DE KOCK KEEN ON ARCHIPENKO CHANCE

Mike De Kock believes his runner Archipenko can put up a big challenge to local favourite Viva Pataca in Sunday's Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin.

The multiple South African champion trainer landed the corresponding Group One contest 12 months ago when Archipenko proved too good for Viva Pataca.

However, the five-year-old failed to sparkle on his latest start when finishing sixth behind runaway scorer Gladiatorus in the Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba, although De Kock feels there were valid excuses.

He explained: "Although he didn't cough, he clearly wasn't right and you can draw a line through the form.

"He's now close to the level I had him when he won the QEII last year. He's travelled over well, his weight is good and his coat is gleaming.

"I think you'll find he'll be very competitive on Sunday."

Archipenko's jockey Kevin Shea shares de Kock's enthusiasm and added: "He never gave me the same feel in Dubai.

"Now he's back on his favoured patch, I think you'll see a different horse."

Shea partners the trainer's Imbongi in the Group One Champions Mile, in which confirmed trailblazer Egyptian Ra drew the rail while likely odds-on chance Good Ba Ba was handy a tricky position at 10 of the 11-strong field.

He added: "Imbongi should not be underestimated. I'm glad Egyptian Ra's in there because when they go a good gallop the best horse usually wins."


Archipenko has been allotted stall two while Viva Pataca is next door in stall one and Luca Cumani's Presvis is drawn eight.

There has not been a British-trained winner of the race, but there is certainly no lack of confidence behind the five-year-old.

Cumani's assistant Charlie Henson said: "He's improved and improved and seems to me to be in grand form since arriving from Dubai.

"Not only is he really relaxed but just take a look at his hind-quarters - they have really developed in the last few months."

Alexandros, Godolphin's hope in the Champions Mile, lobbed up the home straight in the hands of John Bramhill.

Afterwards Godolphin's travelling head girl Claire Sparkes said: "He did a good piece of work in Dubai last Saturday and he's fit and well - in great form.

"He'll like the ground and Frankie (Dettori) is really looking forward to riding him on Sunday."

Sha Tin: Champions Mile (Group 1) 1m, 3yo+

THE Champions Mile may be billed as only the supporting feature in Hong Kong on Sunday but the clash of domestic stars Good Ba Ba and Collection threatens to overshadow the ostensiblehighlight, the QEII Cup.

Six-time Group 1 winner Good Ba Ba (Andreas Schutz/ Christophe Soumillon), thrilling winner of the last two runnings of the Hong Kong Mile - is the territory's Horse of the Year, while Collection (John Moore/Darren Beadman) has earned rave reviews in Hong Kong.

A Royal Ascot winner last year for William Haggas, the foue-year-oldjustified short-priced favouritism in the Hong Kong Derby.

Front-running Egyptian Ra (Tony Cruz/Felix Coetzee) is always dangerous if he gets left alone at the head of affairs and has twice beaten Good Ba Ba this season in those circumstances, while More Bountiful (John Size/Doug Whyte) is looking for his seventh win this term, which would be a new record.

Frankie Dettori travels to Hong Kong to partner Dubai Duty Free third Alexandros for Godolphin, while Imbongirepresents Mike De Kock and Kevin Shea.

Quotes

Andreas Schutz, trainer of Good Ba Ba

"Even if we had drawn five, I'd be more worried about Egyptian Ra in gate one because he can stretch the field out from there. I'd be very worried about him having it all his own way in front. He has beaten us twice like that this season.

"Still, our horse is fit and fine andhe will relish being back over the mile rather than the 1400m like last time."

Tony Cruz, trainer of Egyptian Ra

"It will be catch me if you can. He drew 13 in the international mile in December and still ran third after burning too much gas to cross to the lead early on. Then last month in the Jubilee Cup, he drew six and won well.

"From gate one on Sunday, the aim will be the same: bounce right to the front and let them try and catch us. The horse has never been better and nobody rides him like Felix [Coetzee]."

John Size, trainer of More Bountiful

"He has come out of the last win very well and you can't argue with his record up to a mile. His only defeat at the distance was in the Classic Mile and he was unlucky to lose that by a short-head. In the Derby Trial and the Derby itself he wasn't suited by the distance or the tempo. This is his best distance."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Alexandros

"I am happy with the stall position for Alexandros as it means Frankie Dettori will have all the options open to him. Alexandros worked in Dubai on Saturday, the day before he flew to Hong Kong, and he is fit, well and in good form."

Kevin Shea, rider of Imbongi

"Imbongi should not be underestimated. I'm glad Egyptian Ra's in there because when they go a good gallop the best horse usually wins."

John Moore, trainer of Collection

"He's in terrific shape and his barrier in seven is good. The way we see it, if he is the genuine international Group 1 horse that we truly believe he is, then he will be a major force in this Champions Mile.

