CHAMPION jockey elect Basil Marcus is praying for fine weather as he attempts to lift his first Hong Kong Derby on Sunday.
Marcus was all smiles as his mount, the certain favourite Mr Vitality, was allocated barrier nine in the 14-runner field at last night's draw in which his four main dangers - Deauville, Adjareli, Citadeed and Michael's Choice - all fared well.
'Everything is right about him. He's fit, he's working well, he's happy in himself and he's drawn nicely. My only real concern is the weather,' said Marcus.
'I don't want it to be like yesterday. Good or good to yielding would be all right but anything worse than that and I would start to be concerned. I'd hate the Derby to develop into a real slogging match on soft ground, that would be against us.' As for his tactics, Marcus said that much depended on the pace of the race though he does expect to ride Mr Vitality more quietly than when he ran fourth to Fujiyama Kenzan in the International Cup which is run over the same 1,800-metre trip as the Derby.
Patrick Biancone has always been a trainer for the big occasion.
He has three runners in the $6 million Derby headed by Deauville who chased home Mr Vitality in the Classic Trial, the pair clear of Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Adjareli.
Biancone doesn't envisage any upsets in Sunday's focal point of the local racing calendar.
