Clash of the Titans

[gallant bloom]

royal prince
will beat
viva pataca.

[ArlJim78]

which ones are the titans?

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

which ones are the titans?

ALL of them!

* * *
SCMP.....

Friday, January 18, 2008

Centenary Vase is Vengeance's race, insists Ferraris
Champ to give Stewards' Cup a miss

MURRAY BELL


Horse of the Year Vengeance Of Rain has gone missing from Sunday's HK$8 million Citi Stewards' Cup line-up but trainer David Ferraris says all is well with the greatest prize money winner in the history of racing.
Ferraris and Vengeance Of Rain's managing owner, Raymond Chow Hon-man, have come up with an alternative battle plan, and the great stayer will now have his next run in the Group Three Centenary Vase over 2,000 metres at Sha Tin on February 2.

"I can assure all Vengeance Of Rain's fans that there is nothing wrong with the horse, in fact he's jumping out of his skin he's that well," Ferraris emphasised last night.

"He really pleased us with a strong piece of work earlier in the week, but we have decided to go for the Centenary Vase rather than the Stewards' Cup because we believe it's a race he could win.

"He might be able to run a place, with a bit of luck, at a mile in the Stewards' Cup. But even with a big weight in the Centenary Vase, it's a race he can win."

Ferraris said the late amendment to the champion's programme would mean he will now have a barrier trial over 1,050m on the all-weather track at Sha Tin on Tuesday.

Ferraris noted his plan for Vengeance Of Rain had a winning precedent, with John Moore having successfully run Super Kid under top weight of 133 pounds in the Centenary Vase two years ago before backing up to take the Hong Kong Gold Cup at his next start.

The HK$8 million Hong Kong Gold Cup on February 24 is the key race for Vengeance, an event he won last year by a neck, defeating Viva Pataca and Bullish Luck.

Provided he runs up to expectations again in that race, then it is hard to imagine the Dubai Racing Club not inviting him back for an attempt at defending his Dubai Sheema Classic crown at the end of March.

The Group One Stewards' Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday will be the first leg of the triple crown for four-year-olds. Apart from the defection of Vengeance Of Rain, the race also lost the progressive Pocket Money and the "dream world" entry of The Witch's Broom (still eligible for Class Three) to reduce the race to 10 starters.

Last night, Australian bookmaking company Centrebet issued a market on the race and installed Viva Pataca - to be ridden by Darren Beadman - as a $1.85 favourite to beat the top-class milers at their pet distance.

"It looks a clear cut three-horse race," according to Centrebet manager Neil Evans. "We have super consistent Good Ba Ba, who stormed to Group One victory on International Day, a pronounced second-elect at $3.20, with the highly capable Floral Pegasus on the third line at $5.50.

"Nothing else is any chance in the race," he declared.

Floral Pegasus will be reunited with his rider, Gerald Mosse, who stood down in favour of apprentice Marco Chui Kwan-lai last start when trainer Tony Cruz wanted to take advantage of Chui's five-pound allowance under handicap conditions in the Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) on January 1.

[my miss storm cat]

Feel better, Excellent Boy. Ruled out...

Happy retirement, Our Jet.

Okay let's DO it!

R1, I'm not seeing Gallant's pick of Silly Boy here at all.

Flying Kenny (safer to play all / FK) unless Moshi Moshi draws in (stand-by starter).

R2, Bullish Cash / Hail the Storm / Fellowship / Sunny King

I love Bullish Cash. Workout partner to Lucky me and Super Genki (not that that means much but lucky them!) and not just for the Bullish connection (although i do like Bullish Win too). Very short field (9 runners) and they're ALL nice horses.....a lower level Class 1 and should be a lot of fun to watch.

R3, One World / Lifeline Pegasus

R4, The Russian Pearl Handicap, Bold Champion, My Faith, Mythic Speed in some order!

