John Moore will have all the numbers on his side in the HK$8 million Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup on Sunday, but rival trainer Tony Cruz has warned that punters who ignore Blazing Speed do so at their own peril.
Blazing Speed has emerged almost from nowhere this season to become a big event player, and got under the guard of most racing fans when he upset the big names in the Stewards' Cup in January to win his first Group One.
With the major focus sure to be on Hong Kong Cup winner Akeed Mofeed and Horse Of The Year Military Attack on Sunday, Cruz said it could happen again.
"He has not put a foot wrong since he won the Stewards' Cup. His trial the other day was very good - he is a very healthy horse and I'm really happy with him," Cruz said.
With just seven runners, and five of them from the Moore yard, the Gold Cup promises to be a battle of tactics, but Cruz said Blazing Speed had already shown his versatility here by racing well forward or back.
"I'm sure that one of John's runners like Dan Excel or Same World will go out and lead so I'm not planning for Blazing Speed to be in front, but he will probably have to race handier this time," he said.
Although Blazing Speed has been tried just once at 2,000m here, he was unbeaten in two attempts at similar distances in the UK and Cruz believes his sixth in the Hong Kong Cup behind Akeed Mofeed didn't do him justice.
"If you look at that race, he missed the start. If he had jumped, he would have finished in the first three and I believe he is a perfect 2,000m horse and he's ready for the fight - don't forget me," Cruz said.
Victory could seal a trip to the Dubai Duty Free for Blazing Speed as well as see him standing as a hitherto unheralded contender to become the first winner of the Triple Crown - the Stewards' Cup, Gold Cup and Champions & Chater Cup - since River Verdon 20 years ago. Ambitious Dragon went the closest two years ago, winning the first two legs before coming unstuck at the 2,400m of the final leg.
Blazing Speed was a supplementary entry for the US$5 million Dubai Duty Free on March 29, but he has not been issued with an invitation to run in the race.
"But if he wins this Gold Cup, I hope he would then be invited and I believe he would go there as a serious contender to win it," Cruz said.
