Side Glance has established a reputation as an admirable and consistent performer in Pattern races over the past three years, but a performer that despite his honest efforts was not quite up to the mark in Group 1 company. Those perceptions changed earlier this month when Andrew Balding's charge won the LONGINES Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), and when the six-year-old arrived in Hong Kong on Monday morning (25 November) for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races he did so as a G1 winner with a whole new level of respect afforded him.
That win puts him on a similar trajectory to another star galloper to have sported the Pearl Bloodstock silks of Qatar's Sheikh Fahad Al Thani. Dunaden had two runs in Australia in 2011 and notched a debut G1 success in the Melbourne Cup before snaring the G1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin. Now Side Glance heads toThe Turf World Championships on Sunday, 8 December off a two-race Australian odyssey, with a debut G1 victory also in the bag.
"Side Glance is definitely going for the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m)," said David Redvers, Racing Manager to Pearl Bloodstock. "He did his final piece of work on Friday morning and is in great order."
The Passing Glance gelding was seeking a first win since a G3 triumph in June, 2012 when he lined up for the Mackinnon, but that statistic tells an incomplete story. This year alone Side Glance has raced with merit to finish third in the G1 Arlington Million (2000m), after failing to get a clear run at a vital juncture, and posted two smart efforts in the highest grade in Dubai early in the campaign - fourth in the Dubai World Cup (2000m) is not to be sniffed at. The same sentiment could apply to his June 2012 run behind Frankel in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot - 11 lengths third is no disgrace when up against one of the all-time greats - and a close fourth in the 2011 G1 Woodbine Mile.
Side Glance is a proven overseas traveller, and, given his recent peak, Redvers is positive about the consistent gelding's prospects heading into the Cup.
"We go to Hong Kong in top form and I think it's exactly the right race for him. We just need to hope we get a reasonable draw and then we will leave the rest to Jamie (Spencer).
"He won the Mackinnon Stakes well and I was delighted with his performance. He ran a bit fresh when sixth in the Cox Plate because it was his first run for a while, but that put him spot on for the Mackinnon and he won in the style of a much better horse than the opposition."
Victory in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup would be another major notch for the Qatari royal family, racing's latest great power - Olympic Glory secured the G1 QEII Stakes at Ascot in October and the imperious Treve sluiced home in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (both owned by Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani). Treve is among the candidates for honours at the LONGINE World's Best Racehorse Ceremony on Friday, 6 December, ahead of the LONGINES HKIR.
Side Glance flew into Hong Kong from Australia in company with his fellow British raiders Red Cadeaux, Mount Athos and Dandino. That trio, fresh from running second, third and fifth respectively in the G1 Melbourne Cup, heads to the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races is the final international G1 showcase in the calendar year and carries total prize money of HK$72 million for its four G1 features, the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup, the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m ).
Four British runners arrive for the LONGINES HKIR
Side Glance, recently a Group One winner in the Mackinnon Stakes in Australia, and Red Cadeaux, Mount Athos and Dandino, who finished second, third and fifth respectively in the G1 Melbourne Cup earlier this month, arrived at Sha Tin Racecourse in the early hours today (25 November) to prepare for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on Sunday, 8 December.
These four runners, all representing Great Britain, are the first batch of o verseas runners to arrive in Hong Kong for this year's LONGINES HKIR. The Andrew Balding-trained Side Glance will participate in the HK$22 million LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (G1, 2000m), while Red Cadeaux, Mount Athos and Dandino will compete for the HK$15 million LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (G1, 2400m).
No comments:
Post a Comment