R5, Lucky Hero (best bet!) / Deferential and Sanziro

R6, Come home safe, First Knight... his 94th start. No pick, wide open, will pay huge.

R7...

The other big race...


Race 7 - THE MERCEDES-BENZ HONG KONG CLASSIC MILE
Sunday, January 20, 2008, Sha Tin, 16:00
Turf ,"B+2" Course ,1600m

Prize Money: $8,000,000.00, Rating: -, Race Class: HONG KONG GROUP 1

1 GREEN BIRDIE 126 C Fownes 1080 108 O Doleuze 13 H245 B- 0 -
2 NEVER LOOK BACK 126 P O'Sullivan 1122 105 B Prebble 6 J043 6 -
3 AMBITIOUS GENERAL 126 D J Hall 1116 103 A Delpech 8 J066 SW-/TT1 -2 -
4 HIGH POINT 126 C S Shum 1109 97 G Mosse 11 H215 6 -
5 HELENE MASCOT 126 A S Cruz 1203 94 F Coetzee 3 J164 TT1 - -
6 LUCKYME 126 A S Cruz 1115 94 K L Chui 12 H012 TT 1 -
7 VISIONARIO 126 S Woods 1051 93 C Soumillon 5 J095 0 -
8 FEARLESS 126 D E Ferraris 1123 92 D Whyte 1 H301 -1 -
9 HORACE'S CHOICE 126 C Fownes 1141 89 G Boss 10 H169 TT 1 -
10 EXPRESS WIN 126 C H Yip 1124 88 M Nunes 9 J042 TT 0 -
11 ISLAND SUPER 126 C S Shum 1051 85 E Saint-Martin 2 H297 3 -
12 JACKPOT DELIGHT 126 C Fownes 1181 85 D Beadman 7 J101 B1 0 -
13 STOLEN THUNDER 126 C W Chang 1156 84 Z Purton 4 J003 B/H1 -2 -

Need to ponder!

Edit - I know how good Green Birdie can be but i'm thinking maybe Never look Back with Helene Mascot, Express Win or Visionario underneath.

Lucky me is the rabbit for Helene but Chui doesn't always follow instructions.

R8, Good Ba Ba, Down Town

A great race and not that I'm rooting against Viva pataca here but even with whatever problem Good Ba Ba had a couple of weeks ago? i think he wins here.

IF for some reason Viva Macau wins, I'll be happy. Or Down Town (pretty boy). Or Floral Peg ( a monster last season).

Joyful Winner too. (Snowdrops, where ARE you? Your boy is running!)

In the event Viva pataca does win this, I hope he can win the Triple Crown.

A bet against though..... I'm just sayin'.

R, The Super Kid Handicap, Eight Plus Nine who should be a big longshot here. Yeung is up but we can't have everything go right in life now, can we? Boadcious, Super Baby, Bold Win underneath.

Behave, Wong's Success! Do what the other nice kids do and GO IN THE GATE!

R10, hard race.... reluctantly going with Win Practitioner and South Breeze (Saint-Martin up... interesting) cause he's looked good the last two times.I guess I'd toss in Lu Yue who is the former Retro (NZ) but that's really because i love that Yip / Prebble combo (can you say Bulldozer?).

Brettie has been working him though. Hmmm.....

Another interesting horse is Medico, who is Art Trader's workout buddy. Beadman works him. Pass here but he might be one to keep an eye on.

Come home safe, good boys.

Imaginary baskets of smoochies and peppermints to all of you, , and cheers to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for honoring Russian Pearl, Super Kid, FKP et al.

[gallant bloom]

r1, silly boy

r4, for russian
pearl,
jamesina

r5, down the
wicket/king e

r9, for super kid,
the success ex,
industrial success/
wongs success

r10,if he is in,
natural nine
if not,
singing dinners

glta

[gallant bloom]

i can't edit
for some reason
but i forgot
green birdie
in r 7 and
good luck to
first knight.

[my miss storm cat]

AJ...

When you're back, make your picks!