California Memory's Hong Kong Cup
France could claim some credit for the
winner of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup (Group 1), 1m2f (10f, 1¼m, 2000m) on
Turf, for 3yo+ at Sha Tin.
The grey gelding, California Memory USA (Highest Honor FR), was bred and raced in France through 2009 until he switched to his Hong Kong owner in 2010. He had only one race in 2010.
In his seven 2011 races (six Group 1s and 2s), he was only out of the money once.
Sent out at 69/20 odds, he raced just off the slow front pace and rallied at the end to snatch victory from last year's second, local Irian GER, by a length and another ¼ length ahead of Germany's vaunted Zazou.
Credit to jockey Matt Chadwick, who has ridden the gelding in all his Hong Kong races, timed his moves to perfection.
The favourite was Ambitious Dragon NZ who was sent out at 11/10 odds after winning the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and Hong Kong Derby.
He only managed fourth, 1¼ lengths behind the winner, after walking out of the gate and racing catch up.
It would help if his trainer would decide on one jockey. Switching between Douglas Whyte and Maxime Guyon is not helping this fine horse's form.
France's "Fighting Cirrus", Cirrus Des Aigles, was 2 lengths behind in fifth.
As a gelding, Cirrus will race on in 2012 and try to repeat his victory in the Champions Stakes at Ascot according to his trainer Corine Barande-Barbe.
California Memory's trainer, Tony Cruz, was convinced "there's bigger things to come. He will be going for all the big local races, but I would also like to go to Singapore and Dubai."
©Posted December 12, 2011
http://www.racingint.com
The grey gelding, California Memory USA (Highest Honor FR), was bred and raced in France through 2009 until he switched to his Hong Kong owner in 2010. He had only one race in 2010.
In his seven 2011 races (six Group 1s and 2s), he was only out of the money once.
Sent out at 69/20 odds, he raced just off the slow front pace and rallied at the end to snatch victory from last year's second, local Irian GER, by a length and another ¼ length ahead of Germany's vaunted Zazou.
Credit to jockey Matt Chadwick, who has ridden the gelding in all his Hong Kong races, timed his moves to perfection.
The favourite was Ambitious Dragon NZ who was sent out at 11/10 odds after winning the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and Hong Kong Derby.
He only managed fourth, 1¼ lengths behind the winner, after walking out of the gate and racing catch up.
It would help if his trainer would decide on one jockey. Switching between Douglas Whyte and Maxime Guyon is not helping this fine horse's form.
France's "Fighting Cirrus", Cirrus Des Aigles, was 2 lengths behind in fifth.
As a gelding, Cirrus will race on in 2012 and try to repeat his victory in the Champions Stakes at Ascot according to his trainer Corine Barande-Barbe.
California Memory's trainer, Tony Cruz, was convinced "there's bigger things to come. He will be going for all the big local races, but I would also like to go to Singapore and Dubai."
©Posted December 12, 2011
http://www.racingint.com
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 1/15/2012 11:29 PM 
Categories: California Memory, Hong Kong Cup 2011
Tags: California Memory Irian Zazou Ambitious Dragon Hong Kong Cup
Categories: California Memory, Hong Kong Cup 2011
Tags: California Memory Irian Zazou Ambitious Dragon Hong Kong Cup
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