By Alan Carasso
As anyone intimately acquainted with Hong Kong racing would relate, it is not a simple task for an imported galloper to open their account in Class 2 at first asking. But former Andrew Balding trainee Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), winner of three from four in England when raced as Urban Aspect (GB), proved equal to the task with a smart front-running score over 1600 metres Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin.
Drawn gate five in a heat that attracted no fewer than nine horses with local Classics aspirations, Ka Ying Star flashed his usual early speed and pressed through to take up the running from fellow 4-year-olds Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) and Easy Go Easy Win (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) who took the box seat in a moderately paced affair. Still going well on the engine after 1200 metres that were clocked in just 1:13.28, Ka Ying Star failed to swap over to his left lead in the stretch, but found plenty in the final half-furlong to score by 1 3/4 lengths (video) at odds of 28-1. Easy Go Easy Win remained glued to the rail throughout and did slightly the better than Furore to grab second money. Enrichment (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) ran with credit for fourth in his second local appearance, while favoured Charity Go (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) wasn't done any favours by the lack of pace and was sixth, one spot ahead of Helene Leadingstar (Aus) (Wanted {Aus}).
“He'll definitely go to the [Jan. 27] Classic Mile and he'll come on from this race for sure,” winning trainer Tony Cruz told HKJC's David Morgan. “He isn't 100% fit yet, but the race went to plan for him. The horse was a front-runner in England so I told [jockey] Vincent [Ho] to go to the lead where he likes to be. He's like his sire, Cityscape-he won from the front, too.”
Campaigned by Juddmonte Farm, Cityscape made two appearances at Sha Tin in his career, just missing at odds of 32-1 behind Able One (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the 2011 G1 Hong Kong Mile. Ka Ying Star is out of the stakes-placed Casual Glance (GB) (Sinndar {Ire}), a half-sister to G3 Diomed S. hero Passing Glance (GB) (Polar Falcon), French GSW Hidden Meadow (GB) (Selkirk), SW & MGSP Scorned (Ger) (Selkirk) and SW & MGSP Kingsclere (GB) (Fairy King).
In addition to the Classic Mile, the 4-year-old series includes the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) Feb. 17 and the HK$18-million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) Mar. 17.
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