Horny Harry
03-09-2002, 00:03
ALAN AITKEN
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Underrated Smart Winner will beat a path to the international meeting in December after winning yesterday's HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup to launch new jockey Glyn Schofield's Hong Kong stint in sensational style.
"What a great start!" the South African jockey bubbled after hoisting the season's first feature race win at his debut meeting. "Things couldn't have gone better in the run and when he saw daylight, Smart Winner just dashed." Schofield was having his sixth ride in Hong Kong as he angled Smart Winner into clear running by the 250-metre mark and put the race away in a twinkling to give trainer Derek Cruz his second Chief Executive's Cup (1,200m) in recent years after he won with Solid Contact in 1999.
"I'd ridden Smart Winner a couple of times in work and he's such a nice big strong horse," Schofield said. "Derek told me how to ride him and we got a great run through the race. Everything panned out perfectly and that was a really good win. I'd love to stay with this horse if I can." Smart Winner made it six wins from 13 starts as he staved off the flashing finish of Shaxi Fortune, with gallant Charming City third under his big weight. Surprisingly, Cruz announced plans to step Smart Winner up to a mile against the best the world can bring to Sha Tin for the Hong Kong Mile on December 15, even though he has yet to race beyond 1,400 metres.
"Actually, I think this race today was a bit short for him, but he was nice and fresh and handled the 1,200 metres," Cruz said. "The type of horse he is, if you switch him off and relax him I'm sure he'll get a strong 1,600. I'm not worried about that." Cruz settled on the lightweight Schofield in yesterday's race when he was able to ride Smart Winner at 115 pounds, but Cruz indicated there will be more opportunities for the South African.
"I offered the ride to a few other jockeys but there aren't many who can do that weight. Glynn was able to and he has been riding a few for me at the track and I've been able to see how he rides. I was impressed," Cruz said. "He rides very well and he did everything right today." Smart Winner was the horse from which Cruz fell in trackwork when the saddle slipped sideways almost 12 months ago, dislocating a collarbone, but the gelding is well on the way to squaring accounts.
"I've had some luck with the Ideal Planet breed - I had a good horse by him a few seasons ago called Concert Boss," Cruz recalled. "Where we go on the road to the Hong Kong Mile I'm still looking at, because there are plenty of options. I'll step him up to 1,400 metres a bit later and then work him up to the mile." The David Hayes-trained favourite Charming City was beaten but hardly disgraced, fighting on doggedly despite giving away 15 pounds to the victor. "There was nothing wrong with that, he tried his heart out," said jockey Dwayne Dunn, and Hayes took a positive view, too.
"I ran him here because his season finished a bit early last season. He went to Singapore for that race in May then finished and I didn't want him to get out of touch with racing by having too long a break," Hayes said.
"Now he's had this run and done a great job under the weight and I can sit back a bit with him now. Obviously, he heads to the international races and there is the new terms lead-up to the Hong Kong Sprint, where he'll have a good weight pull under the conditions, instead of giving weight away.
"I thought it was worth trying him just once with the big weight, but I guess he will probably stick to the terms races from now on." Hayes said he would approach the Hong Kong Sprint with a fairly light campaign. "He'll be right for that race, but I don't want him to do too much early in the season," he explained. "There are more suitable terms races in the second half of the year and I want him to have plenty left for them." The winner's stablemate, Solid Contact, and the Lawrie Fownes-trained Kenwood Melody also did nothing to dampen their prospects towards the international sprint after looming up before their condition gave out.
Earlier, Fownes had opened his final Hong Kong season the right way when troubled five-year-old Equus Zephyrus finally cracked it for his maiden win under Shane Dye in the first race.
"It's great for his owner because he has been very patient," said Fownes, who will retire at the end of the 2002-03 term. "There was one race last year where Equuz Zephyrus was just touched off on the line and another he probably should have won. He had a bleeding attack another day, so it hasn't been an easy road.
