Jacobee to lay down his powerful Derby credentials
There is a lot more water to flow under the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby bridge yet, but the John Moore-trained Jacobee has all the early momentum towards the race and should lay down the seriousness of his claim in the Chek Keng Handicap (2,000m) today at Sha Tin.
The full picture for the classic in March rarely takes proper shape before the end of January, but while a number of the horses who will become major contenders are still warming up, Jacobee (Darren Beadman) has posted impressive wins at 1,600m and 1,800m at his last two outings.
His latest win, dealing a fair and square defeat to another promising classic type in Let Me Handle It over 1,800m moved him to the forefront of discussions at this stage, but his jockey, at the very least, will be looking for some confirmation of his stamina in today's event.
Beadman told Moore after the last win he felt Jacobee could have found the line stronger in the final stages to clear out instead of holding down only a length margin over Let Me Handle It.
That may be selling the runner-up a little short, but Jacobee gets the chance to show he can run out a strong 2,000m, and doing it while carrying some weight.
Despite any distance doubts, Jacobee is the horse to beat, with gate one ensuring Beadman can allow his to relax from the get-go and follow the rail around until his excellent turn of foot is called upon to close the deal.
The odds overnight might have suggested Jacobee is home and hosed but this is no pushover race, particularly if he cannot answer the questions about his stamina.
Arrayed against him is another Derby-bound four-year-old in Handsome Zulu, placed at 2,400m in the New Zealand Derby at three, and a four-handed John Size, with a Derby aspirant of his own in Almighty Windpower, a tough in-form lightweight in Vitality Express, the consistent Sapelli and the talented but injury-prone Endless Luck (Douglas Whyte).
Endless Luck appears the toughest of these dangers, nearing his top now after three runs from a break of over a year.
He was beaten five lengths behind Jacobee last time out, but will meet him considerably better at the weights and Size has signalled Endless Luck is ready to fire again by applying blinkers to him.
Clean heels
The John Moore-trained Jacobee came with a strong burst to win last time, clocking (final 400m): 22.64
