Longines Hong Kong Sprint 2014 - South China Morning Post

Aerovelocity sprouts wings to take the Hong Kong Sprint

Sun, 14 Dec 2014 15:45:45 +0000

Victorious jockey Zac Purton said Aerovelocity's 12-month transformation from Class Three handicap winner on international day last year to international Group One winner this year may not have happened anywhere else than under the care of popular New Zealand trainer Paul O'Sullivan. Purton said Aerovelocity's rise through the ranks - culminating in a tough effort to lead all the way in the Hong Kong Sprint - was testament to O'Sullivan's patience with a tenacious, but headstrong horse that was...

Purton agonisingly close to snaring grand slam

Sun, 14 Dec 2014 15:30:30 +0000

Zac Purton's Hong Kong Sprint win on Aerovelocity was the high point of a day when he came close to snatching a career grand slam of four international day majors and finished with a sting in the tail as stewards slammed the Australian with consecutive careless riding suspensions in the final two races. Purton, who won the Hong Kong Mile on Ambitious Dragon in 2012 and the Vase on Dominant 12 months ago, won the Sprint on Aerovelocity to leave the Hong Kong Cup as the only international he had...

Aerovelocity blazes to Hong Kong Sprint glory for trainer Paul O'Sullivan

Sun, 14 Dec 2014 07:30:15 +0000

Aerovelocity put the horror of a last-start disaster behind him on Sunday, rising to the top of the local sprint ranks with a stellar victory in the HK$18.5 million Hong Kong Sprint. Paul OSullivan-trained Aerovelocity (Zac Purton), a Class Three winner on this day last year, finished at the tail in his last start in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint, the main lead-up race, after being severely checked by a tiring Amber Sky on a number of occasions. He could easily have won with a clear run. It...

The forgotten Sterling City to make amends in Sprint

Sat, 13 Dec 2014 14:30:00 +0000

Sterling City has won at the highest level on the world stage, but can add a local Group One for the first time today in a complex and somewhat baffling Longines Hong Kong Sprint. The HK $18.5 million race shapes up as the most fascinating of the four international features, with a case able to be mounted for all 14 runners in what is a world championship of sorts - in addition to seven even locals, Group One winners from Australia, Ireland, Japan and Singapore ensure it is a world-class...

Cattle class ain't Gordon Lord Byron's style

Fri, 12 Dec 2014 15:06:36 +0000

After three trips to Hong Kong, one to Australia and plenty of short hauls around Britain and Europe, you would think Irish sprinter Gordon Lord Byron would be a calm and confident traveller - but then who would not balk at being bumped down to cattle class? He's usually pretty good but he didn't have a great trip over to be honest Tom Hogan "He's usually pretty good but he didn't have a great trip over to be honest," said trainer Tom Hogan. "It was the first time he's had to share the crate...

Power returns for another crack at the Sprint

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:44:45 +0000

Twelve months ago, David Power was expecting to be trackside to see the top sprinters he owns with wife Sabena - Sole Power and Slade Power - take on some of the world's best in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint. In the end, neither horse could match Japanese superstar Lord Kanaloa, with Sole Power leading home the chasers in second and Slade Power a disappointing 10th. But instead of cheering them on from Sha Tin, the owner had to make do with watching from an Irish hospital after a near-death...

Sole Power has what it takes, says Lynam

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 04:45:00 +0000

Trainer Ed Lynam believes Sole Power can go one better in this year's Longines Hong Kong Sprint after a strong year in Europe. Sole Power finished a distant second to Lord Kanaloa last year, but returns in better form this time around.

Spalato evidence to be released before inquiry

Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:03:46 +0000

Hong Kong stewards will today take the unprecedented step of releasing key evidence for its inquiry into Singapore sprinter Spalato's failure in the Jockey Club Sprint on November 23, five days ahead of their hearing into that performance. Spalato was unbeaten in his home jurisdiction going into the traditional Hong Kong Sprint lead-up and was touted as the "new Rocket Man", but beat just one runner home after racing wide then pulling up lame in his right hind leg afterwards. When stewards...

Trainer Robert Heathcote pleased with Buffering's progress

Fri, 05 Dec 2014 05:00:45 +0000

Australian trainer Robert Heathcote says he is pleased with how Hong Kong Sprint contender Buffering has settled into his new surroundings. Buffering worked on the all-weather track at Sha Tin this morning, with Heathcote on hand to monitor his progress.

No Kanaloa but Japan can still rule world sprinters

Wed, 26 Nov 2014 13:45:30 +0000

There may be no dominant force like Lord Kanaloa in this year's Group One Longines Hong Kong Sprint, but a trio of Japanese entrants will attempt to give the country a third win in as many years in the HK$18.5 million race. The troika is headed by Sprinters Stakes one-two Snow Dragon and Straight Girl, with Little Gerda, a Group Two winner at her most recent start in September, also making the trip. Lord Kanaloa won the Sprinters Stakes-Hong Kong Sprint double in both 2012 and 2013, but he was...

Hong Kong Sprint field: No Kanaloa but trio can lord over rivals

Wed, 26 Nov 2014 08:03:46 +0000

There may be no Lord Kanaloa this year, but three Japanese runners headline a world championship of sorts in the HK$18.5 million Longines Hong Kong Sprint, where seven internationals take on seven locals. Sprinters Stakes one-two Snow Dragon and Straight Girl are joined by Group Two winner Little Gerda in an attempt to make it three wins in a row for Japan. Ireland's Sole Power and Gordon Lord Byron both return to the meeting for the third time, and they are joined by Australian veteran...

Cruz far from scared of taking on all comers with Peniaphobia

Sun, 23 Nov 2014 16:10:23 +0000

The trail of destruction that came in behind three-year-old Peniaphobia as he made the successful graduation to Group Two winner and international contender will give the Jockey Club much to think about but was not putting a brake on the enthusiasm of his trainer and rider. Douglas Whyte upset bigger names last year when Charles The Great won the Jockey Club Sprint and he was at it again, although Peniaphobia had good support in the betting. "Spalato dug up under me early and I was worried about...

Overseas HKIR markets show the odds are in favour of the bookies

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 12:46:14 +0000

Follow @AndrewNJHawkins The latest Hunger Games film, released this week, is marketed by the franchise's catchphrase once again: "May the odds be ever in your favour." That should...

Cruz targets Group One riches with Peniaphobia

Sun, 19 Oct 2014 14:45:00 +0000

The return to racing at Happy Valley yesterday may have been fairly low-key but that didn't stop top trainer Tony Cruz emerging from the meeting dreaming of international Group One glory with Peniaphobia and Willie Cazals. Cruz forecast last season that there were big things ahead at Group level for Peniaphobia and his win under five pound-claimer Alvin Ng Ka-chun yesterday did nothing to dissuade him of that view and the sprinter is targeting the Longines Hong Kong Sprint on December 14. "We...