By Alan Carasso
Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}), the 2015 Japanese Horse of the Year and that nation's top miler, is set to return to the scene of his smashing victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile when he makes his seasonal debut in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin, one of two terrific Group 1 features set for Sunday, May 1.
Winner of seven of his 12 career trips to the post, the 5-year-old was perfect in six runs last season, having broken his Group 1 duck in the Yasuda Kinen in June before producing a powerful first-up run when landing the G1 Mile Championship Nov. 22. He took on a salty group of 1600-metre runners in the Hong Kong Mile and came running late to best subsequent G1 Stewards' Cup victor Giant Treasure (Mizzen Mast) and the now-sidelined Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal), winner of the 2015 Champions Mile. The home defence is strong and should also feature Contentment (Aus) (Hussonet), victorious in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup earlier this season, but only a troubled fifth to Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in the Apr. 3 Chairman's Trophy.
Only once has the Champions Mile gone the direction of the raiders when Variety Club (SAf) (Var) took advantage of the underfoot conditions to upset Able Friend in 2014. Godolphin is set to field a pair of runners from their far-flung operation, including Safety Check (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Untouchable over the last two seasons in Dubai, the 5-year-old was a two-time winner at this year's Carnival, including a cosy success in the G2 Zabeel Mile Feb. 25. Bow Creek (Ire) (Shamardal) represents the Australian arm of Sheikh Mohammed's operation and won the G2 Peter Young S. in February. He was most recently fifth behind supermare Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 Doncaster Mile Apr. 2.
Upped to Group 1 level and repositioned on the local racing calendar, the Chairman's Sprint Prize looms a spectacular joint feature. Australia will be well-represented by two of its top two sprinters in the 1200-metre affair, including Buffering (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}), who showed his trademark speed to win the G1 Al Quoz Sprint Mar. 26; and Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), who produced an improbable rally down the center of the Randwick turf Apr. 2 to win the G1 T J Smith S. Also engaged is GI Breeders' Cup Turf upsetter Mongolian Saturday (Any Given Saturday), who will make his first start since a fifth in the Hong Kong Sprint.
The locals figure to make life tough on the invaders, however, led by the last two winners of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) was forced to miss a defence of his crown in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen Mar. 27 after a bout with colic, but has recovered and will take his place, as will 2015 Hong Kong Sprint hero Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), who exits a gallant third behind Buffering at Meydan. Further fortifying the Hong Kong challenge is the supplemented Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}), the 2014 champion miler in Hong Kong; Not Listenin'tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), third in the Hong Kong Sprint; and the 4-year-old upstarts Lucky Bubbles (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) and Thewizardofoz (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}).
“The Champions Mile and Chairman's Sprint Prize have attracted sensational fields,” commented Anthony Kelly, executive director of racing and business operations for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “Nine of the two races' 28 selected runners are international Group 1 winners, including super stars of world renown in Maurice, Chautauqua and Aerovelocity, and, in an exciting sub-plot, we have some of Hong Kong's most prodigious rising stars pitching in to test their mettle against those world heavyweights. The field for the Chairman's Sprint Prize is particularly exciting given this is its first year at international Group 1 level.
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