One horse who remains a query for the BMW Hong Kong Derby is Ping Hai Star. The John Size-trained galloper scored his third straight win in the Class 2 Flycatcher Handicap (1400m), scoring by two and a quarter lengths at Sha Tin on Saturday.
Until now, Size had been ambivalent about a Derby bid with Ping Hai Star; despite the fact he is a son of G1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner Nom Du Jeu, he felt that he lacked the race sense to step up to 2000m. However, the handler now admits that he may have no other option than to run him in the Derby.
“I don’t really want to step him up but he might have a rating now where we have to consider it,” the nine-time Champion Trainer said. “He travelled much more kindly today. I never make a decision on raceday but it is something we will think about.”
Rider Joao Moreira said he wouldn’t discourage Size from running Ping Hai Star (126lb) in the Derby, saying he relaxed perfectly behind an even tempo.
“He’s got a very nice horse here,” Moreira said. “I think there’s a very high chance of him switching off if he did go to 2000m, but there is a doubt there because he has pulled in the past. I think that is in the back of John’s mind, but if he races the same as he did today, he’s going to be sweet over longer.
“Honestly, if John decides to run him in the Derby, he’s going to be a very strong chance. He’s all quality.”
The selected runners for the BMW Hong Kong Derby are announced on Wednesday (7 March).
Joao Moreira gives a thumbs-up as he returns to the winners’ circle on John Size’s Ping Hai Star, the winner of the Flycatcher Handicap, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club
Size and Moreira also won with second-starter Raging Storm (128lb). The three-year-old had created a big impression on debut, flying home from last after racing greenly to finish fourth, and he backed up that effort with a front-running victory in the Class 4 Lusitano Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m).
“He didn’t do everything right, he’s still a bit new, but it was such a big improvement from what he showed at his first start,” Moreira said. “The wide gate was everything today – he had plenty of time to get across. He had showed that sort of speed in his trials, so it was good to see it on raceday. He’s got a lot to learn but there’s more to come from him.”
Moreira took riding honours with a four-timer. In addition to the two Size hotpots, he also scored aboard the Chris So-trained Bravo Watchman (129lb) in the Class 3 Tern Handicap (1000m), while he renewed an old association when winning the Class 4 Albatross Handicap (1000m) on Complacency (126lb) for trainer Michael Freedman.
During his Singapore career, Moreira rode 71 winners for Freedman, most notably with top-class galloper Super Easy. However, Complacency was their first Hong Kong winner together.
“I rode a lot of winners for him in Singapore, but I haven’t had the chance to ride too many here,” Moreira said. “I’m convinced that in the second half of the season, he’s going to have very good results. I hope and believe that this is the first of many wins for us together.”
Complacency, a Charge Forward half-brother to the recently-retired G1 Champions Mile winner Contentment, impressed by winning from the rear down the centre of the straight course.
“It was definitely a good effort and I think he’ll come on a lot for that,” Moreira said of the three-year-old. “He didn’t jump very well and so he was a long way back and didn’t win by very much, but I think he would have won easier if he had a better position and hopefully it allows him to progress slowly.”
Racing returns at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Joao Moreira gets a first Hong Kong winner for Michael Freedman aboard Complacency in the Albatross Handicap, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club
