G1, The Champions Mile: Who gets their first G1 win in Hong Kong?
| Hong Kong (HK) Saturday, April 24, 2021 — 3:00:00 PM EST | Race ID : 2615415 | |
| The Champions Mile | |
| Grade I / Group 1*CPU – Purse : $750,000 | |
| Restricted to 3 Year Olds and Older | |
| 8 Furlongs | ~1600 Meters | One Mile | Firm Turf |
This week we will be taking a look at the field of thirteen horses that will be running in Hong Kong in the G1, The Champions Mile. This race on the card will be across a firm turf track and is open to 3 year olds and older. We have a nice looking field of horses running on Saturday, all of which will be seeking to add their first G1 win to their résumés. The winner of last years The Champions Mile was Tronic who ran a blistering 118 speed rating who went on to win other G1 races including the G1, Breeders’ Bowl Mile. He is an EOY Award winner with currently over $4 million in earnings and is owned by the Silversun master stables. This year we will crown a new winner as Tronic is not listed in this field to defend his title. There will be a lot of excitement in the air when this field of thirteen horses takes to the turf track here in Hong Kong. The odds makers have formulated their morning line for this race and the post positions have been drawn. Let us now take a preview of this year’s contenders in the G1, The Champions Mile.
| 1 | KYMARC ANTONYM | KY | 5M | atw11 | T Loesch | 21 | 4 | 71% | $154,300 | 2.31 | 11/1 |
Coming out of the inside gate will be this five year old Bay Horse who was sired by Verrazano. This horse has went through a lot of transitions in his career and has been claimed twice in the past. He has found a new home now and under new ownership this horse has been worked with and has shown some improvements. He is a SP badge earner who in his last two starts has run on the turf surface. His most recent trip to the track came on 03/27/2021 when he ran in Kentucky going 8 furlongs on the turf in a Listed Stakes, Western Sculpture Turf Memorial. He ran one of his better speeds that day of 111, but it would not be good enough against this field when he crossed the wire in seventh. He is taking a big jump in Class here today against a tough field and he will have to show more effort here in Hong Kong. The owner has called in jockey, T Loesch from South Africa to take the trip with his horse when they head out of the paddock representing the East-West Connection residency.
| 2 | DANZINGER | JPN | 5G | nwo4life23 | R Rice | 33 | 7 | 45% | $228,652 | 4.00 | 19/1 |
This five year old Bay Gelding was sired by Harbinger, and he too has a history of being claimed a couple of times in his career. He has now found a new home in his last six races and has not shown any dramatic improvement under new ownership. He has been sent out at various levels and distances from 8.25 furlongs to 10 furlongs in his last six races. In his last outing which was in Japan on 03/27/2021 he ran 8.25 furlongs in a Local Starter Allowance of which he ran a 111 speed. He was attempting a gate to wire trip in this race, but got run down late in the stretch and crossed the wire in second. For this race here in Hong Kong the owner made his way over to the jocks room and found a jockey, R Rice ready to take the mount for this race. He is a local favorite jockey here in Hong Kong who will have his work cut out for him when this pair breaks from their gate representing The Minnesota Testbarn Residency.
| 3 | EVERY ATOM OF ME | KY | 5M | palmbeachkc | Z Ayya | 24 | 9 | 62% | $1,239,980 | 33.00 | 8/1 |
This is a five year old Brown Horse who was sired by Giant’s Causeway is a prior G3 winner. This horse has two wins and a third in his last three starts, all of which were at the Allowance level. But he has been putting up some nice speed ratings in those races. He will need to bring that speed with him here to Hong Kong on Saturday. His last trip to the track came on 03/13/2021 when he ran 8 furlongs in the Czech Republic where he fired down the stretch to pick up the win by two at the wire. He tends to stay close and just off the lead in his best races and that is where I would expect to find him on Saturday when he gets jockey, Z Ayya from New York in the saddle. This team has paired together in the past, but in their last trip out together back in September they did not give a good performance. They will be looking for much redemption here together on Saturday when they break from their gate representing the Empire State Racing residency.
| 4 | KYMARC INFINITI | IRE | 5G | tenpin3 | D Givins | 26 | 6 | 62% | $274,744 | 28.00 | 5/1 |
This is a five year old Bay Gelding is sired by Beat Hollow. In twenty-six career starts he has found the winners circle in six of his race, but none have been above the Allowance level. He has been running well for his owner in his most recent starts and the owner feels it is time to push his horse and give him a start at the Graded level for the first time. On 02/20/2021 the horse started in Japan going 9.5 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Mia Then Back Turf Route. He briefly grabbed the lead at the third call, but went on to finish up second. His most recent trip to the track came here in Hong Kong on 03/26/2021 when he went 9 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Jacques Turf Route. He ran a nice 115 speed that day which was good enough to nail down a third place finish. For the race on Saturday the owner has called upon jockey, D Givins from Kentucky to fly in and take to the saddle with his horse. The jockey will be looking to keep this horse in a competitive position as he moves up in Class and down in distance. They will be headed out to their gate draw here in Hong Kong representing the East-West Connection residency.
