Dubai: One raider comes from Japan, the other from the UK. Together they carry the hopes of two passionate horse owners from Dubai, when they line-up to contest the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1), the highlight of Sunday’s big-race meeting at Sha Tin, Hong Kong.
The purse on offer is HK$25m (Dh11.8m), making it the richest and most sought-after 2000m turf race in the world.
Archimedes, who is trained in Tokyo by Japanese Derby-winning handler Hideaki Fujiwara, represents His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, while Newmarket-based Farraaj represents Major General Shaikh Ahmad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police and Public Security.
While Shaikh Mohammad is looking for a first success in the 2000-metre contest as an individual owner, he has previously won the Cup under the banner of his Godolphin racing stable with Ramonti in 2007 and Fantastic Light in 2000.
Bred by Darley Japan, Archimedes will have the services of Melbourne Cup and triple Japan Cup winning jockey Yasunari Iwata as he bids to upstage a high class field of home-based horses including Designs On Rome, Military Attack and Blazing Speed.
The five-year-old son of Admire Moon has only finished out of the frame in three of his 13 starts, while winning six of them. On his last start in the Group 2 Nakayama Kinen hin March he finished a respectable second to Dubai Duty Free (G1) scorer Just A Way.
“The reason he hasn’t been raced since March is we wanted to give him time to recover from his races,” said Fujiwara. “He needed a rest. I did want to give him a prep before this race but he is in good form and he always runs well in his first race up after a vacation.”
Meanwhile Varian is hoping that Farraaj, who ran a blinder to finish a close third in the Mackinnon Stakes (G1) at Flemington, Australia, last month, can cap his best season so far which has seen him collect four Group 1 prizes including the St. Leger (Kingston Hill) and Dewhurst Stakes (Belardo).
“It’s a tough race, but if he runs a pound or two above his Australian run, he’s got a great chance,” said the handler.
Italian jockey Andrea Atzeni, who has forged a strong partnership with Varian takes the ride and said: “He likes to be ridden handily, but tactics will depend on the speed. He ran really well in Australia, loves to travel and the ground is important to him — he’ll love it here.”
Today’s (Sunday) card also features the HK$16.5m Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1), HK$18.5m Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1) and the HK$23m Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1).
