Get into Tony Cruz-trained The Golden Age at Happy Valley
– The Golden Age will attempt to become the first fouryear-old since last century to win the Group 3 January Cup Handicap over 1800m when he takes on more experienced rivals at Happy Valley today.
Trainer Tony Cruz has opted to aim the French import at Happy Valley’s only Pattern race as he plots a progression that he hopes will take his talented charge through the last two legs of the upcoming Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
No four-year-old has won the January Cup since the David Hayes-trained Championship triumphed in January 1999, the last time the race was staged at Sha Tin.
“We’re hoping for another nice run from The Golden Age and after this he’ll go to the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and then the plan is the Hong Kong Derby (2000m),” Cruz said.
The My Risk gelding will contest this midweek test as an alternative to the three-race series’ first leg, the Hong Kong Classic Mile in 12 days’ time, for which the Cruz stable has entered impressive last-start winner Exultant as well as Doctor Geoff and Dragon Lips.
The Golden Age has posted
Hong Kong
two front-running wins at Happy Valley from as many starts this term. Last time in a Class 2 over the course and distance, the French import held re-opposing pair of Dinozzo and Marvel Hero by a neck and the same.
Cruz is hopeful that a repeat of those front-running tactics under regular rider Matthew Chadwick might pay dividends once again.
“Matthew knows this horse very well, he knows exactly what to do and he’ll ride him like he has done before. The horse has shown us that he likes Happy Valley, he races with enthusiasm there,” Cruz said.
“He’s still in good form and if anything he’s calmed down a bit more since his last run, he’s much more professional now. He’s a straightforward horse, he’s had no setbacks, I’m happy with what he’s showing me and he has a nice weight so he has every chance.”
The Golden Age steps up to Pattern grade for the first time in Hong Kong. But the compact chestnut already has a Grade 3 win to his name overseas, having taken the Prix la Rochette (1400m) at Saint-Cloud as a juvenile.
Another Grade 3 winner in the field of 11 is last year’s January Cup victor Harbour Master. This John Moore-trained galloper will line up along with stablemate and Grade 1 winner Eagle Way. Tommy Berry partnered Eagle Way to finish eighth in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) last time but will be aboard the eight-year-old Harbour Master this time.
“After I rode Harbour Master last start I wasn’t overly confident about him going into this race, but I was a lot more confident after his gallop,” Berry said. “He was quite fresh in his gallop; it felt like a fresh pair of legs not an old pair of legs. Hopefully he can return to his old form.”
The Moore stable’s retained jockey is clear about which of the yard’s two contenders is the standout.
“No comparison,” he said, “I think Eagle Way’s going really well. It was a very good run in the Vase, and off a bit of a setback as well, so he’s stripped a lot fitter for that.” – Hong Kong Jockey Club.