Hong Kong men buy into Sacred Elixir
The Derby has always been the plan for Sacred Elixir, but now the vision is for derbies around the world.
The Victoria Derby favourite has been Raffles Thoroughbred Racing’s flag-bearer, taking out the Group I JJ Atkins in the winter. But following his win in the Moonee Valley Vase last Saturday, Raffles boss Dato Yap took a call from an old friend in Hong Kong.
‘‘He would be a good Derby horse,’’ Eric Chen enthused. ‘‘Can I buy into him?’’
Chen wasn’t thinking of the Victoria Derby seven days away, rather the most prestigious race in Hong Kong for four-year-olds, which Sacred Elixir would not run in until 2018. That is the potential he sees in Sacred Elixir.
Yap and Chen have been friends for years and a deal was quickly done, which also includes Hong Kong-based Sunny Yam.
‘‘We have raced horses together in the past and it was good to have him involved,’’ Yap said.
‘‘The Hong Kong Derby is the most important race for anyone in Hong Kong and they are always looking for the right horse. He trusts us that we have the right horse in Sacred Elixir.
‘‘The team have always said he would be a Derby horse and we are here as they said and hopefully there are many more wins to come. I think he is hard to beat on Saturday.’’
Chen made the trip to Australia and his first job in the ownership was to draw the Victoria Derby barrier on Wednesday. He picked gate one.
‘‘It is the first time I did that and I got No.1, which is good,’’ Chen said.’’ No.1 for the No.1 horse.’’
Everything seems to be falling into place for Sacred Elixir, which trainer Tony Pike has always earmarked for Flemington on Derby day.
‘‘We will get him ready for the VRC Derby because he is a stayer, this was just done on ability,’’ Pike said after his Group I victory in Brisbane as a two-year-old.
The horseman’s judgment appears to be right with this spring so far netting a Caulfield Guineas Prelude and Vase victories; in between he was trapped wide and had little luck in the Caulfield Guineas.
The blinkers came off in the Vase and although he failed to handle the final turn, rocking and rolling around it, Sacred Elixir was far too strong for his rivals.
‘‘That was probably the best he has been getting out in trip,’’ Pike said. ‘‘I have always thought he was a stayer and we only had the blinkers on him to sharpen him up for those shorter trips.
‘‘We took them off [last start] and the way he relaxed was very impressive and he was polished at the end once he saw the gap.
‘‘I think the Derby trip will not be a problem for him and Flemington is going to suit him a lot better.’’
Sacred Elixir, who will be reunited with Hong Kong hoop Zac Purton, who won the JJ Atkins on him, has been $3.50 to $3 since the barrier draw and Yap has mapped out an ambitious plan for the next 12 months before he goes to Hong Kong.
‘‘If he can win on Saturday, we will send him home with Tony and would like to aim at the New Zealand Derby for Tony,’’ Yap said.
‘‘Tony is a good bloke and a good trainer and we want him to have success in New Zealand with this horse then he can come back to Sydney for the [ATC] Derby there.
‘‘We want to see him in those derbies and eventually in the Hong Kong Derby.
‘‘First we have to win on Saturday but we think we are a good chance.’’