The HK$20 million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup has been a kind race to the fairer sex in recent history, and the Ed Dunlop-trained Snow Fairy brings a form line as strong as any before her in a fascinating renewal of the race today at Sha Tin.
Dunlop has previously met with success on international day with his outstanding filly Ouija Board taking the 2005 Vase, another race which has seen fillies deliver on a regular basis, and his decision to miss the Japan Cup with Snow Fairy (Ryan Moore) is ready to pay dividends.
Only two fillies have won the Cup - Pride (2006) and Alexander Goldrun (2004) - but they regularly make the placings and usually only one or two run in the race.
Even some quite modestly performed fillies and mares have run close-up in the race, suggesting that there is something about the race, the weight edge they receive or the time of year that assists them. In terms of her 12-start experience, Snow Fairy is hardly modest-performed, with three Group One wins and already an international victory to her credit in her demolition of the QE II Commemorative Cup field in Kyoto last time.
To some extent, the brilliance of her performance to the eye was flattered by another runner making a suicidal pace many lengths in front of the field and the fact that Moore was able to hug the rail on her. But there was no idle flattery in the way she accelerated at the 350m and left 16 rivals breathless and unable to narrow what became a four-length gap after making her move.
That runner-up Meisho Beluga - who enjoyed a similar run-on advantage as she was in midfield, a couple of lengths behind Snow Fairy most of the race - was subsequently able to finish closer to Buena Vista in the Japan Cup than she did in the QE II Commemorative gives the race plenty of weight in the form book.
