Goliath Takes On Japan In QEII Cup

No G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner has ever won the G1 FWD QEII Cup over 2000 metres at Sha Tin, but on Sunday, Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) will attempt to become the first. And with the absence of three-time QEII Cup hero Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), there is no better time to try.

Co-owned by Resolute Racing's John Stewart, the likeable Goliath was a 2 1/4-length victor over subsequent G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) at Ascot in July. Given some time on the sidelines, he returned to take the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris by a half-length on October 20, and ran with credit to take sixth in the G1 Japan Cup in November. The QEII Cup has been pencilled in on Goliath's dance card for some time, and trainer Francis-Henri Graffard is confident his charge will be ready to go from stall nine with Christophe Soumillon booked to ride.

“It was the plan to drop him back in distance here for the beginning of the season,” said Graffard. “Obviously we will be seeing him step up in trip again, but we thought we'd try and get a good pace. When he has pace, he's a very impressive horse. When things go his way during a race, as everybody saw in the King George, he's an amazing horse.”

On the competition, he added, “It sounds like everywhere we go in the world now the main opposition is Japanese horses. They are an unbelievable breed and fantastic horses, but I have a lot of belief in my horse and I know when he's at his best and things go his way he's a very, very good horse.”

The aforementioned Japanese contingent is loaded with talent, and a trio will take part in the QEII Cup. Two-time runner-up (2023/24) Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is back for more from stall six. Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and 2023 G1 Tokyo Yushun hero Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}), second and third in the G1 Hong Kong Cup, have also returned with purpose to Hong Kong.

Tastiera is the mount of Joao Moreira, who told the South China Morning Post, “I saw Tastiera this morning and he looked stunning and shining. On my pick, I think he will be the horse to beat, but racing is racing and you never know what is going to happen.”

Group winner Ensued (Lemon Drop Kid) leaves from stall four under Brenton Avdulla for John Size. The 5-year-old gelding was second in the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup over this course and distance in February, and is looking to rebound after an eighth in the G2 Chairman's Trophy behind Straight Arron (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in March. The race also features four-time New Zealand Group 1 winner El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}) from the rail.

Another Historic First For Gai?

If Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) wins the G1 FWD Champions Mile, his co-trainer, the First Lady of Australian Racing herself, Gai Waterhouse, would break new ground as the first woman to train a winner in Hong Kong. Waterhouse, who trains with Adrian Bott, has not sent a runner overseas for a decade–excepting New Zealand–and made several earlier forays to Hong Kong without hitting pay dirt.

A winner of the G1 Canterbury Stakes in March, the former British-trained runner ran fourth in the G1 George Ryder Stakes later that month. He was only a short head behind Stefi Magnetica (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) in the G1 Doncaster Mile on April 5 and appears to hold the strongest hand among overseas chances. He will be ridden by Tim Clark from stall three.

“I think we're coming off the back of the right races and no doubt bring the right form, we've got the right horse,” Bott told RSN on Thursday. “If he can produce that [form] here, that'll see him being very competitive.”

The 6-year-old entire faces a stiff test, from both the Hong Kong locals and other foreign raiders. Nine-time Group 1 winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullsbars {Aus}) has flown in from Australia as well, and was second last out in the G1 All-Star Mile in March.

Only beaten once this season is local hope Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), who has taken four races on the bounce, his last three at the highest level with victories in the Hong Kong Mile, Stewards' Cup, and the Gold Cup. Beauty Eternal (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) got the better of Red Lion (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) in the 2024 Champions Mile, and they will leave from gates five and 12, respectively.

'Rising' A Fait Accompli In Sprint Prize?

He's the world's highest rated sprinter, and the fourth highest-rated horse in the world this year. Hail Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), who is riding an 11-race winning streak into the G1 FWD Chairman's Sprint Prize over 1200 metres at Sha Tin on Sunday. One of 13 in the race, the David Hayes-trained sprinter was last seen taking the G2 Sprint Cup over this course and distance with Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) second on March 30. Regular rider Zac Purton will be aboard and the duo will leave from stall four.

“He is a pleasure to do anything with and if you could order a horse, you would order him,” Purton said. “He has got the best attitude, he goes home and he eats and he recovers and he does everything you want. A big teddy bear. He is eager to get out and do his work. He is excited to do that and once he gets out there, he drops his head, cruises around and does everything right.”

Also part of the local brigade is the multiple Group 1 winner Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {NZ}), who will be making his 2024/25 seasonal bow after taking the Sprint Cup in early April of 2024, with Invincible Sage (Aus) (Thronum {Aus}) filling the runner-up spot. He won the Chairman's Sprint Prize in 2023.

Japan holds a four-strong hand in this race, with the strongest contender on ratings at least, Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). Successful in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen over the Chairman's Sprint Prize distance at Chukyo on March 30, the 6-year-old will attempt to follow in his sire's footsteps and add a Hong Kong Group 1 to his collection. Lord Kanaloa was a two-time winner of the Hong Kong Sprint in 2012 and 2013. He leaves from gate six under Joao Moreira, a former multiple champion jockey in Hong Kong.

Last year's G1 Sprinters Stakes hero Lugal (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), and group winner and G1 Al Quoz Sprint fourth Danon McKinley (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) are also set to line up. The latter was out for a spin on Wednesday, clocking :21.4 over 400m on grass. Stable representative Kazuo Fujiwara said, “He had a great grip on the turf and moved exceptionally well. Everything is going smoothly.”