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HK: Yip confident of Massive Sovereign’s QEII Cup chances
Dennis Yip has issued an ominous warning to Massive Sovereign’s (No Nay Never) rivals in Sunday’s QEII Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) at Sha Tin. After his last-start victory in the Hong Kong Derby (Listed, 2000m), Yip said the four-year-old had continued to improve and he is not concerned if the youngest horse in the field encounters a rain-affected track. With two wins from his first two starts in Hong Kong, the first also at 2000 metres, Yip knows Sunday’s task against the more seasoned opposition is formidable but he is excited with the prospect of what Massive Sovereign can produce. “My horse is just at the start and l’m excited with this race,” Yip said. “I think he will show you something. I think soft ground will be no problem for him. He arrived in Hong Kong last year in November. Two or three days after he joined my stable, I felt he was a really gentle horse. He was not using his energy. He is very quiet and a gentle horse. I remember when he first joined my stable, Zac [Purton] called me immediately. He sent me a video of him winning overseas and said ‘this horse, I’d love to ride him because I think he’s got ability and he will show something in Hong Kong.’ I feel he keeps improving. Last Friday, he trialled at Happy Valley. He really enjoyed the trial and finished very strong. After the trial he finished all the feed and keep him I think now is the right time for his performance to be very good.”
HK: In-form Bentley handed plum draw for Believing ride
Harry Bentley limbered up for Sunday’s Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Gr 1, 1200m) at Sha Tin with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday and his chances aboard Believing (Mehmas) were boosted when the filly secured barrier four for the sprint feature. Wednesday’s haul means the British-born jockey, who has been riding in Hong Kong for three years, is on track for his most successful season with 30 victories and he will be hoping his hot run of form continues at Sha Tin this weekend, when he will bid for a breakthrough first top-level success in the city aboard George Boughey’s Believing. “I’ve been here three years now and this season has been my best so far numerically despite two months on the sidelines and two and a bit months left of the season,” Bentley said. “I’ve had 30 winners and things are going good. I’m getting nice support from various yards and I’m pleased with the trajectory I’m on. I’m very content here and I hope to make it my home and work for a good few years to come.” Bentley was speaking after partnering Believing in a turf gallop and reported the four-year-old Sprint Cup (Gr 1, 6f) placegetter to be in excellent shape for her first run since the Champions Sprint (Gr 1, 6f) in October. “She felt very good,” he said. “It was more to get her used to the environment, we did an easy gallop and nothing too strenuous, it was just to give her a little bit of a leg stretch and me to have a bit of a feel of her. I was very happy with how she felt and she looks really, really well in her coat.”