Flame Hero gets the better of Romantic Touch (gold and purple cap) to win the January Cup last season.
HKJC
Romantic Touch (Northern Meteor) came up half a length short at the end of last year's G3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) as Flame Hero (NZ) (Savabeel) surged past close home to emerge the victor in a crowd-raising four-horse scramble to the line. On Wednesday night the old rivals are set to face-off again, two of 11 high-class contenders shooting for Happy Valley's only pattern race of the season.
The Tony Cruz-trained Romantic Touch attempted to make all 12 months ago. On that occasion, the bay gelding carried 120lb, three pounds more than Flame Hero. This time, both horses will shoulder 129lb, and both are heading into the contest after solid Group 1 efforts at last month's LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.
"Romantic Touch ran a great race to finish a close second to Beauty Only in the (G2) Jockey Club Mile two starts back, and I thought he ran quite well in the Hong Kong Mile, too, last time," Cruz said this morning (Tuesday, 3 January).
The six-year-old had a tough run wide on the track in the latter race but kept on to finish three lengths eighth behind stablemate Beauty Only. Jockey Matthew Chadwick believes that run holds more merit than the finishing position suggests.
"He was a little unlucky last time," Chadwick asserted. "Silvestre (de Sousa) on Sun Jewellery wouldn't go to the fence, so I was caught wide, otherwise I think we'd have finished in the money. If Sun Jewellery had gone to the fence and I'd have been able to slot in, I think he'd have run a lot closer."
Chadwick, too, is expecting the Northern Meteor gelding to be in the mix in the mid-week feature, race seven of eight on the card.
"He seems to be going OK, I wouldn't say he's flying, but he's well enough to be right there at the finish," he said. "His condition going into the Hong Kong Mile was probably a bit better than it is now, but in saying that, I'm happy with him and he's still in good enough condition to run his race.
"He was just that bit more sparky going into the international race. He was primed for that and he hasn't had a run since, so he might just need waking up a bit."
Flame Hero will attempt to emulate Happy Valley specialist Noble Conqueror (2010 & 2011) in winning the race back-to-back and Peter Ho is confident that the seven-year-old is in good fettle.
"He ran a very good second two starts ago in the (G2) Jockey Club Cup and I was actually very happy with the way he finished in the Hong Kong Vase, he didn't run a bad race. The competition was very strong and he still ran well," he said.
Flame Hero was stepped up to 2400m in the G1 Hong Kong Vase latest, and, whilst no match for the likes of Satono Crown and Highland Reel, nonetheless boxed on down the home stretch to finish a fair ninth of 14.
"He pulled up OK," Ho continued, "his condition is slightly better than it was last time, he's eating well and he looks brilliant, so hopefully he can run a good race and maybe win the January Cup again. He's drawn five, which is fine, and Derek (Leung) knows the horse well."
Also in the line-up are Danny Shum's smart Circuit Land (126lb), Harbour Master (123lb) and Basic Trilogy (116lb) from the John Moore stable, the Cruz-trained Helene Super Star (119lb), and the Caspar Fownes-trained trio of Twin Delight (119lb), Gonna Run (113lb) and Renaissance Art (113lb).
And propping up the handicap is the Ricky Yiu-trained Packing Dragon (113lb), a Mastercraftsman half-brother to Hong Kong's brilliant former champion Ambitious Dragon, and one of the most honest gallopers on the circuit. The five-year-old grey has notched four wins at the Valley, three at the course and distance, two of which have been achieved this season.
"He's a nice, big horse and always honest," jockey Keith Yeung said. "I rode him in a 1200m all-weather track trial recently and he gave me a very good feel. Ricky has obviously done a very good job with him. I believe he will run very well tomorrow."
The gelding has drawn gate 10 of 11 but Yeung is unperturbed by that, given the 1800m start's location at the top of the home stretch.
"Over 1800 metres at Happy Valley, unlike the 1650, you don't have to rush to go forward, you can take a little more time from the outside barrier and with that nice long stride he has, I won't need to rush him. I can let him race where he's comfortable and then roll forward." -HKJC
The Tony Cruz-trained Romantic Touch attempted to make all 12 months ago. On that occasion, the bay gelding carried 120lb, three pounds more than Flame Hero. This time, both horses will shoulder 129lb, and both are heading into the contest after solid Group 1 efforts at last month's LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.
"Romantic Touch ran a great race to finish a close second to Beauty Only in the (G2) Jockey Club Mile two starts back, and I thought he ran quite well in the Hong Kong Mile, too, last time," Cruz said this morning (Tuesday, 3 January).
The six-year-old had a tough run wide on the track in the latter race but kept on to finish three lengths eighth behind stablemate Beauty Only. Jockey Matthew Chadwick believes that run holds more merit than the finishing position suggests.
"He was a little unlucky last time," Chadwick asserted. "Silvestre (de Sousa) on Sun Jewellery wouldn't go to the fence, so I was caught wide, otherwise I think we'd have finished in the money. If Sun Jewellery had gone to the fence and I'd have been able to slot in, I think he'd have run a lot closer."
Chadwick, too, is expecting the Northern Meteor gelding to be in the mix in the mid-week feature, race seven of eight on the card.
"He seems to be going OK, I wouldn't say he's flying, but he's well enough to be right there at the finish," he said. "His condition going into the Hong Kong Mile was probably a bit better than it is now, but in saying that, I'm happy with him and he's still in good enough condition to run his race.
"He was just that bit more sparky going into the international race. He was primed for that and he hasn't had a run since, so he might just need waking up a bit."
Flame Hero will attempt to emulate Happy Valley specialist Noble Conqueror (2010 & 2011) in winning the race back-to-back and Peter Ho is confident that the seven-year-old is in good fettle.
"He ran a very good second two starts ago in the (G2) Jockey Club Cup and I was actually very happy with the way he finished in the Hong Kong Vase, he didn't run a bad race. The competition was very strong and he still ran well," he said.
Flame Hero was stepped up to 2400m in the G1 Hong Kong Vase latest, and, whilst no match for the likes of Satono Crown and Highland Reel, nonetheless boxed on down the home stretch to finish a fair ninth of 14.
"He pulled up OK," Ho continued, "his condition is slightly better than it was last time, he's eating well and he looks brilliant, so hopefully he can run a good race and maybe win the January Cup again. He's drawn five, which is fine, and Derek (Leung) knows the horse well."
Also in the line-up are Danny Shum's smart Circuit Land (126lb), Harbour Master (123lb) and Basic Trilogy (116lb) from the John Moore stable, the Cruz-trained Helene Super Star (119lb), and the Caspar Fownes-trained trio of Twin Delight (119lb), Gonna Run (113lb) and Renaissance Art (113lb).
And propping up the handicap is the Ricky Yiu-trained Packing Dragon (113lb), a Mastercraftsman half-brother to Hong Kong's brilliant former champion Ambitious Dragon, and one of the most honest gallopers on the circuit. The five-year-old grey has notched four wins at the Valley, three at the course and distance, two of which have been achieved this season.
"He's a nice, big horse and always honest," jockey Keith Yeung said. "I rode him in a 1200m all-weather track trial recently and he gave me a very good feel. Ricky has obviously done a very good job with him. I believe he will run very well tomorrow."
The gelding has drawn gate 10 of 11 but Yeung is unperturbed by that, given the 1800m start's location at the top of the home stretch.
"Over 1800 metres at Happy Valley, unlike the 1650, you don't have to rush to go forward, you can take a little more time from the outside barrier and with that nice long stride he has, I won't need to rush him. I can let him race where he's comfortable and then roll forward." -HKJC