Tuchel’s ready for Hong Kong Classic Cup

By Declan Schuster
Zac Purton will chase consecutive wins in the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, 26 February when he hops aboard Tuchel.

Trained by John Size, Tuchel has continued to raise the bar and last start he finished second in the first leg of the three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series — the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) — behind Voyage Bubble.

No trainer has more wins in the Hong Kong Classic Cup since 2006 than Size (four), while Purton — who won last year’s edition aboard California Spangle — was atop Tuchel this morning (Tuesday, 14 February) as the Redwood gelding stretched out for a tidy second-past-the-post barrier trial effort in 1m 10.72s for 1200m on dirt.

“He trialled nicely, he showed his customary speed and he lobbed along in a relaxed manner throughout the middle stages of the trial and then he was out and chasing the leader — I thought he did a good job. He’s in a good place,” Purton said.

In a race where not many runners made ground as Voyage Bubble led throughout under a supreme Jamie Kah ride in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, Tuchel kept on gamely for second position to go down by just over a length at odds of 21/1.

“He ran well (in the Hong Kong Classic Mile). He had the right run in the race — he drew the right gate, he put himself in the right spot and he followed the right horse, so he had all of the favours.

“Three of the first four horses in the run finished one, two and three — it was an on-pace dominated race and he was in the right spot,” Purton said.

Prior to his second placing in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, Tuchel impressed under Purton to collect his first win in Class 2 over 1400m in mid-January. Sunday week’s race will see Tuchel step beyond a mile for the first time.

“Until they run over it you really aren’t sure but he relaxes well enough to give himself the chance to run over further,” Purton said.

Also among this morning’s first trial at Sha Tin was Golden Sixty, Bon’s A Pearla, Flagship Warrior, Sweet Encounter and Beautyverse.

Tomorrow night (Wednesday, 15 February) at Happy Valley, Purton takes eight rides including Eighteen Palms for trainer Danny Shum in the first section of the Class 4 Sai Kung Handicap (1650m).

“He did a good job, he’s a bit of a spooky horse. He just needs another horse to follow and coming into the race early I was just waiting for the other horses to give him a little bit of company and then obviously they were a bit stronger than him on the line.

“It was only his first start but he’s still learning what he’s doing,” Purton said.

Luke Ferraris will reunite with Kung Fu Tea for trainer David Hall in the second section of the Class 4 Sai Kung Handicap (1650m). Ferraris won aboard the 53-rater two starts ago at Happy Valley.

“He’s a really honest horse, he always puts in a good account of himself,” Ferraris said.

The Shocking gelding has 10 top-three finishes — including four wins — from 27 starts in Hong Kong for earnings of HK$3.17 million.

Ahead of his pairing with Sword Point in Sunday week’s Hong Kong Classic Cup, Hugh Bowman gets the leg-up on the Ricky Yiu-trained Nimble Nimbus for the first time on race day in the Class 3 Tsuen Wan Handicap (1650m) tomorrow night.

“His trial was really good, it was at Happy Valley over 1700 metres. He found a nice position settled just in behind but he cruised up the straight in really good order and through the line he was strong,” Bowman said.

Nimble Nimbus finished second to Sword Point in his most recent outing before the latter subsequently finished sixth in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m).

“I sat on him (Sword Point) this morning. He just went an easy half-mile on the dirt on his own, he feels great and he looks in great order, so I am excited about reuniting with him,” Bowman said.

Super Sunny Sing also stepped out to trial this morning for trainer Chris So. The four-year-old crossed the line in eighth position under Vincent Ho in 1m 11.72s over 1200m on dirt as he builds towards the Hong Kong Classic Cup.

Wednesday’s (15 February) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley kicks off at 6.45pm with the Class 5 Sheung Shui Handicap (1000m).