Planet Ruler, one of Hong Kong's best sprinters, looks like being denied a start in Sunday's Chief Executive's Cup at Sha Tin despite being the second highest-rated runner in the field.
The Sha Tin 1,400 metres course record holder was scheduled to make his debut for sophomore trainer Almond Lee Yee-tat, who took over the Danehill gelding after the return of David Hayes to Australia at the end of last season.
Lee was astonished to find the honest and consistent sprinter, whose credits include placings behind the great Silent Witness at level weights, could be at home in his box on Sunday while two horses that are 'out of the handicap' gain a start before him.
Fokine, from the Tony Cruz yard, has a Jockey Club rating of 99 - 20 pounds below Planet Ruler - but will go into the race ahead of him, as will Flashing Star (rating 98) from the yard of Ricky Yiu Poon-fie. Although Fokine should theoretically carry 112 pounds and Flashing Star 111, they will be lifted to the formal minimum weight, 113 pounds.
'What a disaster!' Lee said yesterday. 'This is the race we set him for and it was impossible to imaging a horse with a 119 rating getting balloted from a Class One race. He's a horse with real market value, he should be in the field. But there you have it. There's not much more I can say.
'Unfortunately, for a horse with his high rating, there isn't a suitable race for him until the National Day Cup on October 2. This race would have been a perfect lead-up for him going into that race, but now he'll have to go to the National Day Cup first-up.'
