By Alan Carasso
Looking for his first victory since a tough, pace-setting success in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 13, Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire} was given an outstanding ride by Matthew Chadwick and turned in arguably one of the best performances of his career in Sunday's Sha Tin Vase H., the final 1200m feature on the local calendar.
Unlucky to drop a narrow decision to Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) when trying to become the first 3-year-old to win the Hong Kong Sprint in 2014, Peniaphobia had to overcome the outside gate last December, but burned across his rivals and made all to account for favored Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}). Third to Aerovelocity in the Centenary Sprint Cup Jan. 31, he filled third spot in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Mar. 26, but was burned up on a fast speed last time, finishing 13th behind Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize May 1.
Asked to tote 130 pounds, Peniaphobia won the break from gate two, but this time he had something to chase, as Fabulous One (NZ) (Elusive City) charged across from post seven and established a loose lead. Switched off nicely enough in the run for Chadwick, the 5-year-old advanced traveling ominously well nearing the lane, put paid to the pacesetter in upper stretch and finished full of run for a convincing victory. Amazing Kids (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}), a luckless fifth in the Chairman's after striking stretch interference, ran on mildly for second while in receipt of four pounds from the winner.
“I told everyone we'd see a different horse this time,” said trainer Tony Cruz. “He had a bit of mucus after the last race but this time he was a much fitter horse. The horse in front went so fast that it turned out to be a good pace maker for us. Matthew was able to just track him and everything went according to plan. It was a perfect race.”
Cruz said Peniaphobia would be put away for the year and will be brought back with an eye on a title defence in the Hong Kong Sprint in December. Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and VIDEO.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
SHA TIN VASE H., HK$3,000,000 (£264,230/€344,766/A$534,531/US$386,188), 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.35, gd/fm.
1–PENIAPHOBIA (IRE), 130, g, 5, Dandy Man (Ire)–Umlani (Ire), by Great Commotion. (€11,000 Wlg '11 GOFNOV; £20,000 Ylg '12 DONAUG). O-Huang Kai Wen; B-Aidan Fogarty; T-Tony Cruz; J-Matthew Chadwick; HK$1,710,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-HK, MG1SP-UAE, 27-11-6-5, HK$33,568,970. *1/2 to Safari Sunset (Ire) (Fayruz {GB}), GSP-Eng.
2–Amazing Kids (NZ), 126, g, 4, Falkirk (NZ)–Cadence (NZ), by Rhythm. O-Ricky Tsoi Kee Kwong. HK$660,000.
3–Domineer (GB), 123, g, 6, Shamardal–Mania (Ire), by Danehill. (€210,000 Ylg '11 ARQAUG; HK$5,000,000 HIT '13 HKIS). O-Fashion Syndicate. HK$345,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 47-10, 9-10, 36-1.
Also Ran: Charles the Great (Ire), (DH) Not Listenin'tome (Aus), (DH) Fabulous One (NZ), Born In China (GB), Divine Boy (Aus). Scratched: Blizzard (Aus).
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