Jockey Joao Moreira will continue his successful partnership with the John Size-trained Ping Hai Star at Sha Tin on Saturday. The ascendant bay will take on six opponents in the Class 2 Flycatcher Handicap (1400m), with Size having left the door ever-so-slightly ajar for a Derby tilt.
“I’ll decide after the race - it’s highly unlikely but I’ll just see what happens,” the champion trainer said when asked about the likelihood of his exciting gelding making the field on 18 March. “If he wins impressively, and he’s (rated) over a hundred, well we might have to give it some thought. But that would be a bit of a stretch, so I don’t think so.”
Ping Hai Star, a son of the G1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner Nom Du Jeu, has won his last two starts at the course and distance in eye-catching style.
“He’s been held up a little bit and had to sprint quickly to win his races, but he’s done that and he’s certainly showing a good ability to do that, it’s not easy,” Size said.
“There’s more there. I have to find out what’s most suitable for him; we’re sort of feeling our way a little bit. When he goes to the races, he actually hasn’t done the same thing twice - he always mixes it up a bit. I’ve kept him to 1400 at the moment and he’s managing to win races at that so we’ll see how he goes.
“He’s not built like a stayer,” he continued. “He’s a sort of muscly horse - he doesn’t get around and do things like a staying horse, even though he’s by a mile and a half winner.”
Saturday’s card will also see Size and Moreira combine with the promising second-starter, Raging Storm, in the Class 4 Lusitano Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m). The three-year-old displayed greenness and had little go his way when a running-on fourth at odds of 1.5 on his career debut at the track and trip a couple of weeks ago.
“He seems all right, he didn’t look like he had a tough run; he came home and did well after it. Hopefully he gets away a bit better and can take part in the race. If he can take a position, well he can probably win it,” Size said.
Race eight on the 10-race card is the Class 3 Association of Hong Kong Racing Journalists Challenge Cup Handicap (1800m). The action starts at 1pm with the Class 4 Albatross Handicap (1000m).
Ping Hai Star scores back-to-back wins last start, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club
