Overseas bookmakers operating on the QEII Cup tomorrow have firmed Japan's Matsurida Gogh as a real danger to Hong Kong's Viva Pataca following the crucial barrier draw and he is challenging for favouritism.
Markets posted yesterday on the internet from operators on both sides of the world have again shown that foreign firms have interest in ante-post operations on Hong Kong racing, especially these major international events.
And Viva Pataca, who would have been a likely a 2.0 favourite from a good draw continued to hold favouritism but by only a narrow margin over Matsurida Gogh, who has to bring his form at Nakayama - where he has been something of a specialist - to Sha Tin.
The Japanese stayer's draw in barrier six, after the scratching of Jackpot Delight yesterday, appears much more favourable than Viva Pataca's starting position second from the outside of the field of 11.
England's Blue Square bookmakers are now offering Viva Pataca at 2.75 in online markets with the Japanese runner at 3.25, while Australia's Centrebet was slightly more generous at 3.0 and 3.5 respectively. Both markets were listed prior to the scratching of Caspar Fownes' outsider, but there is unlikely to be a great deal of change to their views.
A wider difference between the firms was in finding the third choice for the race, with Blue Square opting for Derby winner Helene Mascot as the 7.0 third choice, while Centrebet favoured Mike de Kock-trained Archipenko at 5.5 with Helene Mascot as the fourth choice at 8.0.
