lepper
03-03-2002, 18:19
Trainer Tony Cruz unveiled ambitious international plans for gallant Red Sun after the tough grey disregarded his topweight and formidable opposition to win yesterday's exciting ATV Cup at Sha Tin. And the trainer had a Hong Kong Derby tip for those who would listen, too, after nosing John Moore-trained Goggles (Eric Saint-Martin) out of the major end of the money yesterday.
"He is a top-class horse, that Goggles - he really is a hot contender for the Derby on that run," Cruz said. "He finished so fast, he would have beaten us in another stride and my horse is going very well. Full credit to Felix Coetzee, he is so hard to get past and he knows this horse so well. It was a perfect ride from start to finish and that made the difference."
While winning yesterday's feature was a thrill, Cruz was even more excited by what lies in store for Red Sun later this year. Cruz outlined plans to take the five-year-old to Japan later this year for major international dirt racing in the US$600,000 Group Three Musashino Stakes over 1,800 metres on October 26 at Nakayama.
That race will lead him into the US$2 million Group One Japan Cup (dirt) over 1,800 metres in Tokyo on November 23. "Red Sun was a Derby winner in Argentina on the dirt before he came here and I want to give him his chance to race in the very top grade on the dirt in Japan," Cruz said. "As a Group One winner on the surface, he is fully qualified to go there and I think he is getting to the stage now where the handicaps might be too tough for him here on grass.
"Really, he is a dirt horse who is just so competitive that he has done well on turf. But you see him today - 133 pounds, a rating of 120 and giving away 15 pounds to the runner-up and 10 to the third horse, who are both very good. The handicapper is sure to put him up for this and he is getting to the stage where it's going to be very difficult to place him."
In a thrilling finish to the ATV Cup, any of the first four home looked to have the race won at different stages in the straight. Trillion Win led and duelled with Red Sun in the early part of the straight before Danamite gathered them both up. With the three leaders locked together and beginning to really toil at their task, Goggles came rushing down the centre of the course.
He went within a short head of winning and less than a length separated the four at the finish, but it was Red Sun who poked his head in front when it counted most. "He's just so genuine, so consistent," Coetzee said. "Red Sun never runs a bad race and he deserved that today."
The win further confirmed form of the 2001 Hong Kong Derby, in which Red Sun was fifth to Industrial Pioneer, Momentum, Helene Vitality and Red Pepper, all of which have run with distinction in the top level this season.
And trainers Moore and David Hayes came away from the race convinced they had live Derby contenders for this year's Hong Kong classic on March 17. "He [Goggles] still gets worked up in the paddock but he was better today," said Moore. "We've done a bit of paddock work with him, bringing him over to walk around on off days to try and get him used to the saddling paddock and settle him down.
"We've put the hood on him today for the same reason - a Japanese idea that may have done some good. And we rode him quietly. Eric switched him off early and settled him and he really flew at the finish. He certainly looks like a horse who is going to have no problem with 2,000 metres in the Derby on that effort."
Hayes-trained Danamite (Basil Marcus) enjoyed the run of the race, third behind Trillion Win and Red Sun, and looked to have the race in his keeping as he loomed to the first two past the 200 metres. But having only his second run in a campaign hampered by injury problems he suffered earlier this season, Danamite ran out of condition close to home to be beaten just over a head in third.
"That was great," bubbled Hayes. "Now I pray he comes out of the race well. He has had no fast work, because I've been worried about it aggravating the tendon problem he started to get early in the season, so this run should bring him on a lot. Remember, he has had only one 1,000-metre race to have him fit for 1,600 metres against some very good, fitter horses. He is a big strong horse who can only improve with that and he'll be right there in the Derby on that run."
"He is a top-class horse, that Goggles - he really is a hot contender for the Derby on that run," Cruz said. "He finished so fast, he would have beaten us in another stride and my horse is going very well. Full credit to Felix Coetzee, he is so hard to get past and he knows this horse so well. It was a perfect ride from start to finish and that made the difference."
While winning yesterday's feature was a thrill, Cruz was even more excited by what lies in store for Red Sun later this year. Cruz outlined plans to take the five-year-old to Japan later this year for major international dirt racing in the US$600,000 Group Three Musashino Stakes over 1,800 metres on October 26 at Nakayama.
That race will lead him into the US$2 million Group One Japan Cup (dirt) over 1,800 metres in Tokyo on November 23. "Red Sun was a Derby winner in Argentina on the dirt before he came here and I want to give him his chance to race in the very top grade on the dirt in Japan," Cruz said. "As a Group One winner on the surface, he is fully qualified to go there and I think he is getting to the stage now where the handicaps might be too tough for him here on grass.
"Really, he is a dirt horse who is just so competitive that he has done well on turf. But you see him today - 133 pounds, a rating of 120 and giving away 15 pounds to the runner-up and 10 to the third horse, who are both very good. The handicapper is sure to put him up for this and he is getting to the stage where it's going to be very difficult to place him."
In a thrilling finish to the ATV Cup, any of the first four home looked to have the race won at different stages in the straight. Trillion Win led and duelled with Red Sun in the early part of the straight before Danamite gathered them both up. With the three leaders locked together and beginning to really toil at their task, Goggles came rushing down the centre of the course.
He went within a short head of winning and less than a length separated the four at the finish, but it was Red Sun who poked his head in front when it counted most. "He's just so genuine, so consistent," Coetzee said. "Red Sun never runs a bad race and he deserved that today."
The win further confirmed form of the 2001 Hong Kong Derby, in which Red Sun was fifth to Industrial Pioneer, Momentum, Helene Vitality and Red Pepper, all of which have run with distinction in the top level this season.
And trainers Moore and David Hayes came away from the race convinced they had live Derby contenders for this year's Hong Kong classic on March 17. "He [Goggles] still gets worked up in the paddock but he was better today," said Moore. "We've done a bit of paddock work with him, bringing him over to walk around on off days to try and get him used to the saddling paddock and settle him down.
"We've put the hood on him today for the same reason - a Japanese idea that may have done some good. And we rode him quietly. Eric switched him off early and settled him and he really flew at the finish. He certainly looks like a horse who is going to have no problem with 2,000 metres in the Derby on that effort."
Hayes-trained Danamite (Basil Marcus) enjoyed the run of the race, third behind Trillion Win and Red Sun, and looked to have the race in his keeping as he loomed to the first two past the 200 metres. But having only his second run in a campaign hampered by injury problems he suffered earlier this season, Danamite ran out of condition close to home to be beaten just over a head in third.
"That was great," bubbled Hayes. "Now I pray he comes out of the race well. He has had no fast work, because I've been worried about it aggravating the tendon problem he started to get early in the season, so this run should bring him on a lot. Remember, he has had only one 1,000-metre race to have him fit for 1,600 metres against some very good, fitter horses. He is a big strong horse who can only improve with that and he'll be right there in the Derby on that run."