| 5 | KHAL SNITZEL | AUS | 5M | 24flat | A Jolly | 16 | 4 | 69% | $285,515 | 44.00 | 7/1 |
Next out is this five year old Bay Horse who was sired by Snitzel and is out of the HOF mare Uncas Ruckus. This horse has sixteen lifetime starts and has found the wire first in four of those races. He is a prior G3 winner and picked up that accolade when he ran last August in the G3, The Desmond in Ireland. He then made a couple of G1 starts which were not fruitful, but in his most recent trip to the track he ran on 03/07/2021 in Washington going 8 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Georges X Con Turf Mile. In this race he lingered back and after the third call was asked to show more effort. He ran a 114 speed rating in this race and got up for a second place finish. His owner is moving him back up in Class for this race on Saturday and giving him another shot to find a G1 win. The owner has placed the call to jockey, A Jolly from Louisiana to come in and take the ride with his horse. They recently paired together back in November but did not have a good outing together. They look to show improvement as they team up here in Hong Kong representing the Empire State Racing residency.
| 6 | OASIS ON THE SEA | ENG | 4M | stockswami0 | T Small | 11 | 3 | 55% | $443,110 | 21.00 | 20/1 |
This is a four year old Bay Colt who was sired by Oasis Dream has eleven career starts with three wins to his credit. He is a prior G2 winner and he found that win back in October 2019 in the G2, Knick Knack Juvenile in Queensland. This horse has shown up well in his last two trips to the track. In December he won a $75000 Local Allowance race in Berkshire when he closed from way back to catch the wire first by a head. His most recent race came on 02/20/2021 when he ran in Dubai going 8.5 furlongs in the G3, The City Of Gold. Again this horse made a big closing drive down the stretch to weave his way to a second place finish in this field. His owner turns his eye to Hong Kong to give him another shot at a G1 win. The owner has placed the call to jockey, T Small from Germany to come in and take the ride up top with his horse. This pair will be coming out of the paddock and into the post parade to the cheers of an exited crowd.
| 7 | IFF YOU PLEASE | ENG | 5M | lah | T Ace | 19 | 8 | 68% | $1,124,889 | 112.00 | 4/1 |
This is a five year old Bay Horse sired by Iffraaj has found the winners circle eight times in his nineteen career starts. He is a prior G2 winner when in February 2020 he got up in the G2, The What The Who stakes in New Zealand. In his last four starts he has crossed the wire in second three times, all of which were at the Graded level. This horse was last seen running in New Zealand on 03/14/2021 when he went 8 furlongs in the G3, Intercontinental Trophy. In this race he ran a nice 117 speed rating and was attempting a gate to wire trip, but was caught in his stretch run to finish up second at the wire. For this race on Saturday the owner is calling in a familiar face in jockey, T Ace from Texas. This jockey and horse have paired together well in the past and the owner wants a trusted jockey in the saddle when they head out to try and capture a G1 win. This familiar pairing will be headed out onto the turf and to their post draw representing the Empire State Racing residency.
| 8 | IMMORAL REDOUTE | IRE | 4M | highflyer | J Lowich | 13 | 4 | 77% | $148,706 | 18.00 | 8/1 |
This four year old Bay Colt was sired by Sea The Stars and in thirteen starts he has found the winners circle four times. Back in April of 2020 the Jacklad master stables moved this horse over to another stable and with new faces to look at this horse seemed to find comfort there. The owner began to see improvement out of this colt and has only been off the boards one time since making that move to the new stable. This miss unfortunately came in this horses first time to run in a Listed Stakes in January of this year in Italy when he ran in the School Kris Turf Route. The most recent trip for this horse came on 03/26/2021 when he ran in South Africa going 8 furlongs in a $45000 Allowance of which he ran a very nice 119 speed rating which disappointingly he finished in second by a half. The owner is moving this colt back up in Class and giving him another opportunity to prove himself here in Hong Kong. The owner has called in jockey, J Lowich from New Jersey to fly over and take to the irons in this race. This pair will be headed out in the post parade representing the All-Star Racing residency.
| 9 | COMPTON CROSS | IRE | 6M | gcliffo0 | D Evans | 25 | 6 | 76% | $596,150 | 66.00 | 7/1 |
Coming out of the ninth gate will be this six year old Bay Horse who was sired by Dawn Approach. He has twenty-five career starts and has found a win in six of those races. He is a prior G2 winner, winning the G2, The Celebration in Surrey at the distance of 8 furlongs. His most recent trip to the track came on 03/14/2021 in New Zealand when he went 8 furlongs in the G3, Intercontinental Trophy. In this race he showed a lack luster performance in comparison to what we have seen him do in the past. He crossed the wire in eighth with a 108 speed rating. He will get another shot here in Hong Kong to show improvement and see if he can find a G1 win. In that effort the owner has called in jockey, D Evans from Victoria to come in and take to the saddle for this trip. This jockey will be looking to get some extra effort out of this horse when they turn for home representing the Racing HQ residency.
