RISING staying star Citiluck can pass his toughest test to date despite tackling a strong Class Two field in the final event on Gold Cup day at Sha Tin this afternoon, writes Robin Parke. The Ivan Allan-trained youngster is bidding for his fourth successive victory - and that takes some doing in Hong Kong. However, cumulative successes are relative to where the winning run starts and Citiluck did look well placed in Class Four when it all began.
Two further successes have seen him promoted to Class Two and he heads the weights today having been pushed up 12 rating points for his last success which saw him account for Encore in a Class Three event over 2,000 metres. Citiluck is a New Zealand-bred three-year-old who is not yet at the peak of his potential and he has been masterfully nursed along to this stage by trainer Allan who is eyeing another championship - despite disclaimers we may hear from time to time. Allan has tightened the screw just that little bit more with Citiluck's successive wins and it has definitely been given another good twist today, suggesting that we may now have the gelding close to his best.
There can be little doubt that there is considerable scope for further improvement in time but, for this campaign, today could well be the one that matters most. A personal preference would have been to see Citiluck stay at 2,000 metres over which he looked comfortable when disposing of Encore and a couple of other well-talked about contenders. But in Hong Kong trainers are forced to take races as they come and today's 1,800 metre event has fallen into Citiluck's training pattern with Allan more than happy to let him take his chance despite the drop in distance. The enforced absence of stable jockey Basil Marcus has meant another good ride going the way of South African Felix Coetzee. Citiluck's biggest threat may be the Mick Kinane-ridden Key Import who steps up to 1,800 metres.
That is going to be a major help to the four-year-old who has been running home well over a mile.
Last time out Key Import finished third to Magic Joy, but he has also come on a lot in his work since. He is poised to run the biggest race since beginning his local career for David Oughton. Taliswin is an interesting runner in this full field of 14 as he was not that far away last time out when finishing unplaced behind Gaylord and Small Wonder - form that is likely to stand the test of time. Taliswin will be partnered by Simon H. K. Yim and will run a big race while both Small Wonder and last-start winner Sailing have claims. Sailing broke through for a good win over 1,600 metres and should appreciate the extra distance today although this looks a little harder.
