Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Frontrunning Romantic Thor swoops on Queen Mother Memorial Cup
Jockey Matthew Poon stole the show at Sunday’s 11-race meet when guiding Danny Shum’s Romantic Thor (USA) (Justify {USA}) to victory in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup at Sha Tin.
Carrying the bottom weight in the field of seven, the 5-year-old American import surged straight to the front of the field and led wire to wire to secure his first victory in Hong Kong, evidently relishing the step up to 2400 metres for the first time. The wet track was also no deterrent for the son of Justify (USA), and he achieved a commanding half-length win over Gentlemen Legacy (Showtime).
“Danny and I knew he could do this,” said Poon. “And today he carried a light weight and he loved the track conditions. Before the race, we had confidence he would show something and we’re glad he did.
“I didn’t feel like he was stopping at any stage and after the 1000 metres, I asked him to increase the speed gradually and he was able to continue to the winning post. He was not going to be easy to catch for the other horses because they were also spending energy.
“I didn’t feel like he (Romantic Thor) was stopping at any stage... I asked him to increase the speed gradually and he was able to continue to the winning post.” - Matthew Poon
“So, the race worked out pretty much as we expected and we’re very happy it did.”
Matthew Poon | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Shum was pleased with the win, and had been confident going in that the distance would suit.
“I was confident he could stay 2400 metres, especially today,” he said. “Look at the Group races - always the lightweight has got an advantage first. The second thing is today he was the front runner - and also put on the fence - he got all the advantages. He’s a lightweight, he can go in front, he can control the pace. So, he had everything to benefit him.
“Matthew, he controlled the pace fantastic. I always say Matthew is a very good jockey.”
Romantic Thor could take a steep leap up in class at his next start if he faces off with stablemate Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Champions & Chater Cup over the same trip on May 24.
“I need to talk to (owner) Peter (Lau Pak-fai),” Shum said. “I think he will (go to the Champions & Chater), so we have a pacemaker. It’d be nice to have two runners in it.”
“I think he (Romantic Thor) will (go to the Champions & Chater), so we have a pacemaker.” - Danny Shum
Under the stewardship of Aidan O’Brien, Romantic Thor had recorded two wins and three placings from five starts in Europe, including in the Listed Dee Stakes. A right hind ligament injury put the end to his hopes of being a Derby horse, and he resumed racing in October last year. His entry in the Group 3 event was thanks to the encouragement of his owner.
Danny Shum | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I need to thank the owner, Peter, because he made the decision,” Shum said.
“He was talking to me and he said, ‘run in the QEII Cup.’ I said, ‘run in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup’. He said ‘I think this horse has a dirt base, born in Ireland, he’ll be really strong. He can handle 2000 metres in Ireland, so he can sure handle 2400 metres. And only once in the year is the Queen Mother Memorial Cup. Put him in,’ - so it’s all his effort.”
Australasian-breds dominate Hong Kong card
The 11 races on the card at Sunday’s meeting were almost entirely won by horses bred in Australia and New Zealand, with nine horses by nine different sires emerging victorious.
Four-year-old Malpensa (NZ) (Nicconi) opened his Hong Kong account in the second race on the card, winning for Chris So at his sixth career run. Malpensa is out of a full sister to Swettenham Stud’s I Am Immortal. In the next race, Cody Mo’s View All Things (Pride Of Dubai) also broke his maiden, at the 12th time of asking, under a cool steer from Zac Purton. He is half-brother to Listed Anniversary Vase winner First Immortal (Churchill {Ire}).
In the fourth race on the card, Mark Newnham prepared Incredible Moment (Royal Meeting {Ire}) to shed his maiden tag by a three-length margin. Incredible Moment is a half-brother to G1 Levin Classic winner Hall Of Fame (NZ) (Savabeel). Cody Mo also prepared Flying Knight (Toronado {Ire}) to strike for the first time next on the card.
After the Cup, Volcanic Spark (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) picked up his second career victory for Ricky Yiu. Following him, Sky Jewellery (The Autumn Sun) kicked off a race-to-race double for John Size and increased his picket fence to three, with a total of five victories in seven starts in the jurisdiction.
Francis Lui’s double was started with 3-year-old Baby Sakura (Tagaloa) winning his second race in 4 starts by two and a half lengths, having placed in both of his other runs.
“He’s an honest horse, he loved this ground,” Lui said. “The jockey said he’s improving and he can step up a bit more next season. I think he will have one more race this season because he’s a strong horse. He’s still immature and has room to improve.
“I think he can be a Classic Mile horse for next season - it’s an exciting time and it’s a race everyone wants to win.”
"I think he (Baby Sakura) can be a Classic Mile horse for next season.” - Francis Lui
Lui also sent out Turquoise Velocity (Zoustar) to win the final race on the card, bringing up his fourth win in six starts.
“He got a good draw and he has the gate speed,” Lui said. “I asked Keith (Yeung), ‘why did you lead?’, he said, ‘when the other horse came close to him, he just goes again’.
“I asked Keith (Yeung), ‘why did you lead?’, he said, ‘when the other horse came close to him, he (Turquoise Velocity) just goes again’.” - Francis Lui
“The thing is he still needs to learn - if he can relax more, he has more room to grow. He might have done enough (this season) - we’ll see the programme first.”
A half-brother to G1 Newmarket Handicap winner Caballus (I Am Invincible), Turquoise Velocity was initially a $180,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale graduate from Middlebrook Valley Lodge when bought by Tai Nolen. As Zoned Out, he won a Wodonga trial by five lengths before his export to Hong Kong.
“Hopefully more (wins) to come,” said Lui, who sits on 45 wins for the season. “It’s a really tight championship. All of the top six could win it, and John Size too.” Mark Newnham has surged to the top of the championship with 51 wins.
Treble for Atzeni as Sky Jewellery bolts in
Sky Jewellery's dominant performance in the HK$3.12 million ($550,000) The Members Cup assisted jockey Andrea Atzeni in securing a treble on the 11-race card on Sunday.
Sent off as the favourite over the mile trip, Sky Jewellery was given a cosy run on the rails by Atzeni, settling midfield and letting G1 Hong Kong Champions Mile winner Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner) set the pace up front. As the pack hit the 150-metre mark, Sky Jewellery rose to meet the elder statesman and overtook him, winning by a length and three quarters.
An episode of EIPH in November ruled Sky Jewellery out of the 4-year-old series, but Size said that the best is yet to come for the gelding.
Sky Jewellery | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He’s recovered well (from the bleed), but it’s always there, and it’s always something we’ll have to think about,” he said. “He’s come back very strong and has continued to go on from where he left off. He identified himself as a racehorse the first day he went to the races and has continued in that vein.
“He (Sky Jewellery) identified himself as a racehorse the first day he went to the races and has continued in that vein.” - John Size
“We’ll see what he’s like during next week, and then we’ll make a plan for the rest of the season. I’m not sure (he handled conditions), Andrea said he struggled a little bit in the ground but because of the horse he is, he’s going to overcome it.
“He’s always shown and promised to do this sort of thing and he’s never let us down. That’s what good horses do – they overcome adversity. That’s how they identify themselves immediately.”
John Size | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Not offered at public auction, Sky Jewellery is a son of G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas victress Rollout The Carpet (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who is back in foal to The Autumn Sun this season.
Atzeni partnered the other half of Size's double, Enthusiasm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), to victory in the next race, before cementing his treble with Baby Sakura in the following event.
