Hong Kong: The Irishman will need luck from post 14, but still has big shot to win Classic Cup

The Irishman was bred in New Zealand and began his racing career there before starting twice in Australia. Now he is a Hong Kong horse and with luck – he’ll need plenty breaking from post 14 – he can win the $1.54 million Hong Kong Classic Cup on Sunday at Sha Tin.

The Hong Kong Classic Cup, run around one turn at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) is Hong Kong’s version of the Preakness, the second leg of the 4-year-old classic series that starts with the Hong Kong Classic Mile and ends with the 2,000-meter Hong Kong Derby. All three races are run at level weights.

Seven horses, including the top five finishers, exit the Jan. 30 Hong Kong Classic Mile, where the top two home, Romantic Warrior and California Spangle, had very favorable trips.

Romantic Warrior only has raced in Hong Kong and the Classic Mile score made him 5 for 5 to start his career. Trained by Clifford Shum and with Karis Teetan taking a return call, Romantic Warrior won a pair of Class 4 and Class 3 handicaps before capturing the Classic Mile, his first start beyond 1,400 meters, by a half-length. Romantic Warrior broke from the fence and never left the rail until mid-stretch, taking the shortest way around the bend and attacking pacesetting California Spangle when Ima Single Man’s run flattened out before the furlong grounds -- a solid performance with help from plenty of luck.

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As for California Spangle, he had won five of his first six Hong Kong starts, taking a nose defeat in his lone loss, and had landed back-to-back Class 2 wins coming into the Classic Mile. None of those races, however, had been longer than 1,200 meters, and even after sailing along on an easy pace, California Spangle wasn’t able to see out the 1,600 meters. Can he reasonably expected to do better going 1,800 on Sunday?

The Irishman has yet to win in his three Hong Kong races but has flashed plenty of ability in all of them, and The Irishman, who has scope and a nice long stride, should appreciate the added distance Sunday.

By Tavistock, a son of the major stamina influence Montjeu, The Irishman flew home from the back of the field going 1,400 meters against Class 3 handicap foes to finish second in his Hong Kong debut. Up to Class 2 and out to a mile, he again produced a flashy closing kick finishing third in his first local try over 1,600 meters. The Irishman ran as well as the top two when third in the Classic Mile. Placed somewhat more forwardly than in his first two Hong Kong starts, The Irishman raced too keenly into the turn, held behind California Spangle’s slow pace. As Romantic Warrior slid through along the rail, jockey Vincent Ho chose to steer outside at the 600-meter mark.

The Irishman briefly lacked room at the top of the stretch and lost just enough momentum that his closing kick unwound slightly too late, but he should be set for a peak performance Sunday. Post 14 is not great, but with a long run down the backstretch and into the turn, Ho, hopefully, can save some ground and find a suitable spot for a horse that looks very live.

The Classic Cup is the eighth of 10 races on a card that closes with a good-looking Class 2 handicap over 1,200 meters. First post is midnight Eastern, and you can catch all the action at DRFBets.com.