Viva Pataca fav for Hong Kong Gold Cup.

Viva Pataca hot favourite for HK Gold Cup


Preview: Hong Kong, Sunday (GMT 8am)

Sha Tin: Hong Kong Gold Cup (Group 1) 1m2f, turf

A CERTAIN sense of deja vu surrounds this Sunday's second leg of the Citi-sponsored Triple Crown in Hong Kong.

For the second successive year, Viva Pataca will start at prohibitive odds to win the Hong Kong Gold Cup againstseven rivals on the back of a third-placed finish in the Stewards' Cup over an inadequate 1m trip.

Last year John Moore was not shy about predicting victory for Viva Pataca in the HK$8million (£720,000) event - and the script is much the same this time around.

"I think he'll win," said Moore. "He has met all these horses before and he has the measure of them and his work of late has been good.

"He continues to have foot problems but it's nothing we haven't faced before and we have it under control - it's not they are brittle they are just poorly formed - but it's something we have to live with. It certainly doesn't stop him on race day."

Moore also fields Viva Macau and Eyshal and both are likely to take up forward roles with Viva Pataca settling midfield or a little further back as he seeks the sixth Group 1 win of a glittering career.

"I hope there is some pace on and that Viva Pataca can get a nice cart into the race and quicken up from the top of the home straight and hopefully sweep past them," added Moore.

"Eyshal is still on the upgrade and I think he could be able to stick on well enough to place."

Genuine opposition to the odds-on favourite appears thin on the ground. Packing Winner may have denied Viva Pataca glory inthe Champions & Chater Cup last term over a more suitable trip of 1m4f but trainer Peter Ho seems resigned to a lesser share of the pie on this occasion.

"It's going to be hard to beat Viva Pataca but I think our horse can get a place anyway," he said.

"He might have needed the run last time out so he's fitter for that run and I've got his best jockey back on," Ho added, in reference to eight-time HK champ Douglas Whyte, who could also have ridden Sight Winner.

Last season's HK Derby runner-up Jackpot Delight, a close third in the Centenary Vase last start, is also capable of making the frame.

RACE 7(412)
Hong Kong Group One - 2000 Metres
THE CITI HONG KONG GOLD CUP
HK$ 8,000,000.00
56k Broadband

Going : Good
Course : Turf - "A+3" Course
Race Time : (26.38) (51.26) (1.17.84) (1.42.50) (2.04.61)
Sectional Time : 26.38 24.88 26.58 24.66 22.11

Placing

Horse No.

Horse

Jockey

Actual Wt.

Draw

Length
Behind
Winner

Finishing
Time
1 1 VIVA PATACA(G096) D Beadman 126 6 - 2.04.61
2 2 PACKING WINNER(E334) D Whyte 126 1 N 2.04.66
3 6 EYSHAL(J099) W C Marwing 126 2 1-1/4 2.04.82
4 7 BULLISH CASH(H049) O Doleuze 126 3 2-1/2 2.05.01
5 4 JACKPOT DELIGHT(J101) C Soumillon 126 4 3 2.05.08
6 5 SIGHT WINNER(J049) G Mosse 126 5 3-3/4 2.05.21
7 3 VIVA MACAU(H110) K T Yeung 126 7 3-3/4 2.05.21
8 8 AMBITIOUS GENERAL(J066) B Prebble 126 8 4-3/4 2.05.38

Viva Pataca retains Hong Kong Gold Cup crown


Report: Hong Kong, Sunday

Sha Tin: Hong Kong Gold Cup (Grade 1) (turf)

VIVA PATACAinitiated a brilliant Grade 1 double for record-breaking trainer John Moore at Sha Tin on Sunday, when landing the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup for the second successive year.

Viva Pataca's success in the second leg of the Citi Triple Crown did not come in the same easy fashion of a year earlier, even if the admirable Packing Winner never really looked like defeating last season's champion middle-distance horse. Darren Beadman pushed out Viva Pataca to score by a neck.

"He was ridden more forward today so that we wouldn't get any traffic jams up front but Darren was never in any bother. Viva Pataca just showed that he's still the best horse in Hong Kong over 2,000 metres and more and, to be honest, I think he might have needed the run today, so there is further improvement to come," Moore said.

Last year Viva Pataca travelled to the Emirates to run second in the $5m Dubai Sheema Classic on the back of victory in this event, but the trainer and owner Stanley Ho Hung-sun indicated a similar venture has not been decided as regards the richest race meeting in the world on 28 March.

"We will have to consider it [Dubai], but I'm afraid the horse might not be at his best when he comes back, so we need to discuss it further," Mr Ho said.