Newmarket, England: Military Attack is one of the best horses in Hong Kong and he comes to Dubai in top shape, having won an ultra competitive championship race on his most-recent start.
Military Attack first made his mark as an international top-class horse when landing the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) over 2,000 metres at Sha Tin in April, 2013 (beating another champion, California Memory, and Japanese star Eishin Flash).
He shipped straight from that success to the Singapore Airlines International Cup (G1) over the same distance at Kranji just three weeks later, and was deeply impressive as he won again, this time by more than three lengths from the solid yardstick Dan Excel, a rival he met again in the Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1) in February this year.
Military Attack won the Gold Cup also in 2012 but this year’s field seemed stronger. In the mix was also Akeed Mofeed, impressive winner of the 2013 Hong Kong Cup (G1) — when Military Attack finished fourth — but Military Attack got his revenge.
Racing over the familiar 2,000 metres trip at Sha Tin, the son of Oratorio bounced right back to his best with an easy three-length win over Dan Excel, with Akeed Mofeed back in fifth place.
The Hong Kong Gold Cup was Military Attack’s ninth career win, six have come for his current trainer John Moore.
He won three times over a mile in England in his younger days (when named ‘Reve’) but all his wins since have come over 1,800 and 2,000 metres, so we can safely say that Military Attack fits well into the Dubai World Cup.
— The author is a thoroughbred form expert and editor of www.stabell.co.uk