HK Group 1 Features Full of Intrigue

Sunday's G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) have attracted fields of just 11 and nine runners, respectively, but the two races should offer punters outstanding opportunities, with arguments to be made for a number of the entrants.

Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was having just his second run of the season when taking the 2017 Gold Cup by a short head, but it is a fitter version this time around. The former Horse of the Year is a course-and-distance specialist, with four wins from six tries, including this year's G2 Jockey Club Cup in November ahead of a runner-up effort to Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup Dec. 11. The bay prepped for this with an excellent third to Seasons Bloom (Aus) (Captain Sonador {Aus}) in the G1 Stewards' Cup (1600m) Jan. 28, but can certainly reverse form here and Hugh Bowman is in town for the ride. A trip to Dubai for the G1 Sheema Classic (2400m) hinges on Werther's performance Sunday.

Seasons Bloom took out the G2 Jockey Club Mile in November, but was no better than fourth when favoured in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile two back. His only other attempt at the metric mile and a quarter resulted in a fourth to Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss) in last year's BMW Hong Kong Derby, but Seasons Bloom is arguably much more horse now than he was then and can be in the finish.

“I'm glad that Danny's giving him another chance over the distance and then after this run we're going to be sure if he handles it or not,” jockey Joao Moreira told HKJC's David Morgan before admitting, “at this stage there's a question mark up in the air.”

Time Warp had things very much his own way in the Hong Kong Cup, easily holding Werther at bay. Nothing went to script last time in the Stewards' Cup, however, when he hopped at the break, never found the front and settled for 10th. A cleaner dispatch this time could see him control things at his own speed.

'TDN Rising Star' Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) is the X-factor of all X-factors. Last year's Derby runner-up was second in the QE II Cup when trying open Group 1 rivals for the first time and the sky seemed the limit. But he ran into some much-reported behavioural issues and has only recently been cleared to run. However, his recent defeat of Werther in a 1600m barrier trial could suggest the best is yet to come. Time Warp's pilot agrees.

“I've always said I thought [Pakistan Star] was the best mile and a quarter horse we had here in Hong Kong,” Zac Purton said. “Now that he's had that break–that little bit of time off–he seems as if he's furnished a little bit more, it might have actually been a good thing for him. The way he put Werther away in the trial the other day was quite scary. If he reproduces that then we may not be able to beat him anyway.”

Helene Paragon (Fr) (Polan {Fr}) is the defending champion in the QSJC, but whereas he entered that race off an impressive Stewards' Cup success, he was only eighth in that contest four weeks ago and will need to do better to defeat some up-and-coming rivals.

Chief among those is the very progressive Fifty Fifty (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}), who defeated Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) by a half-length in the G3 Chinese Challenge Cup H. on New Year's Day before running Seasons Bloom to a similar margin when rounding out the quinella in the Stewards' Cup.

Pingwu Spark (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is the heftiest horse in Hong Kong at something around 1,330 pounds and is also one of the hottest horses in training. He has risen from a rating of 73 at the outset of the season to start on 109 this time around, courtesy of five wins and a second from six appearances, including a Class 2 over track and trip Jan. 21.

The QSJC also attracts the last two winners of the Hong Kong Mile–Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus})–cutting back to seven furlongs after finishing fifth and seventh, respectively, in the Stewards' Cup.