"I worked him at the weekend and he was terrific - he broke 11 seconds for his final 200m. He can really shift and I think he'll be able to test Good Ba Ba over the mile."

John Hawkes, trainer of Dao Dao

"The horse is in terrific shape. My feeling is that he will run really, really well but it's a question if he's good enough at this level."

Sha Tin: Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (Group 1) 1m2f 3yo+

PRESVIS is out to complete a quickfire journey from handicapper to Group 1 winner on Sunday in Hong Kong where the Dubai Duty Free runner-up takes on domestic superstar Viva Pataca in the richly endowed Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin.

Ryan Moore travels to Hong Kong to partner the Luca Cumani-trained five-year-old in the £1.25million event, while Frankie Dettori rides Alexandros for Godolphin against top-class locals Good Ba Ba and Collection in the Group 1 Champions Mile.

Last year's QEII Cup winner Archipenko bids to defend his title for Mike De Kock, having had 2007 winner Viva Pataca two lengths back in third.

However, Archipenko was well behindPresvis when the latter chased home runaway winner Gladiatorus in Dubai, where he and Moore had teamed up for a pair of comfortable handicap victories at the Carnival.

Given that Presvis is a confirmed hold-up horse with a potent turnof foot, the Duty Free wasn't really run to suit him, and he will be well fancied to go one better in Hong Kong over a trip that suits him better.

Archipenko was a major disappointment at Nad Al Sheba on a night when the Mike De Kock team was out of sorts but his connections reckon the performance should be forgotten and strongly expect the five-year-old to return to his best.

Australia's Niconero, five times a Group 1 winner this season, ran a fine race to finish fourth in Dubai. The seven-year-old, who met in trouble in running that day, has the outside draw to contend with in Hong Kong.

Local star Viva Pataca is certain to start favourite, however, for the powerful trainer/jockey team of JohnMoore and Darren Beadman.

A six-time Group 1 winner at home, where he remains the joint-highest-rated performer in training, the seven-year-old ran a fine trial over a trip short of his best last time in Group 2 company.

Like Presvis, Viva Pataca will be charging home from the rear - but he has been handed the inside post and Beadman will need to find the gaps, something the conspicuously did not happen when the partnership were sent off a short-priced favourite for the Hong Kong Cup in December.

The Moore/Beadman team also team up in the Champions Mile with Hong Kong Derby winner Collection, who beat QEII Cup contender Thumbs Up in the Classic.

A Royal Ascot winner for William Haggas last year, the four-year-old has earned rave reviews since arriving in Hong Kong, and his clash with six-time Group 1 winner Good Ba Ba, the territory's Horse of the Year, may even overshadow the main event for the locals.

Alexandros, who was third in the Dubai Duty Free, drops down in trip for Godolphin, while Egyptian Ra lowered the colours of Good Ba Ba last time out with all-the-way success over 7f, while More Bountiful has won six this season and several of tomorrow's rivals behind when scoring over course and distance earlier this month in Group 2 company.

According to Moore, though, Beadman suggested Viva Pataca's final piece of work was the best he had ever done beforea big race.

Quotes

Darren Beadman, rider of Viva Pataca

"Viva Pataca hasn't changed much in the past two or three years and one thing about him this year is that he didn't travel to Dubai and that might come in his favour. Last year he was a little bit flat after the Dubai run which took a bit out of him.

"A mile and a quarter is his pet distance and while heis a seven-year-old, he's never really been taxed. John (Moore) has really looked after him."

Mike De Kock, trainer of Archipenko

"Although he didn't cough, he clearly wasn't right in the Dubai Duty Free and you can draw a line through the form. He's now close to the level I had him when he won the QEII last year. He's travelled over well, his weight is good and his coat is gleaming. I think you'll find he'll be very competitive on Sunday."

Charlie Henson, assistant to Luca Cumani, trainer of Presvis

"He is just such a relaxed horse, nothing seems to faze him. He did his final piece of work in Dubaion Sunday, then flew here on Monday and he seems to have taken everything in his stride.

"He ran a fantastic race in the Duty Free and it was just a shame that Gladiatorus was allowed to get so far in front on that occasion. Before that race, he had never run at Listed or Group level so there were some doubts. But he proved he should be in that company and he deserves to take his chance here.

"The mile and a quarter he will tackle here is his ideal trip. He has a turn of foot off a strong pace, but also off a slow pace."

David Hayes, trainer of Niconero

"We drew inside in Dubai and that didn't work out as we had all the bad luck so maybe this is not so bad. I guess we will simply go back and swoop late."

Danny Shum, trainer of Thumbs Up

"The draw is good, his trackwork is good, Soumillon is riding him and there's no Collection in the race to beat him. He'll pick up prize-money."

JJ will run unplaced?

True, next race at Ascot, not Hong Kong!

ARCHIPENKO - pass...dont punt..