HK FEB 21 - SACRED KINGDOM EASILY TAKES OUT SECOND LEG OF HONG KONG SPEED SERIES

By - Courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club | Monday, February 22, 2010

Hong Kong, February 21, 2010.
The Hong Kong Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Group 1).
HK$ 4,500,000 - 1200m.
Going - Good. Course - Turf (A +3).
1 Sacred Kingdom; 2 Sunny King; 3 Happy Zero.

Trainer Rocky Yiu Poon-fai threw out the tantalising prospect of his top sprinter Sacred Kingdom staying at home for the third leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series next month after the six-year-old champion strolled to an easy victory in the Hong Kong Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize over 1200m at Sha Tin on Sunday, beating trainer John Moore's pair of Sunny King and Happy Zero.

Owner Sin Kang-yuk indicated he would like to see the horse race in Japan next month and would soon discuss with the trainer for a final decision.

It was Sacred Kingdom's fifteenth win from 23 starts, ten of which have been at local or international Group level, taking his earnings to more than $37 million.

The race was also the second leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series, the first being the Kent & Curwen Centenary Sprint Cup over 1000m which Sacred Kingdom won last month.

There had been suggestions Hong Kong's and the world joint top-rated sprinter may skip the final leg of the Speed Series, the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m on 14 March, and head instead for the HK$17 million Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo Racecourse, Nagoya, on 28 March.

But Yiu said that with the HK$2 million bonus now within the horse's grasp, a final decision on whether to stay or go will be made soon.

"It's getting close so we have to make a decision between now and then. We will definitely give another thought to going to Japan, but there's also a fair chance of going for the bonus in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m," he said.

Sacred Kingdom took the Centenary Sprint Cup after a spirited fight from his stablemate Ultra Fantasy, who finished second.

He was expected to face tougher opposition this time from Happy Zero, who beat him in the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial last November. But after appearing to be kept in a pocket at the top of the straight, the field suddenly fanned out and Sacred Kingdom burst through the field like a shot out of the gun.

Sunny King, fourth in the early running, gave chase but was never a danger and Sacred Kingdom won by a length and a quarter. Happy Zero boxed on for third and Ultra Fantasy was fourth.

Race jockey Brett Prebble said the race panned out exactly as he had expected and he never had any fears even when boxed in.

"I had him pretty much where I wanted. He's like that, he gets there and then he idles," he said. "It's real amazing. I can really feel he's just waiting, he's got no more to run down so he just takes care of himself."

Prebble said he only had to change course once before making his final run.

"Actually there was nothing else that wanted to go with me so I went," he added.

"Sacred Kingdom is probably at his peak now. He's a very happy horse and he really comfortable in his action."

Horse owner Sin Kang-yuk said he had much confidence in Sacred Kingdom.

"I was very satisfied with the form of the horse. When I visited the stable, Ricky (Yiu) told me his form was getting better," he said.

Sin also praised the ride of Prebble which he described as "brilliant."

"Brett (Prebble) is a top class rider and we all knew he would make the best decisions in the race. Sacred Kingdom will have two or three more runs this term and hopefully he will keep his form and achieve the Japan dream that we missed for the past two years," he added.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Joy And Fun and Sacred Kingdom were slow to begin. Near the 850m, One World got its head up when being checked away from the heels of Happy Zetro and in doing so shifted away from the heels of that horse.

Over the concluding stages Joy For Fun raced in restricted room between Happy Zero and Green Birdie. Sacred Kingdom and Sunny King were sent for sampling.

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