Hong Kong may have had a frustrating day at Saturday’s Dubai World Cup
meeting, registering three placings — including a pair of runner-up finishes —
in Group 1 events, but Aerovelocity (Pins) surely provided some consolidation
with a hard-fought score in Japan’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen (Jpn-G1) at Chukyo,
the third leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.
The seven-year-old gelding, who landed in Hong Kong two years ago, has been
on an upward trajectory as of late. He embarked on a five-race win streak of
races over 1200 meters in November 2013, and his streak was only snapped when he
stepped up to 1400 meters for a local Group 3 contest last June, finishing
second.
Aerovelocity got back to his winning ways in the Premier Bowl October 26,
besting Saturday’s Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) runner-up Super Jockey
(Sandtrap) with superstar miler Able Friend (Shamardal) back in fourth. He was a
troubled last of 14 behind Saturday’s Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G1) second Peniaphobia
(Dandy Man) in the Jockey Club Sprint (HK-G2) November 23, but turned the tables
on that rival in the Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) December 14.
Aerovelocity warmed up for this with a second to Group 1 winner Gold-Fun (Le
Vie Dei Colori) in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize February 15, and was off to a
good beginning under regular rider Zac Purton Sunday. Dropping back shortly
after the break to stalk the pace just off the fence in the rainy conditions,
Aerovelocity — along with much of the field — swung wide off the turn and set
his sights on the front-running Hakusan Moon (Admire Moon) with Mikki Isle (Deep
Impact) racing alongside him. Aerovelocity quickened between rivals in the
closing stages to nail Hakusan Moon on the line.
“Obviously I was a bit concerned about the rain, but the track was not that
bad,” said Purton after recording his first Grade 1 victory in Japan. “It was a
new experience for him. As we entered the home straight, he appeared to have
lost his footing, lost a bit of his momentum. I thought the race was all over. I
continued to ride and he started to regain his balance. The gallop was a little
bit better. We moved to the better part of the track and he was comfortable with
it again, and able to bounce back.”
Trainer Paul O’Sullivan said there is a chance his charge could aim for the
Global Sprint Challenge’s $1 million bonus, which is awarded to any horse that
wins three legs in three different countries in the same year.
“I haven’t really made a plan beyond today,” O’Sullivan said. “I thought if
he ran well we will be going to Singapore (for the May 17 KrisFlyer Sprint
[Sin-G1]). But we’ve now got to start to look at the international series. We
will be trying to win another race as there will be a million-dollar bonus if he
wins three. We will sit down and discuss and see what looks best to his form.”
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com