Variety Club and Anton Marcus earlier today
VARIETY CLUB fans will be pleased to know that the 5yo entire made the journey from Dubai to Hong Kong and arrived safely at Sha Tin early on Monday morning, 28 April. Our dual Horse of the Year was the last of the international contingent to arrive for the Gr1 Hong Kong Champions Mile, which will be run at Sha Tin over 1600m on Sunday, 4 May. The race is worth a cool HK$12-million and Anton Marcus has been granted a special Visiting Jockey’s Licence to partner the son of Var on Sunday.
Variety Club has reportedly traveled and settled in well and was seen out today for the first time on the Sha Tin track for morning exercise.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has issued the following form comments on the weekend’s runners:-
GLORIOUS DAYS – HK
Hong Kong’s current top-rated miler in the absence of the injured AMBITIOUS DRAGON. Won G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile from GOLD-FUN in December, one of three course and distance wins. Made rapid strides in debut season (2011/12) with four straight wins at 1400M and ran a ½ length 2nd to XTENSION in Champions Mile. Last season won G2 Jockey Club Mile, HKG1 Stewards’ Cup (1600M), was 2nd in LONGINES HK Mile and 4th in Champions Mile. Only seventh in January’s Stewards’ Cup latest but seems to go well fresh. Relishes sound surface. Usually quickens from midfield.
VARIETY CLUB – SAF
Twice voted South Africa’s Horse of the Year. Landed the G1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge at a mile in June 2012 and reversed G1 Cape Derby form with Jackson to slam that rival in the G1 Queen’s Plate in January 2013. Signed off his South African career with a second G1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge victory in 2013.Won two of three at 1600M on Tapeta at Meydan, Dubai this year – the G3 Firebreak Stakes and latterly a smooth success over the previous year’s victor Soft Falling Rain in the G2 Godolphin Mile. Has since moved from Joey Ramsden to join Mike de Kock’s international stable. Usually leads. Has won on good and yielding turf.
CALIFORNIA MEMORY – HK
Veteran hero of the HK circuit and reigning Champion Stayer after winning HKG1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400M) last May. Twice winner of the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup over 2000M (2011 & 2012) but missed this season’s edition due to injury. Has not started since 4th in G2 LONGINES Jockey Club Cup (2000M) on 17 November. Other start this term came on 27 October when 3 lengths 4th, conceding 8lbs, to GOLD-FUN in HKG2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (Handicap) over 1600M, a race he won in 2011. Mile is on the short side. Hold-up performer. Appreciates sound surface.
GOLD-FUN – HK
Last season, his first in HK, yielded three wins including HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600M) and a close 3rd in HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000M). Improved on 5th in 2013 Champions Mile to be rated 3rd best miler in HK this season with four wins from six starts including HKG3 National Day Cup (1400M), HKG2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy and G2 Jockey Club Mile. Collared late when 2nd to Glorious Days in G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile in December. Ran on for 6th in muddling HKG1 Stewards’ Cup (1600M) in January. Bounced back with decisive win in HKG1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400M) from Dan Excel in March. Has a smart turn of foot. Usually tracks the pace and no ground worries.
BLAZING SPEED – HK
Four-time winner in HK from 1600M to 1800M. Two-time winner at about 2000M in UK. Posted a career peak to snatch last stride win in HKG1 Stewards’ Cup (1600M) in January from DAN EXCEL with GOLD-FUN and GLORIOUS DAYS back in field. Fair 4th next start in HKG1 Citibank HK Gold Cup (2000M) but failed to run his race when 10th latest in G1 Dubai Duty Free (1800M) at Meydan. Possesses smart turn-of-foot on his day. Often races handy. No ground worries.
DAN EXCEL – HK
Has established a reputation as a tough competitor at top level from 1400M to 2000M. Hit the heights last year when a narrow winner of the G1 Champions Mile and ended last season with fine 2nd to MILITARY ATTACK in G1 SIA Cup (2000M) at Kranji. Minor setback delayed start to this term. Hit his straps fourth start when pipped into 2nd in HKG1 Stewards’ Cup (1600M) in January. Since been 2nd twice, to MILITARY ATTACK in HKG1 Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000M) and a half-length behind Gold-Fun in HKG1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400M). Usually races on-pace. Favours good ground and effective with some cut.
GORDON LORD BYRON – IRE
Graduated from a regular on the lowly all-weather at Dundalk to an established G1 performer. Won G1 Prix de la Foret (1400M) on heavy ground at Longchamp in 2012, defeated runner-up Slade Power by 3 lengths to win the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup (1200M) in September 2013 and notched his third G1 in George Ryder Stakes (1500M) at Rosehill, Australia, on 29 March. Staying-on 6th latest in G1 T J Smith Stakes (1200M) at Randwick. 4th in last two renewals of G1 LONGINES HK Mile at course and distance. Adaptable tactically. Goes on all ground but enjoys some cut.
