Playa Del Puente’s impressive performance at Happy Valley last month thrust him high up the early BMW Hong Kong Derby pecking order and the three-year-old will attempt to confirm that position at the city track on Wednesday night.
Danny Shum’s charge takes on 11 talented rivals in the Class 2 Maurice Handicap (1650m) including the high profile Australian import Extra Brut, winner of the G1 Victoria Derby (2500m) a year ago.
Joao Moreira has ridden Playa Del Puente (127lb) in two of his three Hong Kong starts and is aiming to go back-to-back having guided the Irish import to a front-running three-length score over the course and distance last time.
“I think he’s as good as he looks,” Moreira said this morning (Tuesday, 12 November).
In 2017 the Brazilian rode Rapper Dragon to become the first horse in history to win all three legs of the Hong Kong Classic Series. He believes the 90-rated Playa Del Puente has what it takes to at least be a player in this season’s series, which kicks off in January with the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), continues with the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) one month later and ends on 22 March with the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).
“What he’s done so far, he deserves the opportunity to be running in those Classic races coming up soon and he might be up to it,” Moreira said.
“He has quality and he’s proven that since day one. In his first race he got back and he finished just about two lengths behind a decent horse (Gold Chest). He is young and with him being targeted towards the Derby I think he’s showing what he should be showing - he’s a very nice horse.”
Despite his evident ability, Playa Del Puente displayed some immaturity in his first two starts but looked consummately professional in his latest race.
“Not just last time,” Moreira noted. “The other day I galloped him on the grass track and he seems much more mature. He’s coping and learning quicker than I thought he would, to be honest, and that is a very good sign!”
Joao Moreira was pleased with Playa Del Puente’s recent win, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club
