Top Liners compete for $2mil Grade I Classic in Hong Kong
Preview – The Queen’s Spring Cup
A firm track will greet the runners in balmy conditions for the running of the Grade I The Queen’s Spring Cup, with prize money of $2,000,000 on offer.
The race has attracted some of the best in the sim for this year’s running, including last year’s Eclipse Horse of the Year winner, CRYIN OUT LOUD, who will have his work cut out for him against the horse who last defeated him, WILLIAM’S STREET, as well as the top class long turf stayer CAPINSKY.
With a few up and comers, a very smart mare and a highly credentialed old timer all thrown into the mix, this 10 furlong classic shapes up as one of the most anticipated races of the year.
PP1 INSHALLA (FORESTRY x GALILEO (IRE) x MONTJEU (IRE)) mickyb 16/1
Scratch bred 5yo who will be sent out by Lado as the long shot of the field, despite showing some pretty good form recently, when matching it against some tough company. Last start he was a gallant 3rd in the Grade III The Grand Prix, when he battled on gamely, but was well beaten by a couple of top liners. He scored his debut stakes win at his previous start, when he raced against a soft field and proved far too good, needing only an SP 96 to romp away for a 4 1/4 length win. Has been placed 3 times in graded races, including the prestigious Coxless Stakes last year over this same journey he gets here, when he ran a career best SP of 109. Will get the gun run back on the inside and could be ready to take his racing to the next level.
PP2 CRYIN OUT LOUD (STREET CRY (IRE) x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x MILL REEF) beenskunkd 3/1
The number 1 ranked turf router in the sim was dropped back in class following 8 grade 1 races on end and treated his opponents with contempt when destroying all comers in the Grade II The Victoria Cup. Before that he was outgunned on the Grade I Mr. Met Cap, where his SP 114 was not enough to match it with WILLIAM’S STREET, being downed by 7 lengths. Finished off last season with a heart stopping 1/4 length win in the King Kong Cup, and cruised to a dominant win in the Coxless Stakes prior to that. It goes without saying, that the 2012 Eclipse Horse of the Year is the one to beat again.
PP3 ONE TOUCH FROM YOU (ROYAL ACADEMY x KRIS S. x ROUND TABLE) billzpaid1 9/1
Consistently running SPs of between 107 and 110 saw this scratch bred 5yo collect firstly a restricted Allowance win, followed by his debut Stakes win, and then an authoritative win in the Grade II Euro Grand Prix in Paris. He then found things a little tougher in the Grade I King Kong Cup when he came up against the likes of CRYIN OUT LOUD, finishing a creditable 5th. He followed that up with a fast finishing 2nd in the Grade II Marcos Footwear Handicap 2 starts ago, and was outclassed last time out when battling into 7th place in the Grade II The Double M Memorial. A tougher assignment here, but is capable of taking it up another notch to be a factor.
PP4 CAPINSKY (CAPE CROSS (IRE) x DYNAFORMER x NIJINSKY 2ND (CAN)) phantom2 5/1
The winner of 4 graded races last season over slightly more ground, the current number 3 ranked long turf router in the sim, makes his first ever trip to Hong Kong, after a disappointing result in Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic, getting much too far back to ever be a threat. Two starts back he was rallying late, but again, was set too much of a task when 3rd in the Grade II Fitness Cup. Was at his absolute best 3 starts ago in winning the Grade I The Winter Cup over 13 furlongs, coming from 20 lengths behind to score by a runaway 2 3/4 lengths. With the drop in distance, he may be able to settle a little closer to the lead this week, and is a graded winner over 10 furlongs with an SP 119. Watch for him to bounce back with a vengeance after his poor run last time.
PP5 BALSOM (BAL DU SEIGNEUR x RED RANSOM x NORTHERN DANCER (CAN)) willowisp3 12/1
A string of poor results was finally broken last time out when this son of a bargain sire finally broke through for his debut Stakes win, running an SP 108 in collecting the trophy in the Woodly Turf Route. Could only manage a battling 6th in a restricted Allowance before that, when made little impression. Was a fading also-ran in two listed Stakes races previously, beating just a few runners home in each. These results were a long way short of his massive effort in the Grade III The Next Episode back in September last year, when he sat right up on the speed and was just tipped out late, going down by just 3/4 length. Return to form last start is a positive sign he could be back to somewhere near his best, which he will need to be in this big step up in class.
