December 12, 2020
The last big international event of the year.
Mogul in the ring at Leopardstown
In the first of the Group 1’s, The Hong Kong Vase, Aidan O’Brien sends Mogul, a G1 winner in France in September in the Grand Prix de Paris, he’d 2½L to spare over In Swoop, who then went on to finished second in the Arc to Scottsass. No run for Mogul in the Arc he was rerouted to Keeneland where he ran fifth in The Breeeders Cup Turf to Tarnawa beaten 3L.
Mogul winning at Leopardstown
To win he’ll have to overcome Exultant, the ex Irish horse who ran third in the Irish Guineas to Churchill in 2017 when trained by Mick Halford.
Sold out east he’s now in the care of Tony Cruz. He’s a multiple G1 winner in Hong Kong taking his first in this in 2018. Since, he’s won Hong Kong Gold Cup in 2019, the Chartered Champions & Chater Cup in 2019, the QEII Cup in 2020 and again the Chartered Champions & Chater Cup 2020. He’s been beaten twice since, both by Furore, who runs in the Cup, the last time out Colombus County who also runs here, was only a length in arrears.
Mogul returning after winning at Leopardstown
Irish interest in the Hong Kong Mile centers on Ken Condon’s Romanised who’ll have his last run before retirement. The Irish Guineas winner of 2018 hasn’t reproduced the form he showed in the summer when a very impressive winner in the Minstral Stakes at the Curragh. He’s had excuses, ground, he needs it fast, the faster the better and in the Jacques le Marois and Prix du Moulin he didn’t get it. Ken gave him a spin on the all-weather at Dundalk as a warm-up for this where after a tardy start he then travelled easily folding late on. It was enough to say he retains his ability and he could well belie his 33/1 price which could be even better on the Hong Kong Tote.
Aidan brings his surprise Breeders Cup Mile winner Order Of Australia to the other side of the world. Pierre-Charles Boudot retains the ride in favour of Ryan Moore. He’d been campaigned over a 10 and 12 furlongs throughout this year prior to Keeneland hence the surprise that he’d the speed to win when dropped in trip.
The home team are formidable, as well as Beauty Generation winner of this in 2017 and 2018, there is Golden Sixty whose race record reads 13 from 14, having won his last 10, this is his first crack at G1 level.
Magical in the ring at Leopardstown
The Hong Hong Cup likely brings down the curtain on Magical’s career.
What a wonderful filly she has been. She goes for her eighth G1 win.
Her best trip is this 10F, 6 of her 7 G1’s wins have been over the trip, a pair of Irish Champion Stakes, this year and last, an English one to boot, last year, are the highlights and testament to her love of this outing, and she’s on her favoured fast surface.
She’s to turn around the defeats in this year’s English Champion Stakes where the French-trained Skalleti finished a place in front of her in second, and The Breeders Cup Mile but this trip and ground will suit for the perfect goodbye.
It won’t be easy, the Japanese pair Danon Premium, fourth to Almond Eye in the Tenno Sho and Win Bright who short-headed Magic Wand in this race last year will put it up to her as will Furore the new kid on the Hong Kong block after beating Exultant twice in the build-up to this however the stars are aligned for a Magical finish.
Magical and Ryan Moore leaving the ring at Leopardstown
Recommendations
The Hong Vase
Mogul 6/4 win
The Hong Kong Mile
Romanised (PMU)
The Hong Kong Cup
Magical 5/2 win
