Werther (NZ) on the near side
Hong Kong Derby winner Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) is the pick of John Moore's trio of runners heading into Sunday's star-studded Gr.1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (2000m).
The son of Tavistock has improved since his Derby victory last month and is ready to tackle strong international competition at Sha Tin on Sunday.
"Werther will be right on their hammer," Moore said. "He'll need to take another step because this is the best field of horses for the AP QEII Cup that I can remember."
The four-year-old put in a solid gallop on Thursday under work rider Thomas Yeung, clocking 1m 25.1s for the 1200m. The gelding gave the impression that the tank was full and the machine well-oiled as he passed the post powerfully upsides the lead horse, Beauty Prince.
"Werther worked without blinkers, we didn't want him to do too much because Thomas Yeung who rides him every morning said 'you've got him really fit' and he really is a fit, fit horse," said Moore.
"He's the sort of horse that can lay up and the Japanese horses won't get too far away. He worked really well – he came home really strongly and pulled up clean in the wind. He's gone on from the Derby."
Fellow NZ-Bred Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar) is part of a 13-strong field which includes a trio of Japanese contenders in Lovely Day (King Kamehameha), Satono Crown (Marju) and Nuovo Record (Heart's Cry), while South Africa's Cape Derby winner Ertijaal (Hard Spun) and Irish-bred Cox Plate runner up Highland Reel (Galileo) also take their place.
While Werther will be seen in the main event, Hong Kong Derby runner-up Victory Magic (NZ) (Savabeel) will step out in the day's other feature, the Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m).
The son of Tavistock has improved since his Derby victory last month and is ready to tackle strong international competition at Sha Tin on Sunday.
"Werther will be right on their hammer," Moore said. "He'll need to take another step because this is the best field of horses for the AP QEII Cup that I can remember."
The four-year-old put in a solid gallop on Thursday under work rider Thomas Yeung, clocking 1m 25.1s for the 1200m. The gelding gave the impression that the tank was full and the machine well-oiled as he passed the post powerfully upsides the lead horse, Beauty Prince.
"Werther worked without blinkers, we didn't want him to do too much because Thomas Yeung who rides him every morning said 'you've got him really fit' and he really is a fit, fit horse," said Moore.
"He's the sort of horse that can lay up and the Japanese horses won't get too far away. He worked really well – he came home really strongly and pulled up clean in the wind. He's gone on from the Derby."
Fellow NZ-Bred Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar) is part of a 13-strong field which includes a trio of Japanese contenders in Lovely Day (King Kamehameha), Satono Crown (Marju) and Nuovo Record (Heart's Cry), while South Africa's Cape Derby winner Ertijaal (Hard Spun) and Irish-bred Cox Plate runner up Highland Reel (Galileo) also take their place.
While Werther will be seen in the main event, Hong Kong Derby runner-up Victory Magic (NZ) (Savabeel) will step out in the day's other feature, the Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m).