PP6 WILLIAM’S STREET (STREET CRY (IRE) x GALILEO (IRE) x ALYDAR) sonofaus 4/1
Very lightly raced 5yo scratch bred, having just his 14th start. Hasn’t raced since early February in the Mr. Met Cap, where he jumped away quickly from the gates and found himself almost 7 lengths in front at the last call, going on to win easily, with an SP 122. That result turned the tables on his previous start nemesis, CRYIN OUT LOUD, who powered over the top of him and raced away to beat him by 8 lengths here in the Grade I King Kong Cup. Failed to put it all together at his previous start, when he was beaten for early speed and was never a factor in the Grade I The Fall Tent Show. His last run was exceptional, and the rematch with CRYIN OUT LOUD should be something special.
PP7 NEW SKY CH (NEW APPROACH (IRE) x DYNAFORMER x SKY MESA) chevry 13/1
The Cothill Racing Stables prepares this 4yo son of New Approach, who comes here after a failed run in the Grade III Awa Pooie Gold Cup, when he got into an early speed battle, and had nothing left at the end, fading to finish 10th of 10. Before that, he opened up a huge lead on the final bend, but was just run down at the wire, finishing 2nd, beaten by just 1/2 length in the Mia Then Back Turf Route. His best results have come when he has been able to jump to an early lead, and he is going to have his work cut out getting that position here. This is a very tough ask, but he still has some improvement left in him, and has a habit of sneaking into the placings at odds.
PP8 CHEROKEE DALA (DALAKHANI (IRE) x CHEROKEE RUN x RIVERMAN) musse 6/1
No classic turf route is complete without an entry from Daniel, and he brings this scratch bred 5yo up from a pair of competitive runs down in New Zealand. It was a dour staying effort last time when he settled back in 10th place, and fought on to the line, but was unable to make any impression on the winner, eventually finishing 5th with an SP 111. Prior to that, he was doing his best work late in the stretch, cutting down the lead, but falling short by 1 3/4 lengths in the Grade III Galaxian Stakes back in December last year. Was making ground 3 starts ago in the Grade I The Coxless Stakes, but came up short finishing 5 1/2 lengths behind CRYIN OUT LOUD. Hasn’t won a race in over a year, but has finished on the board in 3 graded races in that time and is racing in good heart. Has been given plenty of rest, and should be ready to show his best.
PP9 MEET THE NEW BOSS (STREET BOSS x A.P. INDY x THEATRICAL (IRE)) ruffino 8/1
Bred from the stakes winning mare Mongoose Jedi, who has produced 3 stakes winners from her 8 foals to race so far, this 5yo came from a long last to blow away a soft field in the listed Kid Icarus Turf Mare Endurance at her last start. Found just one too good before that, when she came rattling home but went down by 2 1/2 lengths in the Hushwing Hawk Turf Mare Route. It was a similar story 3 starts back in the Grade III The High Altitude on the off-track, when she stormed home, but was left with too much ground to make up, finishing 2nd, beaten 1 1/4 lengths. Strung together 7 wins out of 9 runs up until 5 starts ago, and comes here back in winning form. Is likely to be giving up a lot of ground again here, but has proven herself capable of winning a Grade I when coming from last.
PP10 RED FOG (SEEKING THE GOLD x THEATRICAL (IRE) x DANZIG) bigspruce 8/1
Veteran stayer who has been finding it tough lately to keep matching it in this class, but showed signs of a return to form last time when he came swooping home late, but could still manage just 6th place in the Grade II The Second Coming with an SP 108. He finished down the track at his 2 previous starts, beaten in races won by WILLIAM’S STREET and CAPINSKY, both times the margin being 20 lengths. Prior to that he was a very respectable 2nd in the Grade I The Japan Classic, with an SP 114, and 2 starts before that he won the Grade I The Champion Stakes, beating home CRYIN OUT LOUD. Was placed in this race in 2010, and although his best looked behind him, he was competitive last start, and can never be ruled out.