Horror draw hits Pataca confidence
Moore camp hopes Kiwi contender will blaze trail in Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Viva Pataca's on-paper dominance of the HK$14 million Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Sunday was tipped on its edge yesterday by the barrier draw in an eerie echo of his Dubai defeat.
The finishing run of John Moore's star ran out of steam at the end of the Dubai Sheema Classic after giving winner Sun Classique a big start, and he faces a similar prospect on Sunday after coming up with gate 11 in the field of 12. Neither Moore nor jockey Darren Beadman were at the deflating draw, but Angela Leong, wife of owner Stanley Ho Hung-sun, said they remained upbeat and they would take some comfort from the knowledge that New Zealand trainer Graeme Nicholson intends to make the race a solidly run affair with Sir Slick.
'Fantastic, unbelievable, just what he wanted,' Nicholson said of gate one. 'I couldn't be happier. Look out you others!'
Caspar Fownes was the winner at the draw among local chances, relieved to draw a midfield gate with his Derby runner-up, Jackpot Delight (six), so the grey wouldn't have to get too far off the pace.
'The 2,000 metres is a critical start,' said Fownes. 'Draw wide and you can throw away three lengths looking for cover, and at this level you can't give that kind of advantage.'
The presence of a genuine leader was reassuring to Helene Mascot's trainer Tony Cruz, even though he drew the tricky eight stall. 'I'm quite all right with that. They say Sir Slick will go off in front and Matsurida Gogh will race close, so that should allow us to tuck into midfield.'
Japanese trainer Sakae Kunieda said Matsurida Gogh would follow the speed forward from gate seven. 'In Japan, seven is a lucky number and I wanted anything between three and seven, so that is fine,' he said.
South African Mike de Kock, winner of the race with Irridescence two years ago, was more positive about a wide draw for Archipenko.
'I'm happier with 10 than one - he's not the type to take a tight gap inside other horses so its better he has some room and I believe Sir Slick will run them along, which will suit. So often in these races nobody wants to lead and be a target, but as I understand it he wants the front.'
German globetrotter Quijano returns to Sha Tin after finishing second in the Hong Kong Vase in December and drew gate two.
'The horse looks well, is ready to run a race and that's a good draw - we won't have any excuses,' said travelling groom, Ilke Hildebrand.
In the Champions Mile, Doleuze and trainer Andreas Schutz were very happy with Good Ba Ba's gate four.
'Perfect,' said Doleuze. 'I didn't want the very inside or wide out. I can let him find his own speed and be comfortable and with Joyful Winner and Bullish Luck drawing outside him, I know he'll have a couple behind him and won't be last.'
The John Size pair, Armada (seven) and Dao Dao (three), were the last two to draw gates and it fell the wrong way for Armada's jockey Douglas Whyte.
'Seven and three were left and I would have liked three. It's not ideal and it looks like I'll have to take my time and see if I can get a spot with cover, forward of midfield,' he said.
Look out
Kiwi trainer Graeme Nicholson was delighted after Sir Slick drew barrier . . .: 1