"But my son, Casper, told me the horse had done everything right and I thought today might just be the day. He's limited but he's genuine and may be able to squeeze out another win."
http://racing.scmp.com/english/images/news/lead02092001.jpg
Underrated Smart Winner will beat a path to the international meeting in December after winning yesterday's HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup to launch new jockey Glyn Schofield's Hong Kong stint in sensational style.
"What a great start!" the South African jockey bubbled after hoisting the season's first feature race win at his debut meeting. "Things couldn't have gone better in the run and when he saw daylight, Smart Winner just dashed." Schofield was having his sixth ride in Hong Kong as he angled Smart Winner into clear running by the 250-metre mark and put the race away in a twinkling to give trainer Derek Cruz his second Chief Executive's Cup (1,200m) in recent years after he won with Solid Contact in 1999.
"I'd ridden Smart Winner a couple of times in work and he's such a nice big strong horse," Schofield said. "Derek told me how to ride him and we got a great run through the race. Everything panned out perfectly and that was a really good win. I'd love to stay with this horse if I can." Smart Winner made it six wins from 13 starts as he staved off the flashing finish of Shaxi Fortune, with gallant Charming City third under his big weight. Surprisingly, Cruz announced plans to step Smart Winner up to a mile against the best the world can bring to Sha Tin for the Hong Kong Mile on December 15, even though he has yet to race beyond 1,400 metres.
"Actually, I think this race today was a bit short for him, but he was nice and fresh and handled the 1,200 metres," Cruz said. "The type of horse he is, if you switch him off and relax him I'm sure he'll get a strong 1,600. I'm not worried about that." Cruz settled on the lightweight Schofield in yesterday's race when he was able to ride Smart Winner at 115 pounds, but Cruz indicated there will be more opportunities for the South African.
"I offered the ride to a few other jockeys but there aren't many who can do that weight. Glynn was able to and he has been riding a few for me at the track and I've been able to see how he rides. I was impressed," Cruz said. "He rides very well and he did everything right today." Smart Winner was the horse from which Cruz fell in trackwork when the saddle slipped sideways almost 12 months ago, dislocating a collarbone, but the gelding is well on the way to squaring accounts.
"I've had some luck with the Ideal Planet breed - I had a good horse by him a few seasons ago called Concert Boss," Cruz recalled. "Where we go on the road to the Hong Kong Mile I'm still looking at, because there are plenty of options. I'll step him up to 1,400 metres a bit later and then work him up to the mile." The David Hayes-trained favourite Charming City was beaten but hardly disgraced, fighting on doggedly despite giving away 15 pounds to the victor. "There was nothing wrong with that, he tried his heart out," said jockey Dwayne Dunn, and Hayes took a positive view, too.
"I ran him here because his season finished a bit early last season. He went to Singapore for that race in May then finished and I didn't want him to get out of touch with racing by having too long a break," Hayes said.
"Now he's had this run and done a great job under the weight and I can sit back a bit with him now. Obviously, he heads to the international races and there is the new terms lead-up to the Hong Kong Sprint, where he'll have a good weight pull under the conditions, instead of giving weight away.
"I thought it was worth trying him just once with the big weight, but I guess he will probably stick to the terms races from now on." Hayes said he would approach the Hong Kong Sprint with a fairly light campaign. "He'll be right for that race, but I don't want him to do too much early in the season," he explained. "There are more suitable terms races in the second half of the year and I want him to have plenty left for them." The winner's stablemate, Solid Contact, and the Lawrie Fownes-trained Kenwood Melody also did nothing to dampen their prospects towards the international sprint after looming up before their condition gave out.
Earlier, Fownes had opened his final Hong Kong season the right way when troubled five-year-old Equus Zephyrus finally cracked it for his maiden win under Shane Dye in the first race.
"It's great for his owner because he has been very patient," said Fownes, who will retire at the end of the 2002-03 term. "There was one race last year where Equuz Zephyrus was just touched off on the line and another he probably should have won. He had a bleeding attack another day, so it hasn't been an easy road.
"But my son, Casper, told me the horse had done everything right and I thought today might just be the day. He's limited but he's genuine and may be able to squeeze out another win."