The HK$24 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) will be run at Sha Tin on Sunday and holds plenty of interest for Australasian breeders with eight of the 16 runners bred in Australia and New Zealand.
A dual Group I winner in Australia last season for the Mark Newnham stable, Pierro gelding Shadow Hero is now trained by David Hayes and will be ridden by Zac Purton in the Derby for which he has drawn gate 7.
A close third to Healthy Happy (Zoustar) and Irish bred contender Russian Emperor (Galileo x Atlantic Jewel) in the HK Classic Cup (1800m) at his most recent run, Shadow Hero is expected to peak on Sunday.
“Shadow Hero, I think, has hit form at the right time. His lead-up race was really good and he has improved since,” Hayes told HKJC.
“In the trial (on 9 March over 1600m at Sha Tin), we looked after him. He didn’t ‘race’ and finished fifth (behind Russian Emperor) and he came out of it really well. I’m pretty confident he’s peaking now.”
Shadow Hero will be looking to give Pierro his second winner of this race with Furore successful in 2019.
Hayes will also saddle Fastnet Rock gelding Conqueror, a $1million Karaka purchase that was competitive in the Group races for three year-olds in Australia last season, his best results a second in the Group II MRC Sandown Guineas and a second to Probabeel in the Karaka Million 3YO.
“Conqueror ran a good race last start and his trackwork with Shadow Hero on Tuesday morning on the course proper was really good. He’ll get the blinkers back on – I think he’s a better horse in blinkers,” Hayes said.
“His run in the winkers was good, but he sort of dropped the bit with 600m to run and lost concentration.
“He finished off very well but you can’t do that – lose concentration – in a Derby, of course, so the blinkers will be a plus.”
American Pharoah will also have a runner in the race with US bred Congratulation an interesting entry having been Group I placed in Ireland as a juvenile. He’s had only one start in Hong Kong for a fifth and is trained by Douglas Whyte.
New Zealand-bred gelding Sky Darci will be out to continue New Zealand’s strong association with the Hong Kong Derby .
New Zealand-bred or sourced horses having won four of the last five editions of the race and Sky Darci has a chance to add to that tally .
The son of Darci Brahma is the highest rated horse in the Derby and the five-time winner in Hong Kong has drawn the ace barrier for Sunday’s race.
“I’m very pleased with that draw, he needs a soft gate and I’m very happy, it’s going to give him his chance,” trainer Caspar Fownes said.
The 103-rater will be paired with championship-leading jockey Joao Moreira.
“He ran alright in the Classic Mile he was just a little bit flat but the run after that in the Classic Cup was good, it was pleasing to the eye. He definitely didn’t have a clear run at them and he was only beaten by two and a quarter lengths,” Fownes said.
“But we’ve preserved with him to give him his chance to run the trip, he’s had a great preparation for this race and he’s as fit as I can get him, he looks a treat.”
Sky Darci was purchased out of Highden Park’s 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Mr B Kwan for $160,000.
Highden Park has already tasted success in the Derby, with graduates Werther and Ping Hai Star winning the 2016 and 2018 editions respectively. The pair are now enjoying their retirement at the Palmerston North farm.
