Military Attack Takes Prep for Hong Kong Cup

Former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Military Attack scored a narrow victory Nov. 21 at Sha Tin in the Longines Jockey Club Cup (HK-II), the main prep for next month's Longines Hong Kong Cup (HK-I). 

 

The race was one of a trio of group II races that comprise the Jockey Club Races, principal trials for the four Longines Hong Kong International Races Dec. 13 at Sha Tin. Saturday also featured the BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint, won by Gold-Fun, with Christophe Soumillon aboard, and the BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile, captured by Beauty Flame and Gerald Mosse. 

 

Military Attack won by a head from last year's Jockey Club Cup victor, the ever-game Blazing Speed, who was conceding five pounds to the winner. Blazing Speed's stablemate Beauty Only was a half-length back in third.   

 

"The five pounds was huge today, but I really feel he'll strip a lot fitter and be cherry ripe on the big day, so fingers crossed he pulls up all right," Fownes said of Military Attack, who toted 123 pounds, including jockey Zac Purton. 

 

Khaya led early before Blazing Speed took charge 300 meters out, but Military Attack drove past with less than 100 meters to run to get the win, holding off rivals in the final strides.  

 

The time for the race, run at the Hong Kong Cup distance of 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) was 2:01.84.

 

"He's getting on in age, but I'm sure he'll still be a force on the big day," Fownes said of the 7-year-old Oratorio gelding. "I'd say he'll strip a little bit fitter from this run, as I'm sure the second horse will—that was a big run from him, too. I'll try to have him the best I can on the day."

 

Military Attack was second in the last year Hong Kong Cup, beaten just a nose by Designs On Rome. That rival was sixth Saturday in the Jockey Club Mile, 3 1/4 lengths behind winner Beauty Flame, who pulled one of the biggest upsets of the season when last year's winner, Horse of the Year Able Friend, could manage only third.

 

 

Trainer Richard Gibson's Gold-Fun won the Jockey Club Sprint by 1 1/4 lengths from Peniaphonia and heads to the Hong Kong Sprint at the leading contender.