Werther
Hong Kong Jockey Club
The reappearance of the past three Hong Kong-trained winners; the presence of South Africa's two-time winner Mike de Kock; a powerful Japanese hand and the inclusion of the Hong Kong Derby winner Werther means that Sunday's G1 HK$20 millionAudemars Piguet QEII Cup (2000m) has all the ingredients which has cemented its place among the world's great races in the past 10 years.
Add to the mix, competitors from two of the most successful stables in Europe and Australia, and it is not a stretch to suggest that this is the most accomplished line up for the AP QEII Cup since Audemars Piguet became the sponsor in 1999 of the race which is now listed in the world's top 10 Group 1 races.
Trainer John Moore, who saddles up three runners in Sunday's contest, says it is the best AP QEII Cup field he's seen. "It's a really good race. I'd say it's the strongest QEII Cup field since I've been in Hong Kong, which is great from a public and world perspective but it also means we (the locals) might have our work cut out.
"Despite the quality of this year's race, I'm still going in with high hopes and feel my horses are peaking at the right time," Moore said.
Moore, of course, is represented by 2014 winner Designs On Rome; this year's Derby winner Werther and by Helene Happy Star who was runner-up to Designs On Rome in the G1 Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup, at the course and distance, on 28 February.
The Hong Kong Derby-winning four-year-old Werther (NZ) is considered the 'new kid on the block' and seeks to emulate previous Derby winners to have claimed the AP QEII Cup - Designs On Rome (2014), Ambitious Dragon (2011) and Vengeance Of Rain (2005).
Another Kiwi-bred interest is Rising Romance, who is prepared by former Hong Kong champion trainer David Hayes who finished third in last year's AP QEII Cup with Criterion (NZ).
Add to the mix, competitors from two of the most successful stables in Europe and Australia, and it is not a stretch to suggest that this is the most accomplished line up for the AP QEII Cup since Audemars Piguet became the sponsor in 1999 of the race which is now listed in the world's top 10 Group 1 races.
Trainer John Moore, who saddles up three runners in Sunday's contest, says it is the best AP QEII Cup field he's seen. "It's a really good race. I'd say it's the strongest QEII Cup field since I've been in Hong Kong, which is great from a public and world perspective but it also means we (the locals) might have our work cut out.
"Despite the quality of this year's race, I'm still going in with high hopes and feel my horses are peaking at the right time," Moore said.
Moore, of course, is represented by 2014 winner Designs On Rome; this year's Derby winner Werther and by Helene Happy Star who was runner-up to Designs On Rome in the G1 Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup, at the course and distance, on 28 February.
The Hong Kong Derby-winning four-year-old Werther (NZ) is considered the 'new kid on the block' and seeks to emulate previous Derby winners to have claimed the AP QEII Cup - Designs On Rome (2014), Ambitious Dragon (2011) and Vengeance Of Rain (2005).
Another Kiwi-bred interest is Rising Romance, who is prepared by former Hong Kong champion trainer David Hayes who finished third in last year's AP QEII Cup with Criterion (NZ).