Grade I \/ Group 1*CPU – Purse : $3,000,000<\/p>\n
Restricted to 3 Year Olds and Older<\/p>\n
10 Furlongs | ~2000 Meters | One Mile and One Quarter Firm Turf<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
With the Breeders Bowl and the major races of Europe in the books for 2016, we turn now to Asia and a massive monetary prize in the King Kong Cup.\u00a0 Some very fine ten-furlong types are here to compete and earn some scratch for, perhaps, a new year auction buy.\u00a0 The gates are full, and here are the fourteen:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
# Horse Bred A\/S Owner Jockey R W IM% USD EPnt Odds\u00a0\u00a0 Badges\u00a0\u00a0 Capper my Sire<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
THE JOY OF LIFE<\/b>\u00a0 KY\u00a0 4M\u00a0 icbomber1\u00a0 L Radzinski\u00a0 23\u00a0 9\u00a0 83%\u00a0 $4,349,166\u00a0 390.00\u00a0 6\/1<\/p>\n
KITTEN’S JOY<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Co-favorite looks to avenge his narrow loss in last year’s Cup, and that would be a fitting achievement in a season in which he similarly bagged the Coxless Cup after finishing second as a sophomore.\u00a0 Radzinski has had success with him and takes the mount, poised to unleash a reliable drive from midpack or so.\u00a0 Has a solid chance to earn the 5 million badge in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
RAGSPOINT DANCER<\/b>\u00a0 IRE\u00a0 4M\u00a0 jrogue5\u00a0 J Wilson\u00a0 19\u00a0 4\u00a0 42%\u00a0 $439,457\u00a0 96.00\u00a0 21\/1<\/p>\n
DANEHILL DANCER<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Started 2016 as an N2L allowance winner, but then won a stakes with a big speed number, and added the Grade 2 Kinsho Cho in May.\u00a0 Recent results indicate a win here would be far-fetched, and to pull it off he would appear to need to grab an uncontested lead.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
3<\/p>\n
MIRAGE NIGHTMARE<\/b>\u00a0 ENG\u00a0 4M \u00a0lenny26\u00a0 K Banner\u00a0 10\u00a0 7\u00a0 80%\u00a0 $325,576\u00a0 63.00\u00a0 12\/1<\/p>\n
OASIS DREAM (GB)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If the horse to his inside is to obtain the lead, it will need to be at the expense of this one, who shows much more recent positive form as a frontrunner.\u00a0 In fact, he has just burst upon the scene with his first stakes win in October, then taking down the Grade 3 Harry Potter in November.\u00a0 Both of those victories were at this distance, adding hope to those who look to this longshot to capture the big prize.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
4<\/p>\n
RUN THROUGH FIRE<\/b>\u00a0 IRE\u00a0 4M\u00a0 mattyw2\u00a0 K Ledwith\u00a0 12\u00a0 8\u00a0 83%\u00a0 $2,061,150\u00a0 281.00\u00a0 9\/1<\/p>\n
GALILEO<\/p>\n
Reeled off four straight 110-plus speeds this year, including a win and a place in Grade 1 affairs, but could not get untracked last out in the Coxless and broke the speed streak.\u00a0 Ledwith tries again today, and look for the jockey to once again make a play from near the rear of the field.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
5<\/p>\n
KITTEN OF VALYRIA<\/b>\u00a0 KY\u00a0 5M\u00a0 salamander\u00a0 H Harzheim\u00a0 22\u00a0 9\u00a0 77%\u00a0 $1,000,106\u00a0 132.00\u00a0 10\/1<\/p>\n
KITTEN’S JOY<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Millionaire hadn’t had a win in a light racing season until prepping for this with a conditioned allowance win in Ireland.\u00a0 Lest you write him off on class grounds, bear in mind that he shows two Grade 1 placings this year, including a second to the rail horse.\u00a0 He will need a repeat of one of those performances to finish on the board here, but could have made a useful change last out while showing an ability to rate off the leaders.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
6<\/p>\n
IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS<\/b>\u00a0 JPN\u00a0 3M\u00a0 lasthope1\u00a0 J White\u00a0 11\u00a0 5\u00a0 73%\u00a0 $3,018,934\u00a0 240.00\u00a0 12\/1<\/p>\n
DEEP IMPACT (JPN)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sophomore popped a longshot win last out in the Eclipse, vanquishing elders and setting up for a run at this late-season prize.\u00a0 Not sure the odds were fair last time, given he was multiple Derby-placed early in the year.\u00a0 Also of note is that his best races seem to have come at this range rather than a mile and a half, as both the Eclipse speed number and his Equinics run at a similar distance fit well here.\u00a0 Interesting candidate if he can save some juice for the late running.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
7<\/p>\n
THE DREAMWEAVER<\/b>\u00a0 AUS\u00a0 3M\u00a0 vor\u00a0 F Gossett\u00a0 14\u00a0 6\u00a0 86%\u00a0 $1,287,115\u00a0 192.25\u00a0 13\/1<\/p>\n
REDOUTE’S CHOICE<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Signature win this year is the Equinics tilt for 3-year-olds at 9.5 furlongs, which he earned over his rival to the immediate inside.\u00a0 In a field that looks full of speed, he will need to repeat that kind of performance to score under another new jockey in Gossett.\u00a0 Wondering if another half furlong could be his undoing today.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
