Sergeant Titanium (127lb) will attempt to make experience count when he lines up in the Class 2 Snipe Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin Racecourse on Saturday, against a field packed with BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) wannabes.
John Size’s streetwise seven-year-old has been in fine form this term, returning to the consistency he showed in a peak five-month period two seasons back, during which he landed four wins from 1600m to 2000m at Sha Tin. The Rock Of Gibraltar gelding has won two from nine so far this term and was beaten only three quarters of a length when fifth to Happilababy over 10 furlongs last time.
“His last two starts, he has shown that he is back in really good form,” said jockey Joao Moreira, who is looking to notch a seventh win aboard the admirable bay. “The way he won two starts ago from the front, I was very impressed. Obviously the race suited him, they left him alone, but it was still a good effort.
“Last time, we had to get cover because the race was run at a more genuine tempo and he still fought very strongly to be beaten less than a length. It was a good run in my opinion.”
Sergeant Titanium coasts to victory in a Class 2 1800m race at Sha Tin two starts back, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club
Sergeant Titanium has won nine of 44 career starts, with four victories at the course and distance. His current rating of 90 is equal to his highest winning mark, achieved in a 1600m Class 2 almost exactly two years ago.
“I just hope he can keep doing what he’s done at his last couple of runs. I think 1800m is his perfect distance so coming back to that is perfect,” Moreira added.
Seven of Sergeant Titanium’s nine rivals hold a BMW Hong Kong Derby entry. Rivet (133lb) heads that bunch, as well as the weights, after running fifth in the first two legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m).
“His run in the Classic Cup behind Singapore Sling was good,” jockey Sam Clipperton said. “He jumped a lot better from the barrier, his manners were better mid-race. The bad draw meant that we were back last but he took a lot of ground off the first and second horses. It was a big improvement and hopefully he can keep on going upwards in his progression.”
The John Moore-trained colt, a G1 winner in Britain as a juvenile, is still on a learning curve as he seeks a first Hong Kong win at his seventh start.
“I just want to get him to settle,” Clipperton continued. “His grand final is the Derby so we won’t be jumping him out quickly from the barriers because that will wreck all the work we’ve done all season long - he’s very quirky, he’s got a big personality and a lot of spirit. But he’s getting better, his manners are getting better and he’s getting a lot fitter. John’s put him in this race to get more mileage in his legs. I’m expecting him to run very well.”
Zac Purton will take the ride on stablemate Ruthven (128lb). Last year’s G1 Queensland Derby winner has struggled to find his feet in four local starts and was seventh in the Classic Cup on 18 February.
Also attempting to race into Derby contention are five horses with only 10 Hong Kong starts between them: Savvy Six (124lb), Last Kingdom (121lb), Good Omen (119lb), Zilong (118lb) and the Italian import Patriot Hero (119lb), who sidestepped the Classic Cup after running eighth of 11 in the Classic Mile. The talented but enigmatic five-year-old Limitless (128lb) and the course and distance-winning six-year-old Lucky Girl (120lb) complete the line-up.
Rivet (red cap), here in the Classic Mile, will seek a first Hong Kong win this Saturday, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club
