PROLIFIC American riding star Gary Stevens will partner International Vase runner-up Urgent Request in the US$1 million Santa Anita Handicap this weekend.
Stevens has returned home specifically for the mount on the tearaway but talented gun-metal grey who was singlehandedly responsible for turning the inaugural 2,400-metre Vase into such an exciting race last December with his front-running tactics.
Urgent Request, trained in England by Reg Akehurst for retired casino owner Stewart Aitken when he set such a terrific pace for 2,200 metres of the 2,400-metre International Vase, is now in training in America with Rodney Rash.
Rash said yesterday: 'I'm delighted that Gary is able to come over and ride this horse as I wanted someone who has been on him before and has an idea of the way he races and the terrific speed he has.
'They tell me that Gary has been riding brilliantly in Hong Kong but then that is no surprise to any of us over here who are only too well aware that he's one of the very top riders in the world.' Stevens rode Urgent Request when he ran fifth in the Group One Rothmans International over 2,400 metres at Woodbine, Toronto, shortly before he came over to run in the Vase.
In Stevens absence for this Saturday's meeting at Sha Tin, trainer Stephen Leung has booked Alan Munro for the ride on Courageous.
