(Courtesy of http://www.fasttrack.hk)

(Source: HKJC)

The paddock area was packed today before race 9. And why not?

It was before the running of the $6 million Hong Kong Classic Cup which, apart from being a prestigious race in its own right, is seen by many as being very key in separating the men from the boys, the wheat from the chaff when it comes to- vroom vroom- the Hong Kong BMW Derby.

(Source: HKJC)

Favourite for the race during the paddock parade at 3s was the Richard Gibson- trained Akeed Mofeed and owned by Mr Pan So Tung who also had Gold-Fun running in the same race and the second favourite- but which crashed to become the favourite right before the start for the race.

(Source: HKJC)

The overnight favourite, trainer Sean Woods’ Autumn Gold, had drifted from 2s to a very juicy 9.7, discarded by Douglas Whyte, then had Ryan Moore booked for the ride but who cried off riding it because of a wrist injury and finally had Tom Quealy aboard.

(Source: Yahoo)

In a slowly run race, the entire scenario tipped by the experts became a huge blur when the race was taken out by 100 to 1 shot It Has To Be You ridden by Tim Clark and trained by the quiet, laid-back maestro that is John Size. At those odds, do you really think there was any stable confidence? Duh!

(Source: HKJC)

Still, it was a brilliant ride by Clark and underlines what many have been saying for a long time: Tim Clark is one of the very best if not THE best jockey riding in Hong Kong right now.

(Source: HKJC)

At one part of the race, he shut the door on Tom Quealy and made the jockey of Frankel fame look positively second rate.

Second was another over 100 to 1 shot in President Lincoln and with all the Derby contenders never ever in the hunt- or perhaps taking a laid back approach and waiting for March 17 and D-Day- Derby Day.

(Source: HKJC)

The only horse that might have benefitted from this run would be Akeed Mofeed as Richard Gibson had predicted. I’ll have to wait and see as I now have some serious doubts about this horse.

(Source: HKJC)

As for the others, Garlic Boy was pulled out of the race, Autumn Gold disappointed as did Gold-Fun whereas Poetic Justice and Blazing Speed failed to inspire- or even perspire.

From being seen as dull, the HK Derby has suddenly become the most intriguing and interesting race of the season with no clearcut favourites and a great deal of “face” at stake.