Bart’s Racing News – Upcoming Racedays in Hong Kong & Randwick

Tuesday, 13 March 2018

Two four-year-olds with close links to Queensland racing are included in the top fancies for the Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Last year’s Queensland Derby winner Ruthven and Ping Hai Star, formerly trained at the Sunshine Coast by Stuart Kendrick, are coming in as last start winners in the $HK18 Million ($A2.88m) Derby run over 2000 metres.

In Queensland Ping Hai Star started three times under the racing name Ted for two ultra-impressive wins on his home track Corbould Park. At his last run for Kendrick Ted won a 1400 metres Class 1 spreint by seven lengths. Soon after he was sold to the John Size stable in Hong Kong. Ping Hai Star has been successful three times this season in Hong Kong the latest an eye catching last-to-first win at Sha Tin on March 3. It is now a big distance jump to 2000 metres but Ping Hai Star is by the 2008 AJC Derby winner Nom Du Jeu so on bloodlines has to be given a strong chance to run the trip.

Ruthven, now trained by John Moore, was unplaced at his first four starts this season in Hong Kong, but appreciated stepping up in distance to 1800 metres in a Class 2 win at Sha Tin on March 3. Rider Zac Purton settled Ruthven third on the fence and challenged at the 250 metres to scored in determined style. Last winter Ruthven underlined his toughness by finishing fourth on a very heavy Randwick track in the AJC Derby, second in the Vic Gold Heath at Caulfield and then second in the South Australian Derby before his easy Queensland Derby success over 2200 metres at Doomben.

Meanwhile in Sydney on Saturday Magic Millions winner Sunlight will wind up her Golden Slipper preparation in the Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill. Trainer Tony McEvoy has followed the same path will Sunlight as her lead up to the Magic Millions Triumph in January.  The powerfully built Sunlight backed up from a run a week earlier into the MM Classic which she won handsomely. Sunlight is a clear favourite for the Golden Slipper on Saturday week.