08/03/2013 14:57

There was BMW Hong Kong Derby interest at the Happy Valley barrier trials this morning, Friday, 8 March, as leading contender GOLD-FUN and fellow big-race entrant ENDOWING went through their paces in Batch 2 over 1200m.

The Richard Gibson-trained GOLD-FUN, winner of the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile in January, was keen early but soon settled in mid-rank under Olivier Doleuze. The Frenchman pushed the gelding out in the stretch to close off tidily stands’ side and “win” the trial with his ears pricked from the promising Victorius. The latter’s stablemate, the John Size-trained ENDOWING, travelled quietly throughout and looked comfortable as he crossed the line in behind.

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  GOLD-FUN

GOLD-FUN’s effort cleared up any doubts about riding arrangements for Gibson’s exciting Derby trio. With Douglas Whyte already confirmed aboard AKEED MOFEED, Gibson’s post-trial comments clarified that Doleuze will partner GOLD-FUN in the 2000m contest on Sunday, 17 March, a move that sees Umberto Rispoli taking the ride on MIZANI.

“I’m very happy with this morning’s trial and delighted to announce that Olivier Doleuze will now ride GOLD-FUN in the Hong Kong Derby,” said Gibson.

Rispoli is looking forward to riding MIZANI, a horse that has won both his Hong Kong starts and scored in a minor event over the distance in Ireland last year.

“I’m happy to be riding MIZANI,” said the Italian rider. “He’s a horse that goes into the race two from two so it’s not a bad ride to get! He’s a nice horse and if he gets the right gate and the pace is right, he can have a chance.”

The morning’s events settled most of the remaining questions regarding BMW HK Derby riding arrangements, the exceptions being the Caspar Fownes-trained BEST SHOW and ALBICELESTE from the John Moore stable. ALBICELESTE runs in a 1600m Class 2 at Sha Tin on Sunday and the picture will likely be clearer after that.

Three overseas riders are heading into town for BWM HK Derby rides. British star Ryan Moore is booked to take the mount on the Sean Woods-trained AUTUMN GOLD, while Australian Craig Williams will fly in for WAH MAY STAR and compatriot Dwayne Dunn has been given the nod for ENDOWING.

The HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby is worth HK$16 million and is the third and final leg of the Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Series, following the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile and the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m).

BMW HONG KONG DERBY 2013 
Group 1, HK$16,000,000 
2000 Metres, Sha Tin Race Course 
4 Years Old 
Sunday, 17 March

Rating	Horse	Trainer	Probable Jockey
102	AKEED MOFEED (P125)	R Gibson	D Whyte
100	AUTUMN GOLD (P044)	S Woods	R Moore
100	GOLD-FUN (P045)	R Gibson	O Doleuze
100	IT HAS TO BE YOU (N356)	J Size	T Clark
98	PRESIDENT LINCOLN (N267)	C S Shum	M Chadwick
97	ASHKIYR (P151)	J Moore	W C Marwing
97	WAH MAY STAR (M254)	Y S Tsui	C Williams
92	MIZANI (P124)	R Gibson	U Rispoli
87	JUN GONG (N325)	C H Yip	Y T Cheng
87	RAINBOW CHIC (P118)	C Fownes	B Prebble
86	POETIC JUSTICE (P182)	J Moore	G Mosse
86	ALBICELESTE (P273)	J Moore
86	BEST SHOW (N438)	C Fownes
82	ENDOWING (N371)	J Size	D Dunn

Reserves:

75	JOLLY VICTOR (N140)	A T Millard
86	CRACKERJACK (N446)	D Cruz
82	BLAZING SPEED (P192)	C Fownes
80	SUNNY YING (P152)	J Moore
80	NAVEL ORANGE (P035)	D E Ferraris
70	TURBO JEWELLERY(N379)	J Size

fonte: The Hong Kong Jockey Club