Two of the locally based winners of Group 1 events at last Sunday’s Hong Kong
International Races, as well as the luckless VIVA PATACA (Marju), are being
seriously considered for an overseas trip during the early part of the new year.
GOOD BA BA (Lear Fan), who successfully defended his title in the Hong Kong
Mile (HK-G1), could be aimed at a start in the Dubai Duty Free S. (UAE-G1) on
March 28, pending the approval of owner John Yuen, who is reportedly personally
adverse to travel but has allowed trainer Andreas Schutz to ship the gelding to
Japan twice for a pair of failed attempts in the Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-G1).
“The one thing I’d definitely say is that we won’t go to Japan again,” Schutz
told South China Morning Post. “But the race in Dubai is worth a lot of
money and I think it’s something we need to think seriously about.”
Trainer John Moore is looking to Australia for a possible next start for
INSPIRATION (Flying Spur), who shocked the Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) field at
67-1. The gelding is likely to be nominated to the Lightning S. (Aus-G1) going
1000 meters at Flemington on January 31.
“Now that he’s won at international level, there is really no choice but to
press forward with him in races of this kind,” Moore told the Post. “I
think the main thing with him is to keep him fresh. He’s always sprinted very
well when he’s been trained that way.”
The conditioner is also mulling over the option of the Dubai Sheema Classic
(UAE-G1) for Viva Pataca, who was fourth in the Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1) after
encountering trouble. The gelding was favored in the 2400-meter event last
March, but covered ground and could not catch Sun Classique (Fuji Kiseki).
“I’ve said it many times. I’d love to win a Group 1 on foreign soil and I do
believe Viva Pataca is the right horse to do it,” Moore told the publication.
“The thing is he’s so much more relaxed and settled this season than last, and
that would be a big asset if he was traveling.”
The final decision, Moore says, rests with owner Stanley Ho.