Time Warp All The Way in the Cup

Time Warp | HKJC photo

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Over the course of the Longines Hong Kong International Races program Sunday afternoon at a sunsplashed Sha Tin Racecourse, it became increasingly apparent that to be successful, it was probably going to be necessary to be on or near the speed. Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) won the G1 Vase after stalking the pace from second, Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) sat just in behind before clawing his way home first in the G1 Sprint and Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) dictated terms in taking out the G1 Mile. Along with Neorealism (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), the progressive Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) appeared to be blessed with the most early foot in the day's richest event and most valuable race contested in Hong Kong, the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup. Able to dole out his own pace with a minimum amount of pressure, Time Warp never looked a loser and reported home a comfortable 2 1/4 lengths ahead of favoured Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). Neorealism, reluctant to settle while scraping paint throughout, kept on for third.

“I didn't think there was much speed on paper before the race so, unless anyone did anything differently, I thought I might be able to get my way in front,” said winning jockey Zac Purton, who replaced Joao Moreira aboard Time Warp. “I had a very easy time and that was key to the result. [Trainer] Tony [Cruz] has a great deal of confidence in his horse and he rang me [Sunday] morning specifically to talk about this on, so I thought he must have been pretty keen on him.”

The win in the Cup completed a banner week for Purton, who won the Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley Wednesday, and gave him victories in all four of the international races, all since 2012. He has now ridden six winners at the internationals–two each in the Mile and Sprint and a rare Hong Kong success in the Vase–prior to Sunday.

Able to find his way to the fore with no fuss whatsoever, Time Warp led for the short run into and around the clubhouse turn chased by the Japanese mare Smart Layer (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) with Neorealism keen at the fence. Werther settled between rivals in about seventh position, just behind midfield, while Poet's Word (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}) was trapped deep from his wide draw a spot or two behind Werther. It was a dawdling pace up front to be sure–the opening section was just :26.27 while the half-mile was clocked in :51.39 and it was very much to the advantage of Time Warp as the Japanese duo continued to give chase. The front-runner rolled by the 800m pole after the opening six furlongs in 1:15.76, and with Werther still about six lengths adrift, the result was all but assured, assuming Time Warp had a kick. And sprint hard he did, opening up nearly immediately once heads were turned for home before cruising under the line a comprehensive winner, having run the final 400 metres in a sparking :22.08. Neorealism settled better through the middle stages and remained glued to the fence in the lane only to be outfinished for second by Werther.

“There wasn't enough pressure up front in the race–no pace–and not what he wanted,” said Werther's rider Tommy Berry. Werther had defeated Time Warp in their previous meeting in the G2 Jockey Club Cup Nov. 19.

A trip beyond the borders of Hong Kong is a possibility, said winning trainer Tony Cruz.

“I would love to go abroad with him,” said the former champion jockey and now trainer of nine HKIR winners. “He is a very versatile type of horse: he can go on the soft; he can go on the firm; he can go on the dirt too. I am sure this horse can go places. He is a very sound horse and he is a healthy horse. I haven't done his programme but I believe he can win elsewhere.”

Time Warp, third to Beauty Generation in the G3 Celebration Cup H. (1400m) Oct. 1, was runner-up in the G2 SaSa Ladies' Purse H. (1800m) Nov. 5 before his narrow defeat in the Jockey Club Cup in which he got away with fairly cheap sectionals, but could not resist a late surge from Werther.

Pedigree Notes:

Bred by Kirsten Rausing, Time Warp is the third Group 1 winner for his Lanwades Stud-based sire and is a maternal grandson of SW Heat of the Night, whose dam was a Group 3 winner in Brazil. Heat Of the Night (GB) (Lear Fan), is a half to the 2-year-old colt Jack Crow (GB) (Bahamian Dancer {GB}, twice second in a pair of runs this sesaon, and the dam of a British-foaled filly by Leroidesanimaux (Brz). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG CUP-G1, HK$25,000,000 (£2,393,102/€2,721,263/A$4,262,955/US$3,203,424), Sha Tin, 12-10, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:01.63, gd.
1–TIME WARP (GB), 126, g, 4, by Archipenko
1st Dam: Here to Eternity, by Stormy Atlantic
2nd Dam: Heat of the Night (GB), by Lear Fan
3rd Dam: Hot Thong (Brz), by Jarrar
*1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€37,000 Ylg '14 TISEP). O-Martin Siu Kim Sun; B-Miss K Rausing; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$14,250,000. Lifetime Record: MSW-Fr, 23-9-3-4, HK$21,560,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Werther (NZ), 126, g, 6, Tavistock (NZ)–Bagalollies (Aus), by Zabeel (NZ). O-Johnson Chen; B-C D Allison, C V & J A Barnao, A R Campbell, T G Heptinstall, T M Pivac & D R Platt; T-John Moore; HK$5,500,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Neorealism (Jpn), 126, h, 6, Neo Universe (Jpn)–Tokio Reality, by Meadowlake. O-Carrot Farm Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-N Hori; HK$2,500,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]Margins: 2 1/4, 1HF, HF. Odds: 3-1, 11-5, 63-10.
Also Ran: Staphanos (Jpn), Smart Layer (Jpn), Poet's Word (GB), Secret Weapon (GB), Robin of Navan (Fr), Garlingari (Fr), War Decree, Deauville (Ire), Blond Me (Ire).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.

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