With the Hong Kong International Races in the rearview mirror, Hong Kong racing fans will turn their attention to this season’s Classic Series, with the city’s top four-year-olds set to battle it out over the three legs.
The Classic Mile (1,600 meters), Classic Cup (1,800m) and Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) make up the four-year-old series, and tomorrow’s card at Sha Tin could offer some pointers towards the opening leg, which takes place on February 1.
In tomorrow’s 11th race, a Class 3 over a mile, two potential Classic Series horses will clash as they look to stake the claim in the form of David Eustace’s Dazzling Fit and the Mark Newnham-trained Invincible Ibis.
Both four-year-olds head to the contest with similar records. Dazzling Fit has three wins to his name from seven starts and boasts a rating of 75, while Invincible Ibis has collected two wins from five starts and sits on a rating of 74.
Dazzling Fit defied stall 14 under James McDonald last month when he flew home in the closing stages at Sha Tin.
“He did well to win,” Eustace said. “They didn’t go quick during the race which certainly helped, but it would be unfair to take much away from him because he fought on well.
Since the race, Dazzling Fit has been based up at Conghua and Eustace said he is pleased with the four-year-old’s progress since.
“He’s had a good three weeks there, he’s had a gallop and he’s a very naturally fit horse,” Eustace said. “The team has done a good job with him and he looks terrific.”
Invincible Ibis is set to step up to 1,600m for the first time when he jumps from barrier three under Zac Purton, who has been aboard for the gelding’s two latest wins.
“He’s on the right path,” Newnham said. “He’s not dissimilar to My Wish at this time last year, but My Wish kept improving.
“If [Invincible Ibis] keeps improving, he’s going to be a worth [Classic] Mile contender.”
