By Alan Carasso
Between them, trainers John Moore and Tony Cruz have saddled the winner of the G1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup eight times since 2006. And between them, the two leading conditioners will saddle the septet of middle-distance gallopers set to face the starter for the final Group 1 race of the 2016/2017 season Sunday in Hong Kong.
Moore, who sent out Viva Pataca (GB) (Marju {Ire}) to win the C&C in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and Mighty High (Fr) (Peintre Celebre) in 2011, is responsible for five of this year's entrants, and the discussion begins with reigning Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). A close third at odds-on last year, the 5-year-old has a victory in this year's G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) in an injury-curtailed campaign and exits a close third to Japan's Neorealism (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup Apr. 30, despite scoping a bit dirty post-race. The blinkers come off Sunday at the suggestion of jockey Hugh Bowman.
“You have to remember that last season's Champions & Chater Cup came at the end of a tough programme,” Moore told HKJC's David Morgan earlier this week. “This time, because of the setback he had earlier in the season, Werther hasn't got the mileage on him.”
Moore also has the 4-year-old duo of Eagle Way (Aus) (More Than Ready) and Helene Charisma (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}), first and second, respectively, in the Apr. 30 G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup H. over course and distance; the aging veteran and former horse of the year Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}); and longshot Basic Trilogy (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
Cruz has won the Champions & Chater for four straight years: California Memory (Highest Honor {Fr}, 2013); Helene Super Star (War Front, 2015); and Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}, 2014, 2016). A top-level scorer at 1600m and 2000m in addition to this trip, the 8-year-old hasn't been able to get over the hump in seven runs this term, but neither has he been disgraced. He was beaten just over a length into fourth in the QE II and one more turn in the spotlight is not out of the question.
“He looks well, he's moving well and he's very straightforward in terms of how you ride him,” jockey Neil Callan, in the irons for 22 of Blazing Speed's last 26 starts, told Morgan. “He just jumps and sits where he's comfortable. It's a small field–it's going to come down to who gets the best run, but he's in great form, he's been running well all year.”
The Cruz-trained 4-year-old Gold Mount (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}), third in the Queen Mother, completes the compact, but high-quality field.
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