| 10 | GASPING FOR B | SAF | 4M | foxforce | B F Abman | 14 | 6 | 57% | $369,925 | 32.00 | 21/1 |
This four year old Bay Colt was sired by The United States and in fourteen career starts he has found the boards six times. He is a prior G3 winner and he got that win last May when he went 8 furlongs in the G3, Roy Rogers Handicap. After that win he found a string of troubled races, but in his most recent outing on 03/08/2021 he ran in South Africa going 8 furlongs in a Local Championship Stakes of which he rebounded to again find the winners circle. He stayed close to the leaders in this race and in the stretch the jockey asked for a little extra effort and the horse responded to get up for the win by one and a half with a 110 speed rating. For this race on Saturday the owner has placed the call to jockey, B F Abman from Kentucky to come in and take the mount up top. This horse will be moving back up in Class for this race and the jockey is going to be seeking to get some extra effort out of one of the longer choices in the morning line when they head out representing the Hoosier Racing residency.
| 11 | ROCK TO THE GRAVE | IRE | 5M | queenab | F Gossett | 20 | 8 | 75% | $590,665 | 105.00 | 6/1 |
This is a five year old Bay Horse who was sired by Fastnet Rock who in twenty career starts has found the winners circle eight times. Two of those wins have been in his last two trips to the track at the Graded level. On 02-13/2021 he went 8 furlongs in New Zealand in the G2, The What The Who of which he closed nicely after the third call to get to the wire first by a half. The owner then turned his eye to Deauville to send his horse out for his most recent trip on 03/20/2021 when he went 8 furlongs in the G3, The Blank Eddie. Again he stayed close in this race and took control in his stretch run to get up for the win by one and three quarters. This horse is coming off back to back Graded and the odds makers have taken a look. The call has gone out to jockey, F Gossett from California to fly in and take to the saddle for this trip here in Hong Kong. This horse likes to stay close to the leaders in his best outings and that is where I would expect for this jockey to place his horse when they break from their gate representing the Empire State Racing residency.
| 12 | THENAMEOFTHEKING | AUS | 4M | billzpaid2 | W Kewmwa | 14 | 6 | 50% | $220,140 | 28.00 | 18/1 |
This horse is a four year old Light Grey Colt that was sired by Desert King. He has fourteen career starts and has found the winners circle in six of those outings. He is a Listed Stakes winner in this field and he found that win back in September of last season when he ran in New York in the Ericas Well Turf Mile. After that race the owner sent him out three times at the G1 level. All of these attempts came with disappointment. This horses most recent trip to the track came on 03/21/2021 in Berkshire when he traveled 8 furlongs in a $75000 Allowance. Being backed down in Class did not spark interest in this colt as he finished up back in fourth and was six off at the wire. He is getting another shot to prove himself here in Hong Kong and the owner has called in a familiar jockey to this horse in W Kewmwa from Arizona. This jockey is going to be seeking some extra effort out of this horse and try to keep him in a competitive spot when they turn for home representing the GR Simsters residency.
| 13 | OHH GOD | SKOR | 4M | tornadoty1 | R Zombie | 15 | 2 | 33% | $89,146 | 7.00 | 29/1 |
Breaking from the far outside gate will be this four year old Brown Colt sired by Take Charge Indy. In fifteen starts he has two wins to his credit. This horse has had his share of struggles and has been claimed a couple of times in the past. He is now under new ownership and has been transitioned over to the turf surface. He has shown some improvements since coming out of the Claimer races, but one must question if he has improved enough. The odds makers do not give him much love in their morning line as he will go off as the longest choice in Saturday’s field. This horse was last seen in China on 03/28/2021 when he ran 8 furlongs on the turf in a $37500 Allowance race of which he finished fourth with a 105 speed rating. The owner has called in jockey R Zombie from Arizona to come in and take the ride up top in this race. He will need to bring a snappy whip and get the best of efforts out of this horse to keep him in a competitive position when they make their stretch run representing The Minnesota Testbarn Residency.
Good luck to all owners and horses!
Skippy’s Watch List
7-Iff You Please: Coming off a nice G3 trip his last time out. Can he find the wire first?
8-Immoral Redoute: Hard to overlook that 119 in his last trip. Can he bring that number to Hong Kong?
11-Rock To The Grave: Coming off back to back Graded wins. Can he make it three in a row?
Tarton’s Long Shot
10-Gasping For B: This 21/1 choice in the field found some struggles along the way since earning his G3 badge, but in his last trip to the track he proved to be a Local Champion. He needed to show he still had the competitive spirit and he gave his owner what he was looking for. This is a pretty long choice in the morning line, but coming off his last race with a 110 speed rating he looks like a good play at these odds. If he can bring forth another good effort on Saturday he could upset some horses in this field. I will put him on a couple of exotic tickets when I head to the betting window.
Thanks.
Thanks for the write-up!