HKGr.1 winner over a mile in 2006 but also successful in Hong Kong sprints at Pattern level.
Sunny Power - Yet to finish out of the quinella in six 1200m starts and runner-up to Royal Delight in the Premier Bowl.
Miss Andretti - Five-time Gr.1 winner and one of the best Australian sprinters of the decade. Clear leader of the Global Sprint Challenge.
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile
Gr.1 - 1600m - HK$16m - (US$2.1m)
Asia's premier turf mile has produced an even spread of Asian winners since 2001. However, the European challenge for this year's Mile is perhaps the strongest ever.
Selections
Kongo Rikishio - Runner-up in the Yasuda Kinen after he set a track record in the Yomiuri Milers' Cup (Gr.2).
SpiritoDel Vento - A triple Group race winner in France who was very impressive when taking the Gr.2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at the Arc meeting.
The Duke - Curtain call for last year's hero of this race, also 2nd and 3rd in previous years. To retire after a remarkable fourth consecutive Mile assault.
Able One - Mastered several high profile rivals when an all-the-way victor of the Champions Mile.
Al Qasi - Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam returns to his former base with this Gr.3 winner and Gr.2 runner-up in his most recent appearance.
Floral Pegasus - HKGr.1 winning miler who came within a nose of winning the MBHK Derby in March; very encouraging runner-up in the Mile Trial.
Good Ba Ba - Captured the Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial at the weekend and connections feel he can peak on 9 December.
Joyful Winner - Dual HKGr.1 winner and 2nd and 3rd in the last two editions of the Champions Mile.
Kildonan - Multiple Gr.1 champion in South Africa for international trainer Mike de Kock.
Down Town - In the form of his life, he lowered a mile track record dating back to 1983 when taking out the Sha Tin Trophy last start.
Egyptian Ra - HKGr.3 winning frontrunner last season and competitive in the best local races of late.
Excellent Art - Leading 3yo male miler in Europe; St James's Palace Stakes winner and three times runner-up since, including the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Creachadoir- Runner-up in the Irish and French 2000 Guineas in May and subsequently purchased by Godolphin.
Darjina - The world's highest-rated female thoroughbred after her defeat of Ramonti, George Washington et al in the Prix du Moulin, her third Gr.1 mile triumph in 2007.
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup
Gr.1 - 2000m - HK$20m - (US$2.6m)
The world's richest race on turf over 2000m features former winner Vengeance Of Rain facing his old foe Viva Pataca and Ramonti, triple Gr.1 winner for Godolphin this year.
Selections
Ramonti - Triple Gr.1 winner in Europe since finishing third in the Mile at this meeting in 2006. Now steps-up in trip for another testing mission in HK.
Vengeance Of Rain - Horse of the Year, six-time Gr.1 champion, including the CX Hong Kong Cup, Audemars Piguet QEII Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic placing him in the top-ten of all-time international stakes earners.
Viva Pataca - Four Gr.1 titles, including a commanding victory in the 2007 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup from top international rivals. Rounded off preparation by dominating the Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial.
Pressing - Career highlight arrived with a comfortable victory of the Gr.1 Premio Roma earlier this month.
Shadow Gate - Defied a very wide trip to prevail in the Gr.1 SIA Cup at Kranji in May.
Bullish Luck - Evergreen former Horse of the Year and twice HK's Champion Miler; he finished an unlucky-in-running 2nd in this race in 2004.
Art Trader - Worthy finish in 3rd to Viva Pataca in the Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial following 5th in this race last year.
Royal Prince - 4th in the Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial and further improvement expected.
Musical Way - Hat trick of stakes race glory in Europe this autumn, principally the Prix Dollar (Gr.2) at Longchamp.
Declarations for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races 2007 are on Thursday, 6 December, the same day as the barrier draw in the Sha Tin parade ring.