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imaufo
10-11-2002, 17:24
The Fakei Cup will be held tomorrow at Sha Tin.
Among the contestants is the leading jockey Douglas Whyte's mount CIRCUIT KINGDOM, a consistent performer who is a dual winner and runner-up over this course and distance. With seven career starts, he has never been out of first four. OPERATION HUMOUR, who has won twice over this distance, has caught the eye in recent trackwork and the in-form Olivier Doleuze ride. A runner-up over this course and distance, SENSIBLE WAY has run quite well in race Class 2 events and may have a better chance in a Class 3 company.
EVER SUCCESS won easily last start over 1200m at Sha Tin. His pedigree hints that he could handle 1400m well. STRONGHEART, who won his seasonal debut over this trip, is also worth a chance since the runner-up of that race, CIRCUIT KINGDOM won its next start after that. SHINING GEM, having grabbed two wins and two places over this course and distance, teams up again with E Legrix, for whom he races well.
The Fakei Cup was first run in Hong Kong in 1856 and it was won by Jardine's GREY FRIAR. In Chinese, "Fakei" is another term for the "Stars and Stripes". The race discontinued from the Calendar in 1875 but was subsequently revived in 1976 when a new cup was presented by Hong Kong's American community to commemorate the United States' bicentenary.
Hats off to Gift in the finale
Glitz and glamour is always in abundance on Ladies' Purse day and John Size can provide punters with a welcome present in the final event with the highly progressive Gift.
The son of Danasinga bolted home on his last start when easily accounting for a similar field and the form from the race has taken a boost with Mascot Treasure (fifth), Celebration (sixth) and Danriva (11th) all having won on their next outings. Gift has also moved particularly well in a couple of trials since that win and looks set to strike a similar track over the Sha Tin mile where he won so emphatically. He has certainly come back this season in better shape and from a decent alley should have every chance to notch his second victory of the season. More
Gold Ball can win sprint to line
There does look to be a serious lack of pace in the Ladies' Purse this afternoon, but crowd favourite Northern Gold Ball should be able to overcome the probable sedate tempo and in the process notch his fourth consecutive victory.
The talented son of Marju was an impressive winner over 1,400 metres on his seasonal reappearance when he caught Splendid Patrol on the wire, and the move up to a mile today looks highly beneficial. He has had five starts over the course and distance for three wins and a minor placing, and he looks destined to take all the beating again today with Douglas Whyte, who has been aboard for his last three victories. More

imaufo
11-11-2002, 02:17
Forbidden Apple in Line for third Hong Kong Bid
A final decision has yet to be made, but it appears quite possible that the United States representative Forbidden Apple is headed for another engagement in the Hong Kong International Races, which will be run on Sunday, 15 December, at Sha Tin.
In his most recent start on 26 October, the seven-year-old son of Pleasant Colony finished a solid fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at Arlington Park near Chicago. "Forbidden Apple came away from that race in fine order," reports his trainer, Christophe Clement. "We will decide within the next few days if Hong Kong will again be on our agenda."
A versatile sort, Forbidden Apple is nominated to both the HK$18-million Hong Kong Cup (G1) and the HK$14-million Hong Kong Mile (G1). In 2000, he finished fourth in the 2000-metre HK Cup, and was fourth in the 1600-metre HK Mile last year.
Forbidden Apple's career record currently includes 29 starts, eight victories, six second-place finishes and seven thirds, along with earnings of US$1,595,280. With the exception of his initial career outing back in July of 1998, he has never raced on a surface other than grass.
While Forbidden Apple has yet to win in five starts in 2002, his efforts this season have brought second-place finishes in the Manhattan Handicap (G1) and Kelso Handicap (G2) at New York's Belmont Park, along with third-place finishes in the Arlington Million (G1) and Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2), the latter of which was run at Saratoga.
"He is an honest horse, who always gives us his best effort," said Clement. Indeed, Forbidden Apple's career resume further includes triumphs in the 2001 edition of the Manhattan Handicap, in back-to-back runnings of the Kelso Handicap in 2000-2001 and in the 2000 edition of the Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2).
Clement, age 37, is originally from Paris and has been based in the United States for the last 12 years. He primarily races his horses in Florida during the winter, and competes at Belmont, Saratoga and other East Coast tracks during the spring, summer and fall.
A son of the late Miguel Clement, a prominent thoroughbred conditioner in France, Christophe is also the younger brother of Nicolas Clement, who trained the 1990 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner, Saumarez.
Engaging, yet reserved in the manner of a French aristocrat, Clement is a former assistant to Luca Cumani in Europe and to Claude "Shug" McGaughey in the U.S. Other top stakes horses Clement has trained include Danish, who won the 1994 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland, and Honor Glide, who won the 1999 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (G1) at Saratoga.
A homebred who campaigns for the Floridian Arthur I. Appleton, Forbidden Apple is the sort who can anchor a trainer's entire barn. Jose Santos, who won the Eclipse Award in 1988 as North America's leading jockey and who is a veteran of the Hong Kong International Races as well, is Forbidden Apple's regular rider.
Santos is now 41 years of age, "but he is riding the best I have ever seen him ride, and I have been using Jose's services for many seasons," Clement said. Might all that experience - - possessed by the horse, his trainer and jockey - - result in victory at Sha Tin on 15 December?
"Perhaps," said Clement, "and if we do come it will be for one reason, that we believe we can win."
HKJC News
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