Dubai: Emiraiti handler Saeed Bin Surour believes that stable-star Sajjhaa can end his 17-year wait for a second Group 1 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup when the talented six-year-old mare lines-up to contest today’s (Sun) mouth-watering renewal of Hong Kong’s showpiece race at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Bin Surour won the HK$14 million (Dh6.6 million) contest in 1996 with Overbury, but has since been unsuccessful in five subsequent attempts, the last time being when Grandera could only finish fifth to Eishin Preston in 2002.
Sajjhaa was one of the stars of the Dubai World Cup Carnival where she strung together a sequence of four wins including the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (G1), one of the main support races on the Dubai World Cup card on March 31.
The Godolphin-owned daughter of King’s Best faces 13 rivals, among them 2011 winner and seven-time Group 1 scorer Ambitious Dragon (5/2 favourite) and top rated four-year-old Akeed Mofeed (9/2), who head the home team attack. She is a best priced 11/2 shot with British bookmaker William Hill.
Commenting from Hong Kong bin Surour said: “I’ve heard that she is among the favourites and I think she deserves that respect.
“She’s been in brilliant form this season and has improved with every race. I think she can improve further and I expect her to run a big race on Sunday.
“The QE II has always been a very competitive race and this year’s renewal is no different. In fact I think it’s one of the toughest renewals in recent times,” he added.
“Sajjhaa showed that she can take on the colts, having beaten some top horses in the Dubai Duty, which proves that she is a very special mare.
“She’s in great shape and every thing has been going according to plan. I like the draw (8) and I think that if she runs up to her potential she should have a big chance.”
Silvester De Sousa, who has ridden Sajjhaa in all four of his wins, has flown in from Newmarket, England, to take the ride.
Meanwhile, Tony Millard talked up the chances of Ambitious Dragon following the prevalent weather conditions at Sha Tin.
“The rain we’ve had was good, it meant the grass was beautiful,” he said on the Hong Kong Jockey Club website. “I’m pleased with him going into the race and hopefully everything goes according to plan. We just need a bit of luck now.”
Akeed Mofeed is bidding to become only the third horse to complete the Hong Kong Derby - QEII double in the same season and trainer Richard Gibson was confident that the son of Dubawi will give a good account of himself.
“I know it’s a new test and not an easy one but my gut feeling is that I have a good horse who’s in great shape,” he said. “With those two things in place, they generally run well and this horse is the ultimate professional.”
South African handler Mike De Kock is represented by Igugu and Treasure Beach, two horses who were campaigned at the Dubai World Cup Carnival, but did not perform up to expectations.
However, Steven Jell, the handler’s assistant was willing to discount that form and said of the South African Horse of the Year Igugu: “Maybe some thought she was disappointing in Dubai but she arrived there with so much hype and, as I’ve said, we were on the back foot from the start after her long period of quarantine,” he said.
Eishin Flash bids to maintain Japan’s grip on the Cup following Rulership who won the race last year.
Trainer Hideaki Fujiwara said: “As I saw him this morning for the first time in Hong Kong, everything looks like it has been controlled well so far with his work and condition. Before he flew in, we gave him a strong workout and he had been almost set up for the race at home, so any strong and tough work would not be needed here.
“I walked with him and got him in the gate because he might be surprised with the stall handler without any practice. He did not have any problem. About the draw 13, an inside gate would have been much preferred, but we will make a strategy with the jockey Mirco Demuro about how give him his best opportunity,” Fujiwara said.
The QEII Cup, one of ten races on an attractive 10-event card, can be watched on Dubai Racing Channel.
