Flagship Glory surges into Hong Kong Derby discussions
Flagship Glory (Australia) edged into Hong Kong Derby (Listed, 2000m) calculations with an impressive staying performance at Sha Tin yesterday as Zac Purton continued a withering mid-season charge with a treble, leaving the jockey with eight wins from the past two meetings.
Impressed by Flagship Glory’s ability to overcome a sluggish start and claim the Class 3 Hyacinth Handicap (1600m) for Frankie Lor, Purton then laid waste to several Four-Year-Old Classic Series contenders by winning the Class 2 Daisy Handicap (1800m) on Butterfield (Setembro Chove).
Sixth in last year’s Derby behind Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro), Butterfield was too strong for seven Derby-entered gallopers who needed to triumph to enhance Derby aspirations, downing Charity Go (Harbour Watch) and Maximus (Ivawood).
The Hong Kong Derby field will be announced this week and Lor hopes Flagship Glory has done enough to significantly boost his handicap rating of 77. Maximus, with his third-placed effort, and Conqueror (Fastnet Rock) remain in contention.
The first son of 2014 Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) winner Australia (Galileo) to triumph in Hong Kong, Flagship Glory has never been tried beyond 1600 metres.
But Lor is confident the chestnut can flourish over the 2000 metres of the Derby.
“I think 2000 metres is ok for him. He’s sired by Australia, he got 2400 metres, so hopefully the distance should be ok,” he said.
Flagship Glory competed as Establish in Great Britain for Roger Varian, winning at Bath and Newmarket – both over 1600 metres – before being transferred to Hong Kong.
Lor, who won the 2019 Derby with Furore (Pierro), has taken an unorthodox path with Flagship Glory, dodging the Four-Year-Old Classic Series to concentrate on settling the import.
“When he first trialled he was a little bit keen and I wanted to take him step by step,” Lor said.
“We kept him at 1400 metres twice and then to 1600 metres today – I have plenty of time for the horse.
“It doesn’t matter if he can’t get into the Derby but if he gets in, we will run him.
“He jumped slowly away again and then he was on the inside and sometimes there is traffic on the inside but he still won well.”
Purton, who celebrated a treble to follow his five-timer at Happy Valley on Wednesday to cut the suspended Joao Moreira’s lead in the jockeys’ championship to 22, was impressed with Flagship Glory.
“It was a good effort because he stood flat-footed in the gates,” Purton said.
“He just decided to let them go and come out after them. I was able to get down nicely on the fence although mid-race they really slowed it up and I was a bit worried about where I was, but the leader went for home early and then split them up and allowed me to come out.”
Purton believes Flagship Glory’s stout pedigree lends and the gelding’s laid-back racing style are assets heading towards a possible Derby assignment.
“I believe he can run the distance, he’s very relaxed – he’ll give himself a chance,” the winning rider said.
Apart from Danny Shum’s Butterfield and Flagship Glory, Purton also prevailed on So We Joy (So You Think), prompting David Hayes to attribute the success in the Class 4 Marigold Handicap (1400m) to gear changes.
“Cheek piece off, Zac Purton on,” the dual champion trainer beamed after the son of So You Think (High Chaparral) charged through a gap late for Purton to post his second win in 15 starts.
“It was a great ride and a good win – I think he’s a Class 3 horse.”
Lor, who moved into joint third on the trainers’ championship with Francis Lui with 40 winners for the 2020/21 season, is upbeat over the future of Dragon Fortune (Per Incanto), who overcame difficulties to land the Class 4 Jonquil Handicap (1200m) for Karis Teetan.
Still only a three-year-old, the gelding snatched the lead late from Decisive Twelve A9ll Too Hard) to seal a substantial betting move.
“Last time he drew (barrier) 13, this time he came out of seven, so it was better,” Lor said. “I thought he had a chance.
“I think he’ll still stay in Class 4 but we’ll keep going because I can’t wait too long with him.”
Ping Hai Bravo (Red Dazzler) underlined his fondness for Sha Tin’s 1000-metre dash with victory in the Class 2 Cornflower Handicap – his fourth over the trip this season – and, in the process, became the 13th horse to claim a HK$1 million (approx. AUD$167,500) High Performance Bonus for winning a Class 2 as a four-year-old.
Five other horses have also claimed bonuses of between HK$500,000 and HK$1.5 million.
Patiently ridden by Antoine Hamelin, Ping Hai Bravo held off Duke Wai (Per Incanto) to improve his overall record to six wins from 15 starts.
The success gave John Size his 50th winner for the season, boosting his lead to three over Caspar Fownes (47).
Hamelin boosted his season tally to 20 by completing a double on Dennis Yip’s Flying Bonus (Snitzel) in the Class 3 Freesia Handicap (1200m, AWT), holding off Lucky Fun (Proisir) and Man Star (Shooting To Win).
City Legend (Red Giant) finally shed his maiden status, notching his first win at his 32nd attempt, by prevailing in the Class 5 Snapdragon Handicap (1400m). Trained by Benno Yung and ridden by Jerry Chau, the gelding debuted in Hong Kong four years ago and since then has recorded ten second placings and four thirds before his breakthrough.
Moeraki (El Roca) became Michael Chang’s second Sha Tin winner in two meetings with victory under Michael Chadwick in the Class 4 Kalanchoe Handicap (1200m, AWT).
Lucky Ruby (Zoustar) showed the benefit of a decent barrier trial on February 19 to reverse a form slump by snaring the Class 5 Oncidium Handicap (1200m, AWT) in dashing fashion for Manfred Man and Neil Callan.
Lui and Vincent Ho, one of Hong Kong racing’s most familiar partnerships, combined to upstage hot favourite Juneau Park (Ocean Park) in the Class 3 Dendrobium Handicap (1200m) with Chancheng Prince (Carpe Diem).
While Juneau Park laboured into fourth, Chancheng Prince – the only son of Carpe Diem (Reward For Effort) in Hong Kong – staved off Storm Warnings (Zoustar) and Diamond Brilliant (Not A Single Doubt).