8<\/p>\n
I WILL FIX YOU<\/b>\u00a0 KY\u00a0 4M\u00a0 handshob7\u00a0 W Kewmwa\u00a0 17\u00a0 8\u00a0 76%\u00a0 $3,610,140\u00a0 482.00\u00a0 6\/1<\/p>\n
BERNARDINI<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Number one ranked in this division at this time, and that despite no attempt at the Breeders Bowl.\u00a0 What he has is three sterling Grade 1 wins on three continents, and one of them right here in Hong Kong.\u00a0 With a predilection for this course, a jockey who has had success with him aboard, and a late-running style, he will take some beating in this major prize.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
9<\/p>\n
HALO OF DESCENSION<\/b>\u00a0 AUS\u00a0 5M\u00a0 asoiaf2\u00a0 T Small\u00a0 21\u00a0 9\u00a0 67%\u00a0 $1,266,041\u00a0 264.00\u00a0 8\/1<\/p>\n
REDOUTE’S CHOICE<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Followed up a smashing Osmonds win with a Fall Tent Show in which he could not threaten the top three finishers, so we are led to the question of his level of consistency race-to-race.\u00a0 Jockey has been aboard several times, but not for any of his nine wins, so that combined with the challenge of posting a potentially career-best speed to win makes me look for the winner elsewhere.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
10<\/p>\n
GUERMANTES<\/b>\u00a0 IRE\u00a0 3M\u00a0 fersara\u00a0 O A Haack\u00a0 14\u00a0 4\u00a0 50%\u00a0 $1,145,660\u00a0 100.00\u00a0 47\/1<\/p>\n
AUSTRALIA<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Gets in off of a high ranking among sophomore turfers, but he actually hasn’t done much since a spring victory in the Jockey Club.\u00a0 It would be nice to see him step forward heading into his four-year-old campaign, but the long odds look to be deserved.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
11<\/p>\n
PEDRO DE SNOOZA<\/b>\u00a0 KY\u00a0 5M\u00a0 deyoto3\u00a0 GD Mate\u00a0 21\u00a0 7\u00a0 67%\u00a0 $842,235\u00a0 120.50\u00a0 9\/1<\/p>\n
GIO PONTI<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He had a Grade 2 win at this distance early in the year, but perhaps more impressive was his last tilt: while he was third, the margin was less than a length.\u00a0 He should be able to take a position behind the speed types, which may be a significant advantage, and reunites with the jockey he had for the biggest win of his career.\u00a0 Quite interesting.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
12<\/p>\n
DEEP FORTY<\/b>\u00a0 JPN\u00a0 4M\u00a0 given88\u00a0 D Givins\u00a0 20\u00a0 7\u00a0 60%\u00a0 $825,950\u00a0 104.00\u00a0 7\/1<\/p>\n
DEEP IMPACT (JPN)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fairly new to the Grade 1 stage, but sports a show then a place at that level for his last two races.\u00a0 Why not a win today?\u00a0 Well, he has lost to one of the favorites, but he is nonetheless an improving horse that may be peaking now.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
13<\/p>\n
\u00a0NORTH OF THE BEEL\u00a0 <\/b>NZ\u00a0 4M\u00a0 liam14\u00a0 B Wu\u00a0 20\u00a0 5\u00a0 55%\u00a0 $593,599\u00a0 109.00\u00a0 10\/1<\/p>\n
SAVABEEL (AUS)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He couldn’t handle IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS<\/b> last time out in the Eclipse, so he will be banking on the kind of performance he put in twice prior to that.\u00a0 Those were Grade 3 affairs, and he won one and very nearly the other.\u00a0 Sometimes quality horses are tested when they have yet to establish themselves at a level, so this one may be one to watch and wait for now.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
14<\/p>\n
AMONG THE THIRSTY<\/b>\u00a0 ENG\u00a0 4M\u00a0 billzpaid\u00a0 R Hansen\u00a0 19\u00a0 6\u00a0 74%\u00a0 $2,092,964\u00a0 189.00\u00a0 10\/1<\/p>\n
DUBAWI (IRE)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Took the Irish Champion in September to put himself on the Grade 1 map, and that was an impressive score with a nice move from behind the leader.\u00a0 Unfortunately, he followed that up with a loss in a $60k allowance where he fell behind in the stretch.\u00a0 It would seem a difficult thing to clear the many other speedsters from this outside post and still have enough to hold off some highly talented closers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Grade I \/ Group 1*CPU – Purse : $3,000,000 Restricted to 3 Year Olds and Older 10 Furlongs | ~2000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":173,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40066","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/173"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40066"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40066\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40067,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40066\/revisions\/40067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40066"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=40066"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=40066"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}