AAP
Leading jockey James McDonald will head to Hong Kong on Sunday to take the mount on the David Hall-trained Ho Ho Khan (Makfi) in the HK$14,000,000 BMW Hong Kong Derby.
Ho Ho Khan won three races in succession before making ground late for seventh in the Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800m beaten 4.5 lengths and so the step to 2000m on Sunday should hold no fears for the four-year-old.
Raced under the name Mulanchi in New Zealand when trained by Tony Pike at Cambridge, Ho Ho Khan had good form around the likes of Demonetization, Kapoor and company in New Zealand and was sold as a private purchase through Queensland bloodstock agent John Foote.
James McDonald has been in fine form since returning to riding and is undoubtedly one of the best going around in Australia, while his international record speaks for itself and already includes a Group 1 victory at Sha Tin when winning the Champion’s Mile on Xtension.
Ho Ho Khan is out of the Encosta de Lago mare China Choice, a half-sister to Champion racemare and ATC Oaks winner Royal Descent, while their dam Mulan Princess won the Group 2 STC Hill Stakes over 1900m and gives further strength to the argument that Ho Ho Khan will relish the 2000m of the Derby.