By Alan Carasso
Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), runner-up as the favourite in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes before filling the same spot in the G2 Gimcrack Stakes while under the care of Aidan O'Brien in 2023, is among a full field of 14 for the first leg of the 4-year-old Classic series in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Classic Mile. The HK$13-million event anchors Friday's Chinese New Year meeting at Sha Tin.
Acquired privately after finishing third in the Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2YO Stakes at Doncaster in September 2023, the Tattersalls October grad has run with credit in each of his four local runs and posted his first local success Dec. 22, overcoming a checkered passage to take out a Class 3 handicap over 1400 metres. He experienced similar traffic trouble yet again in his Class 2 debut Jan. 12, but got home well for third to the reopposing Rubylot (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}). Mickael Barzalona jets in to take the ride for sharp young trainer Pierre Ng.
Francis Lui, who sent out the legendary Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) to win this in 2020, sends out three of the four top-rated horses on Friday, including Packing Hermod (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}). The selection of record-setting jockey Zac Purton, the 93-rater bested Rubylot by a neck in a 1400-metre Class 2 on International Races day Dec. 8, but the tables were turned last time when Rubylot had a significantly better run in transit while Packing Hermod could do no better than a running-on fourth. The extra furlong on Friday could level the playing field.
Cap Ferrat (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), twice Group 1-placed in Australia for Chris Waller, made a big impression on his first Hong Kong appearance over Friday's trip Dec. 15, tearing home down the centre of the course to be beaten just a neck by the more-experienced Mickley (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), who got through nearer the inside for Hugh Bowman.
Lui also saddles Divano (Aus) (Brave Smash {Jpn}), an on-pace winner over 1200m Dec. 22, but a badly hampered eighth to Rubylot last time. Blake Shinn will have to work out a trip from the riverside draw in 14.
🧧 GONG XI FA CAI 🧧Year of the snake 🐍 pic.twitter.com/sqSjr4So7D
— 🇦🇺 BRENTON AVDULLA (@brentonavdulla) January 29, 2025
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