BMW Hong Kong Derby path for Victor Supreme
Celebrating a quartet with a string of emerging gallopers at Sha Tin on Saturday, Ricky Yiu outlined long-range hopes to contest the 2027 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) with Victor Supreme (NZ) (Super Seth) after the promising stayer’s crushing victory.
Jubilant after similarly impressive performances from Rising Force, Lucrative Eight and Chill Easy, Yiu said Victor Supreme would be aimed at the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which features the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and the 150th BMW Hong Kong Derby.
“He won by reasonable margin – I thought he was a winning chance by maybe a length or two, but not in this style,” Yiu, Hong Kong Champion Trainer in 2019/20, said of the Super Seth gelding’s four-and-a-half lengths romp in the Class 4 Ip Jug Handicap (1800m) under Vincent Ho.
“He's an up-and-coming long-distance horse, even a mile is a bit sharp. He'll be one of the Derby candidates. When the first stage Derby entries open, I'll put him in. The way he looks, he'll be a decent stayer.”
Yiu won the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby with subsequent Hong Kong Triple Crown victor Voyage Bubble.
Taking his season’s tally to 44 wins, Yiu was delighted with the performance of Rising Force (NZ) (Deep Field), who confirmed his rich promise with all-the-way success in the Class 2 Li Cup Handicap (1200m) for Zac Purton, earning a PPG Bonus of HK$1 million.
“He won this race like a different horse. That was a great performance by jockey Zac Purton, he rode a very good race. He pinged out of the gate like a bullet, and that's a big advantage,” Yiu said. “He is a pretty versatile horse. He's sharp, he's got natural gate speed – your typical sprinter.
“He might be a horse who's winning over 100 (rating) because he's not really exposed yet, he's only had limited races.”
Ready To Run graduate Lucrative Eight (Foxwedge) landed the Class 4 Chow Silver Plate Handicap (1200m) under Purton despite having to wait for clear running in the straight before powering to a three-length margin over debutant Road To Glory.
“He (Lucrative Eight) was very naughty going to the gates,” Purton said. “He’s very immature, he might be better next season with blinkers on. Anyway, he’s done a good job, he’s been consistent and I think next season, he’ll show his best.”
Lui also struck with Ohukia Lodge graduate Graceful Heart (Russian Revolution) and Lyle Hewitson in the Class 4 Arculli Trophy Handicap (1400m) after the Russian Revolution three-year-old crossed from barrier 11 to win comfortably.
Healthy Healthy (NZ) (Per Incanto) burst to victory in the Class 4 Stevenson Cup Handicap (1200m) once Andrea Atzeni found clear running on the gelding.
David Hayes claimed the final dirt race of the season when Hallmark Stud graduate Bustling City (Starspangledbanner) blitzed his rivals by four-and-a-half lengths to land the Class 4 Chan Trophy Handicap (1200m) for Brenton Avdulla.
“He's adjusted to Hong Kong, and he's started running to his trial ability. He's trialled well and now he's put it together in a race, and I expect him to be a good horse next season,” Hayes said.
