Cody Mo send two into competitive G3 Celebration Cup

Sunday’s Group 3 Celebration Cup at Sha Tin is the type of handicap race that makes Hong Kong racing great: 14 runners, a 20-pound spread, and a clash of rising stars.

Sure, Group 1s are the pinnacle and carry worldwide prestige, and the best horse generally wins at level weights, but Hong Kong’s Group 3s are handicap racing at its best. A 14-horse field with a 20-pound spread from top to bottom creates a special dynamic – especially when much of the field looks to have bright futures.

Seven five-year-olds make up half the line-up and among them are horses earmarked for stardom like My Wish, Packing Hermod, Rubylot, Divano, Johannes Brahms and Light Years Charm.

Cody Mo Wai-kit has two five-year-olds that may not have attracted the same headlines as that group, but he is banking on race fitness – especially after a week when trackwork shut down for two days due to Typhoon Ragasa – to give Pray For Mir and Markwin an edge.

Pray For Mir already boasts a Group 3 win, the Lion Rocky Trophy (1600m) late last season, and has built a formidable record as a tough front-runner. Stablemate Markwin is a 1400m specialist, with three wins and four placings from seven at the trip. Both come in off strong runs on opening day when Markwin won and Pray For Mir battled on for third in a Class 2 over the distance. 

Matthew Chadwick believes Pray For Mir has retunred a better horse this season. 

“He has been very consistent – but he seems to have come back stronger,” he said. “The horse is well and Cody is in great form – the tracks being closed this week won’t worry him – he already has the fitness, but now he has that little bit of freshness as well.”

Harry Bentley, who regained the ride on Markwin after Derek Leung was unable to make weight, has the advantage of being able to ride at bottom weight and is back aboard with 116 pounds on Sunday.

“Getting back on him was great – he did everything right coming back after an unfortunate end to the season,” Bentley said. “The draw in 11 isn’t ideal, but he’s in top form.”

Bentley is acutely aware of the quality around him: “You’ve got horses like My Wish, destined for top company, and Rubylot, a Classic Cup winner. That’s what makes these Group 3 handicaps great – the weights give every horse with upside a chance.”