Arculli considers Dancer for Kranji
International plans for top mare Elegant Fashion were in abeyance after her defeat yesterday in the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup, but David Oughton will press on to Royal Ascot with Cape Of Good Hope and Bowman's Crossing and River Dancer may yet head to Singapore.
Trainer David Hayes had pencilled in the Singapore International Airlines Cup over 2,000 metres at Kranji next month for Elegant Fashion before yesterday's race but was unsure after seeing her downed by River Dancer.
'She was beaten on her merits, maybe River Dancer got a lucky punch in,' Hayes said. 'She still may go to Singapore - she always puts a run up and I'm not averse to sending mares to run in warm climates.'
Owner Ronald Arculli also said a Kranji trip would be considered for River Dancer, though he was not originally in the invitees and would need to be supplemented for the race.
'It isn't easy flying somewhere else to race and I thought the Hong Kong horses had a home team advantage today, but I am historically a great believer in international racing so we'll consider it,' he said.
Oughton said he was happy with outstanding runs in defeat from his pair after Cape Of Good Hope had chased home champion Silent Witness and Bowman's Crossing flashed up from the tail of the field in the QE II for a close fourth.
He plans to run Bowman's Crossing in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes over 1,600 metres at Ascot and Cape Of Good Hope will run in the Group Two King's Stand Stakes over 1,000 metres.
'Poor old Cape Of Good Hope - he keeps getting beaten and still keeps putting in,' said the trainer. 'It's only Group Two and not big prizemoney by Hong Kong standards at Ascot, but I've got to take him somewhere where he might be able to win a race.
'If Silent Witness wasn't around, we'd be saying what a terrific sprinter he is but that's the luck of it. He'll only run the once at Ascot, in the 1,000-metre race - I don't think he'd back up well four days later for the Group One.'
He also believes the track layout will suit Bowman's Crossing. 'He only has a fairly short sprint, but at Ascot the jockey can keep hold of him a bit longer before unleashing it,' he said. 'It's also possible the 2,000 metres is a touch further than ideal for him so a mile there should suit.'
Apprentice jockey Alex Lai Hoi-wing made it three wins in four meetings yesterday when he showed calm and judgment beyond his experience to take the second last event on the aptly named Mr Cool.
Both horse and rider are under the care of Peter Ho, who was not surprised by the all-the-way victory despite the 18-1 odds.
'Last time, he ran third to two very good horses in Saint Thomas and Lucky Port - that was almost a Class One race,' Ho pointed out. 'This horse is an easy ride and the featherweight with the 10-pound claim helped him a lot.'
