Douglas Whyte will saddle debutant Ace Power at Happy Valley on Wednesday in the Class 4 Kwoon Chung Inclusive & Accessible Service Handicap with jockey Harry Bentley up.
Douglas Whyte will unveil his debutant at Happy Valley on Wednesday (Pic – HKJC)
“He’s a nice horse. He does everything professionally and he hasn’t put a foot wrong since the day he stepped into my yard. He’s ready for his first race, he’s going to need this run – he needs the experience and he hasn’t been wound up,” Whyte said.
The three-year-old finished third in a recent barrier trial over the course and distance.
“He’s had enough trials and he’s forward enough to go to the races. Fortunately, he has a gate that’s going to help him but he’s a thorough professional and he does everything right,” Whyte said.
Ace Power has drawn gate two amongst the field of 12 set for the HK$1.17 million test.
“He’s done everything professionally and he is still raw. You’ve seen that in his trials and that’s the reason he takes a bit of time to wind up, but when he gets his momentum going and does wind up then he moves nicely,” the trainer said.
Golden Sixty is a 26-time winner in Hong Kong (Pic – HKJC)
Whyte remains pleased with Russian Emperor after his return from Qatar.
“He’s come back good. He’s in quarantine at the minute and I thought he ran a terrific race, it was three seconds slower than last year and he came from last – he ran home and earnt prize money,” Whyte said.
Golden Sixty completed his most significant piece of trackwork for a long time on Tuesday morning at Sha Tin as trainer Francis Lui hopes for a fairytale finish to his charge’s career in next month’s HK$22 million Gr1 FWD Champions Mile.
“He galloped this morning. It was his first gallop, I think he’s ok – I saw him pass around,” Lui said. “He’s the same at home – a happy horse.”
Victorious in the past three editions of the race, Golden Sixty suffered a left foreleg injury at the start of this year, ruling him out of a HK$13 million Gr1 Stewards’ Cup tilt in January and threatening the eight-year-old’s future.
Lui is taking a careful approach with Golden Sixty, who was limited to light work before breezing through today’s gallop under the cover of darkness at Sha Tin.
“It’s hard to tell and I will let the horse tell me,” Lui said.
Second in Sunday’s HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), Chancheng Glory will press for HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby glory on 24 March along with stablemate Speed Dragon.
Chancheng Glory (pink silks) finishes second in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (Pic – HKJC)
“I think the track bias and as a frontrunner (Chancheng Glory), it suits him and he ran well. Both horses are in good form and I think Chancheng Glory can handle the 2000 metres – he has a big stride. He fights, too,” Lui said.
Rolling forward to take up the running, Chancheng Glory was caught late by Helios Express, who scored by a short head over the American-bred son of Mor Spirit.
Speed Dragon finished ninth as a 16/1 chance in the contest, while Chancheng Glory was sent around at odds of 51/1.
Russian Emperor galloped on the grass on Tuesday morning.
Wednesday’s nine-race fixture at Happy Valley kicks off with the Class 5 Kwoon Chung Motors Handicap at 12h40.
