Numbers emerges as Classic Series force after Centenary Vase romp
Numbers (Tivaci) firmly advanced his credentials for the remainder of the Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Classic Series with a commanding victory in Sunday’s Centenary Vase Handicap (Gr 3, 1800m) at Sha Tin.
The Frankie Lor-trained gelding dominated his six rivals, each with a Group-level winning profile, as he led from start-to-finish on his way to a two-length victory in the HK$4.2 million (approx. AU$769,420) contest.
The Tivaci (High Chaparral) gelding went off a strong $1.70 favourite on the strength of an eye-catching front-running victory in December, his first in Hong Kong. The handicapper gave him eight points for that, but Numbers still went off from the foot of the weights against a more experienced field.
From barrier two, he was worked to the head of the field by Derek Leung and enjoyed a rail-hugging passage half-a-length in front of Andrea Atzeni on Ensued (Lemon Drop Kid) to the bend. As they entered the straight, a group headed by Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit) under Zac Purton moved to his shoulder to briefly offer resistance, before Leung shook up the four-year-old and opened a gap on his pursuers. Speed Dragon (Darci Brahma), ridden by Lyle Hewitson, improved to take second, with Karis Teetan and Encountered (Churchill) finishing third.
“He was still a bit nervous in the gates, but he did a good job,” Leung said. “He handled himself pretty good. After he relaxed, I started to pick up at the 800 metres. He listened to me, and he made my job pretty easy.”
Leung said his tactical versatility makes Numbers a major threat for the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on March 22.
“He can lead, or if someone’s going faster than him, he can be second or third – just whatever he wants to be,” Leung said. “He loves to chase a horse. So, it doesn’t matter … he loves the challenge.”
The second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series is the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on March 1, and on this evidence, Numbers will take some beating as the Series extends to 1800 metres and beyond. His last act in Australia pre-import was a spirited second in the Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m). Trainer Lor said he was confident.
“I have a lot of hope. You can see in Australia he already has form over 2400 metres, so I don’t think there will be any problems and we’ll just go for it,” he said.
Andrea Atzeni improved to 25 wins for the season as he grabbed a treble. The Italian’s first winner came on King Dance (Nyquist), who produced a giant effort to snatch his first career win at the seventh attempt. The US-bred chestnut, trained by Francis Lui, is a son of dirt superstar Nyquist (Uncle Mo) and made good on his classy pedigree, claiming the first section of the Class 4 Lung Yat Handicap (1200m, dirt).
Atzeni made it two after a grinding effort on David Hall’s Good Chap (Deep Field), who claimed a first career win in the second section of the Class 4 Lung Yat Handicap (1200m, dirt). Hall was especially pleased with the win, given the Deep Field (Northern Meteor) gelding’s difficult start in Hong Kong.
“It wasn’t a big surprise. He’s always shown a bit of ability,” said Hall. “We’ve had a few soundness issues with him. I think with the breed – Deep Field – they certainly love the surface, and I think they love a set of blinkers. He trialled well with them, so he took his trial to the races.”
Atzeni’s treble was completed when he piloted John Size’s four-year-old Flow Water Flow (Proisir) to victory in his first Class 3 run in the Yau Oi Handicap (1800m). The Proisir (Choisir) gelding has now recorded two wins after three seconds in his debut campaign.
Mark Newnham’s Lucky Ranger (Vanbrugh) maintained his upward trajectory with a fine win in the first section of the Class 4 On Ting Handicap (1400m). In both of his first two starts, the three-year-old was forced to overcome the widest draw, but did so comfortably, delivering a 22nd win of the season for Luke Ferraris, and maintaining a one-win lead (35) for Newnham in the trainers’ standings.
The Brett Crawford-Karis Teetan axis continued to fire as Island Buddy (Brave Smash) took the spoils in the Class 4 Yan Oi Tong Cup Handicap (1200m) with the Mauritian having now been aboard eight of Crawford’s 14 victories since relocating to Sha Tin this season. The five-year-old has now won both races since his transfer to the South African’s yard.
Cody Mo secured a win courtesy of the hugely progressive Emblazon (Zoustar). The Hong Kong Derby-nominated son of Zoustar (Northern Meteor) made it three wins in a row and four for the season – all under two pound-claiming Jerry Chau – when he took out the Class 3 Yan Tin Handicap (1400m).
Chau and trainer Lui completed doubles when Galactic Voyage (Impending) prevailed in the Class 3 Tai Hing Handicap (1200m). The win improved Lui’s tally for the season to 25 wins. Chau moved on to 21.
Manfred Man and Dylan Browne McMonagle combined as Aurora Patch (Showtime) won the Class 3 Wu King Handicap (1200m, dirt), the five-year-old’s third win of the season. Ricky Yiu’s The Concentration (Hellbent) claimed a fourth win from 31 starts, with Maxime Guyon registering his 14th winner of the season in the Class 5 Fu Tai Handicap (1400m), and David Hayes kept up the pressure on Newnham at the top of the trainers’ standings with his 34th win of the season, when Harry Bentley guided All Round Winner (Divine Prophet) to victory in the Class 4 On Ting Handicap (1400m).
Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday.