Floral Pegasus Still Favoured After Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby Draw Red-hot Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby 2007 favourite Floral Pegasus 'should not have many excuses if he gets beat,' trainer Tony Cruz predicted after a convenient barrier draw on Thursday morning. Drawing a cushy position number two did little to alter perceptions that the flashy chestnut colt can be overturned this Sunday, March 18, at Sha Tin. Floral Pegasus was a ready winner of both the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile (Gr.1) on January 28 and Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby Trial (Gr.2-1800m) on February 20, and is widely expected to become the first ever Triple Crown champion in Hong Kong. It is also auspicious that favourites have dominated Hong Kong´s most important domestic race in recent years ? the public´s elect or second pick have taken each of the last seven editions. 'It´s a great gate. There were only two barriers left to pick from and one was out wide, so it´s great to have drawn in,' Cruz smiled. 'His recent preparation has gone without problems. We´ve all seen that he can beat the opposition at the weekend, so yeah, I´m pretty confident.' Cruz, seeking a second Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby as a trainer having succeeded in 2004 with Lucky Owners, also fields Survey Survey (gate 1) and Supreme Class (12). The pace in this 2000m Classic, now worth a record HK$16 million, is traditionally sedate and is unlikely to be a whole lot stronger this year. Most predict Floral Pegasus will tuck in behind Down Town (7) and Champions Gallery (13). Likely second favourite Viva Macau (9) has finished runner-up to Floral Pegasus in his last two starts and bids to emulate the Derby winning deeds of Viva Pataca last year for trainer John Moore, owner Stanley Ho and jockey Christophe Soumillon. 'He has come into the race well. He´s had four runs since coming here from France with top class form and he´s the type of horse that improves with racing because he´s very laid back, ' Moore said. 'I expect Christophe will try to track Down Town and find some cover. The step-up in distance is great and if there is some give in the ground, it wouldn´t go amiss either.' Meanwhile, Able One (10), to be ridden by Darren Beadman, is the 'dark horse'. The son of Cape Cross has never raced further than a mile, but this is an issue not foremost of his trainer´s concerns. 'I´m more worried about him settling. If there´s only handy a pace, which is likely, he just needs to relax. He will probably be three-back in the run and hopefully with some cover,' Moore added. Rain is forecast on Sunday and a softened track would be welcomed by connections of Vital King (4), a strong finishing Derby Trial fourth from the rear in spite a cantering early speed, and one who placed in New Zealand´s Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) on yielding turf. 'He´ll go back again and 2000 metres is a distance he has been crying out for. The tempo is naturally a concern, of course, but you can expect him to be finishing strongly out wide,' trainer Paul O´ Sullivan remarked. Fourteen runners will go to post in the most prestigious local race in Hong Kong, dating back to 1873 and now sponsored by Mercedes-Benz for a fourth year. Mercedes-Benz is committed to the Derby until 2009, an agreement incorporating the three Pattern races exclusively for the Classic generation: the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile, the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby Trial and the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby.
