Lui-trained Chancheng Glory flies four-year-old flag with commanding display
Chancheng Glory continued his impressive campaign by securing a victory at Sha Tin yesterday and recorded a much-needed success for this season’s four-year-old crop.
Francis Lui Kin-wai’s galloper collected his fifth win of the campaign in the feature Class Two Hong Kong China Rugby Cup (1,600m) and in doing so became the first runner from this year’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) to record a subsequent victory.
Eight of the 14 runners who lined up in this year’s Derby had failed to return to the winner’s enclosure on their next start, but Chancheng Glory bucked the trend when he showed a clean pair of heels on the Sha Tin turf.
The victory moved Lui to within four wins of championship leader Pierre Ng Pang-chi and the veteran handler was delighted with the performance from his Classic Cup (1,800m) runner-up.
“He’s a very honest horse and today the track and the situation suited him perfectly,” Lui said. “He’s a good miler and even 1,800m like we saw in the Classic Cup is no problem. Hopefully if he can improve a little bit he can be top class.”
After settling in midfield under Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, Chancheng
Glory was urged forward on the home turn and responded immediately.
Picking off his rivals one by one, the son of Mor Spirit flew home in a final 400m around four lengths quicker than standard time to edge clear of Outgate in the closing stages.
Fellow four-year-old Helene Feeling failed to land a blow in fifth, leaving the John Size-trained Helios Express, Ensued and Simple Hedge as the only ones of this year’s Derby runners to not reappear after the race.
O’Brien to bypass Champions & Chater
An epic clash in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) between two of the most powerful stables in the world is off after it was confirmed Tower Of London will bypass the HK$13 million contest.
Aidan O’Brien had entered his four-year-old for the race after he impressively took out March’s Group Two Dubai Gold Cup (2,000m), but the son of Galileo will not travel to Hong Kong in favour of the Group Two Yorkshire Cup (2,800m) on Friday.
“He will not be coming and it sounds like he will go to York,” the Jockey Club’s head of racing product Greg Carpenter said. “But, they are very keen to travel him for the [Group One Hong Kong] Vase in December.”
Master trainer O’Brien is no stranger to targeting the Hong Kong Vase, and while his representative Warm Heart could only manage third behind Junko and Zeffiro in last year’s renewal, the trainer has tasted plenty of success in the past.
Highland Reel took out the contest in 2015 and 2017, while Mogul reigned supreme in 2020.
Tower Of London’s omission from the Champions & Chater comes four days after it was confirmed Group One Sheema Classic (2,400m) hero Rebel’s Romance will make the trip over for the final top-level contest of the Hong Kong season.
A four-time Group One winner in three different countries, Rebel’s Romance will fly the flag for the Charlie Appleby stable in his bid to dethrone dual Champions & Chater victor Russian Emperor.
Simulcast bonanza
Japan’s spring racing features continue today and kick-start a bumper simulcast programme, with the staging of the Group One Victoria Mile (1,600m) headlining the action.
Seven races will be simulcast at Tokyo racecourse before all eyes turn to France where five races will be shown from the Poule d’Essai des Poulains Day from ParisLongchamp racecourse.
The entries for the Victoria Mile include Group One winners Namur and Stunning Rose, who are pitted against a collection of upcoming talent.
Namur, who finished third in December’s Group One Hong Kong Mile (1,600m) after winning the Group One Mile Championship (1,600m) at Kyoto, aims to bag her second top-level mile contest in a row at home.
She is returning to Tokyo directly from Meydan, where she finished second in March’s Group One Dubai Turf (1800m).
“She’s in fine shape and will be able to most definitely give it her absolute best,” trainer Tomokazu Takano said.
In France, trainer Christopher Head bids for Classic success when Ramadan contests the Group Poule d’Essai des Poulains (1,600m).
Unbeaten in two starts this year, Ramadan will aim to build on his victory over the same course and distance in last month’s Group Three Prix de Fontainebleau
“Ramadan proved his class and bravery and also that he handles Longchamp’s 1,600m,” Head said. “We only know him as a soft-ground horse but I’m pretty sure he will be even more powerful on better ground.”