ABLE FRIEND – HK
Regarded as potential champion by trainer and possesses good turn-of-foot. Impressed on HK debut with easy Class 3 1200M win at Sha Tin in June, 2013. Has won four (1400M and 1600M) of seven starts this term and never out of first three. Impressive winner of HKG1 HK Classic Mile in January from DESIGNS ON ROME. Lost nothing in defeat when 2nd to that rival in both HKG1 HK Classic Cup (1800M) and HKG1 BMW HK Derby (2000M) next two starts. Regained winning thread last start when easy 1 ¾ lengths winner of fair renewal of HKG2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600M) at Sha Tin on 6 April. Usually held up for a run. Relishes a sound surface.
HELENE SPIRIT – HK
Underrated but consistent and high-class galloper. Progressed to G1 level last term via 1400M HKG3 win in January. No win since but was a short-head off making all when 2nd in G1 Champions Mile at course and distance in May. Ran similar race when caught close home for short-head 2nd to Gold-Fun in G2 Jockey Club Mile in November. Best effort since came when a neck 3rd to Blazing Speed in HKG1 Stewards’ Cup. Three lengths 4th of five latest in HKG2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600M) won by ABLE FRIEND on 6 April. Usually prominent and often leads. No ground worries.
MSHAWISH – FR
Once-raced as a 2yo and broke maiden first up at 3 over 1600M on very soft going. Only other win that term a mile Listed contest on good ground but smart efforts against peers in Pattern company, notably 4th in both G1 French Derby (2100M) and G1 St James’s Palace Stakes (1600M). Smart efforts in Dubai this year: solid closer in 1400M G2, impressive winner of G2 Zabeel Mile and latterly kept on to 4th behind runaway winner Just A Way in G1 Dubai Duty Free (1800M) on 29 March. Often held up behind pace. Untested on quicker ground than good.
REAL SPECIALIST – HK
Eight Hong Kong wins, all at 1200M to 1800M in lesser grades, from 23 starts. Good efforts in Group races this season and last, including 3rd to Gold-Fun in 1600M HKG2 on 27 October, followed by solid 2 lengths 4th to same rival in G2 Jockey Club Mile and sound 2 ½ lengths 5th in December’s G1 LONGINES HK Mile. Consistent again when 5th in HKG1 Stewards’ Cup (1600M) in January and filled same berth behind AKEED MOFEED when last seen in HKG3 Centenary Vase (Handicap) over 1800M on 2 February. Needs to improve to make frame. Often held up for a run and no ground worries.
ZAIDAN – HK
Has not won since HKG1 HK Classic Cup (1800M) in February 2012, one of three HK wins. Also runner-up in G1 SIA Cup (2000M) at Kranji that May. Failed to recapture that form last season and moved to Tony Cruz stable in April last year. Rounded out last season on 7 July with deep-closing 2 ¾ lengths 3rd to Designs On Rome in 1600m Class 1, conceding 18lbs to winner. Finished last on seasonal return in September and subsequently sidelined with ligament injury. Came back on 30 March with promising 2 ½ lengths 4th to Bubble Chic in HKG3 Premier Plate (1800M). Tactically versatile. No ground concerns.
MEINER LACRIMA – JPN
The 6yo showed good promise at 2 when runner-up in a G3 over a mile at Niigata. Subsequently 6th in two G1 outings at 1600M, in 2010 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and 2011 NHK Mile Cup, both won by Grand Prix Boss. Four wins since, including two at G3 level at a mile and 2000m, latest being the G3 Tanabata Sho (2000M) in Fukushima in July last year. Creditable efforts in defeat in five recent runs at G2 and G3 level including latest 3 ¾ lengths 4th to subsequent Dubai Duty Free winner JUST A WAY, in G2 Nakayama Kinen (1800M) on good surface on 2 March.
FLAME HERO – HK
HK debut win (on disqualification) over 1000m at Sha Tin in June 2013. Has won five times up to 1800m from 13 starts. A hat-trick of wins early this year, the last being an 1800m Class 2 victory over fellow well-regarded four-year-olds BEAUTY FLAME, MR GNOCCHI and TRAVEL BROTHER, booked his place in the HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000M) in March. Ran well to be 7 lengths fifth behind DESIGNS ON ROME. One-paced last start when seventh to Secret Sham in 1650M Class 1 at Happy Valley. Usually sits handy. Prefers sound surface.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Directive of Racing, William A Nader commented “The Champions Mile is ranked among the IFHA list of the world’s top 50 Group 1 races and the 2014 edition is yet another outstanding race. As befits a contest of global interest, we have four genuine contenders from overseas that will push this crop of exciting Hong Kong milers to their peak, and perhaps one from this quartet of international challengers has what it takes to end the local dominance.”
