SCMP...
Cruz runners out to ruin Pataca's day
MURRAY BELL
Champion Viva Pataca will be a huge favourite but weight of numbers in Sunday's HK$8 million City Hong Kong Gold Cup rest with Tony Cruz, who will saddle up four of the seven opponents to Stanley Ho Hung-sun's colour bearer.
It's a representation stacked with interest, too, with Floral Pegasus going 2,000 metres for only the second time and Bullish Luck attempting a second win in the race to which he scorched to an upset victory as a five-year-old back in 2004.
But beyond that, it's the race Cruz has chosen as the comeback race for one of Hong Kong's best horses, Hello Pretty, who has been off the scene for over a year since his second to Armada, with Viva Pataca third, in the Stewards Cup last January.
"The reason he's running first-up at 2,000 metres is simply because of a lack of options," Cruz said. "Ideally, I'd like to give him a race at a shorter distance. The horse hasn't raced for 13 months, so he's probably waited long enough."
Hello Pretty has had to overcome two serious injuries, a strained tendon and a knee fracture. He's been in work for most of the season but had a setback in November. However, he was impressive in winning a mile trial on turf earlier this month and continues to work strongly.
"He's done a lot of work and he stands a very good chance too," Cruz said. "He can finish in the first three."
Brett Prebble, who won the 2006 International Cup Trial on Hello Pretty (beating Saturn and Viva Pataca), has regained the ride for owner Simon Kwok Siu-ming.
Floral Pegasus (Gerald Mosse) will be running for a ticket to Dubai. The Group One-winning miler was beaten by a nose by Vital King at his only try over 2,000 metres in last year's Derby after winning the Derby Trial over 1,800 metres.
Cruz's foursome is rounded out by Bullish Cash (Felix Coetzee).
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