JPN SEPT 12 - FLYING BIRDIE JUST FAILS IN MAGNIFICENT SPRINTERS' PREP

By Hong Kong Jockey Club | Monday, September 13, 2010

Hong Kong's Green Birdie ran a spectacular lead-up race for the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes on 3 October when flying through the field from a tough position to finish second to Japanese contender Dasher Go Go in the Group 2 Centaur Stakes at Hanshin, Japan.

In another couple of strides the Caspar Fownes trainee, the top rated horse in the 15-runner field as well as top weight, would undoubtedly have caught and passed the winner, who had the advantage of an unimpeded run, and who had looked to have the race to himself after hitting the front 150m from the line.

Fownes was thrilled with the horse's performance. "Obviously we came here to win and in that respect we have to be a bit disappointed," said Fownes. "But we have to be very excited too as he's run a really cracking race and given us every hope for the Sprinters Stakes next month.

"We got shuttled back a little bit more than we wanted and got out a little bit later than we wanted, but I'd said to Mark (jockey Du Plessis) that I wanted him ridden quiet. Of course it's a little bit heartbreaking to get so close, but I couldn't really ask for anything more than that and his last sectional must have been something amazing."

Front runner K T Love, who had been expected to guarantee a blazing gallop from start to finish, slowed the pace after taking the lead, and as she dropped back and the field packed up, Du Plessis found himself in a midfield pocket with little more than 200m left to run. It was to Green Birdie's credit that once he escaped he flew.

"Conditions were quite stifling there today," added Fownes. "But he seemed to cope with it very well, and as long as he eats up and does well between now and 3 October we will be very happy. Remember he was giving a lot of those others a fair bit of weight."

William A Nader, Executive Director, Racing, of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, is also pleased to see the nice performance of this Hong Kong speedster in the fifth leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.

"It was a good run, and with a bit of luck, he could have won the race. I think this sets him up nicely for the Sprinters’ Stakes on 3 October," Mr Nader said.

More articles