Experienced field lines up for January Cup

Experience in recent Group 1 races may prove vital for five runners in Wednesday’s Group 3 January Cup at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.

Time Warp, the 133-pound topweight; Northern Superstar, who will carry 114 pounds; and Gold Mount (126), were third, fifth, and sixth in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on Dec. 9. The same day, Southern Legend (129) was third in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile, and Eagle Way (130) was fourth in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase at 1 1/2 miles.

Those five have not raced since Dec. 9, adding depth to the $414,815 January Cup, which is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf and drew a field of 10.

Eagle Way, trained by John Moore, won the 2018 January Cup and the Grade 2 Jockey Club Cup at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Sha Tin in November.

In the Hong Kong Vase, Eagle Way closed from off the pace to finish 3 1/4 lengths behind Exultant, who was second in the Jockey Club Cup.

Time Warp, trained by Tony Cruz, will play an important role from the front in the January Cup. A two-time Group 1 winner in Hong Kong in the 2017-18 season, Time Warp has one win in four starts this year – the Group 2 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Sha Tin in November.

In the Hong Kong Cup, Time Warp finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Glorious Forever under jockey Zac Purton, who has the mount on Wednesday.

The January Cup will be the third start in Hong Kong for Northern Superstar, a two-time Group 1 winner in South Africa in 2017 when racing under the name Edict of Nantes. Horses frequently have their names changed when transferred to Hong Kong.

Northern Superstar, trained by Tony Millard, was beaten 2 3/4 lengths in the Hong Kong Cup. A 5-year-old horse, Northern Superstar has such a significant break in the weights for the January Cup that he could play a factor against rivals with more local experience.