There
was no Silent Witness and a different Cruz to the fore, but yet again
Hong Kong horses dominated the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint with
Natural Blitz upstaging the favourites in the 1000m dash.
It was a first group one win for trainer Derek Cruz who has been overshadowed
by his brother Tony, winner of the past two CXHK Sprints with the mighty
Silent Witness.
'I'm very proud,' said Derek Cruz who was visibly shaking with excitement.
Not only did Hong Kong take the major prize with Glyn Schofield aboard
Natural Blitz but second, third, fourth and fifth places were also taking
by locally trained horses. Best of the visitors was the English-trained
Benbaun in sixth.
It was the second straight quinella for HK horses in the CXHK Sprint
with, of course, Natural Blitz - then representing Macau - finishing
third in 2004. It was the third HK quinella in the past four years.
South African jockey Glyn Schofield was delighted with something of
a surprise win on the 28-1 shot. "I was surprised there was so
little in the pressure in the race. I guess a lot of the field thought
they were going to get a trail off me because he hasn't been so strong
in the final 200m before. But he was today! He was able fill the tank
a bit while in front and he finished strongly,' he said.
Trainer Derek Cruz said the keys to the win were not to tax him too
much on the track and a fine ride from his jockey. "He is a small
horse and the key with him has not been to overwork him. I thought his
last run was good when he was over on the far rail and the plan today
was to drift to the centre of the track and Glyn did it perfectly,'
he said.
Consistent local performers Planet Ruler and Able Prince ran second
and third respectively with the Tony Cruz trained Country Music showing
marked improvement to run fourth. Local favourite Cape Of Good Hope
was a non-threatening sixth. 'He wants six (furlongs) now. The five
was too sharp,' said his jockey Michael Kinane.
The first four placegetters in the race were Australian bred; all seven
winners of the race to date have been raised in Australia.
Glyn Schofield - jockey Natural Blitz - "I was
surprised there was so little in the pressure in the race. I guess a
lot of the field thought they were going to get a trail off me because
he hasn't been so strong in the final 200m before. But he was today!
He was able fill the tank a bit while in front and he finished strongly."
Derek Cruz - trainer Natural Blitz - "It's my first Group One winner
and I'm very, very proud. He is a small horse and the key with him has
not been to overwork him. I thought his last run was good when he was
over on the far rail and the plan today was to drift to the centre of
the track and Glyn did it perfectly."
Christophe Lemaire - jockey Chineur. "He was too slow at the start.
Then he tried to come through but there was nothing left at the end."
Hiroyuki Uemura - jockey Admire Max. "My horse started very clearly
but he couldn't follow the pace. Sprint races are very hard for Japanese
horses."
Mick Kinane - jockey Cape Of Good Hope. "He had every chance but
didn't have the legs and just didn't pick up today."
Felix Coetzee - Country Music - "He was interfered with early on
and tightened up near the finish. He has still run well and it was an
improved run."
Kieren Fallon - Benbaun. "He changed his legs. He needs a stiffer
five furlongs. It was too quick for him out there today."
Gerald Mosse - Planet Ruler. "Not fast enough today. If they had
gone quicker I might have beaten the winner as I did last time."
Douglas Whyte - Able Prince. "He ran well, no excuses. Very gutsy
he hung on well any further and I would have been nabbed for third."
Peter W L Ho - Warcat - "He wasn't at his best form. I don't think
he settled in Hong Kong so well."
Robbie Fradd - Absolute Champion - "He hung really badly. I was
riding him with one rein."
Christophe Soumillon - Nipping. "She was a bit flat and following
in behind. There wasn't the zip I expected."
Eddie Baird - Nicole's Dream. "Better than that. Perhaps she needs
that bend she gets in the States. She does like to accelerate into a
bend."
