Pakistan Star seeks repeat in Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup

For the second year in a row, Pakistan Star will try to win the last Group 1 race of the Hong Kong season, and this time, his field of vision will be expanded for the first time in his racing career.

Paul O’Sullivan, who took up training Pakistan Star when owner Kerm Dim moved him away from trainer Tony Cruz about three months ago, removed Pakistan Star’s blinkers for a recent training race, and Pakistan Star – long known for his mercurial behavior, powerful finishing kick, and bright green-and-while blinkers and hood – will race without them Sunday in the featured Group 1, $1.27 million Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup.

The race is a rare 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2 miles) test, long by Hong Kong standards, and Pakistan Star’s eight-race losing streak extends all the way back to his 1 3/4-length win in the 2018 renewal. Pakistan Star has to some extent just been going through the motions this season, and O’Sullivan, trying to wake his sleeping giant, made the equipment change before a May 17 training race (called a barrier trial in Hong Kong).

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It appeared to have a profound effect. Pakistan Star sat third in that 1,200-meter trial before exploding in the final furlong to win going away, proceeding to gallop out like a horse afire. Practice is not the real thing, of course, but Pakistan Star can repeat in the Champions and Chater Cup if that fast work was for real.

He’ll need to reprise his older, better form to contend with stern competition Sunday. The likely favorite and horse to beat is Exultant, who has put together an impressive three-win Hong Kong season, comes off a good second to the Japanese shipper Win Bright in the Group 1 QE II Cup over 2,000 meters, and excels at Sunday’s 2,400-meter trip.

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Exultant, trained by Cruz and with Zac Purton to ride, has two wins and a second in his three Hong Kong races at the distance, including a narrow victory this past December in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase.

Full brothers Glorious Forever, who is 5, and 6-year-old Time Warp line up in posts 2 and 3. The pair share not just genetic material but a strong desire to make all the running. Neither has tried a distance longer than 2,000 meters in Hong Kong, but if nothing else, their presence should ensure a solid pace.

Eagle Way, who does best as a deep closer and was fourth in the 2018 Vase, and 4-year-old Dark Dream, whose connections are hoping for soft ground, also merit at least some consideration.

The Champions and Chater Cup is the eighth of 11 races, with post time set for 4:05 a.m. Eastern. There’s a supporting feature, the Group 3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap over 1,200 meters, that goes as race 6.