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Sky Darci Leaves Fownes, Moreira ‘Beaming’ After HK Derby

by Alan Carasso

Any time you hand the car keys to Joao Moreira, you have a fair bit of confidence that good things are to come. Still, entering Sunday's HK$24-million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin, there were questions aplenty as to whether Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), the race's highest-rated galloper, would see out the trip, having underperformed in the two lead-up events. But, one race after bringing up his 100th winner for the season, the 'Magic Man' put a brilliant steer on the Kiwi-bred and the pair just lasted, as Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Panfield (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky) were zeroing in late.

Only sixth as the favourite to Excellent Proposal (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the Jan. 24 Hong Kong Classic Mile and seventh behind Healthy Happy (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) Feb. 21–albeit with imperfect trips–Sky Darci drew two for the Derby to the delight of trainer Caspar Fownes, who admitted his charge would benefit from a low gate. The NZ$160,000 NZB Premier Yearling (Book 1) bounced well and settled in about fifth spot early as Healthy Happy and Silver Express (Aus) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) put several lengths on the well-backed Shadow Hero (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}) going to the backstretch. Moreira was only too happy to play the hand he'd been dealt and remain glued to the paint, and when the forwardly placed Russian Emperor slid away from the fence and the pace dropped passing midway, Sky Darci immediately seized upon the opportunity to improve, a move that would prove decisive in the end.

Pinching ground on the turn, Sky Darci was on the heels of the leading duo as Silver Express overhauled Healthy Happy nearing the straight. Pulled out around that duo, Sky Darci hit the front with a bit more than a furlong to travel and knuckled down late to become the fourth New Zealand-bred Derby winner in the last six years. Last year's G3 Hampton Court S. hero Russian Emperor proved his Classic Cup effort (at 80-1) was no fluke, just missing as the $4.70 (37-10) choice, while treble Chilean Group 1 winner Panfield hit the line hard for third. Excellent Proposal rallied down the center for fourth.

“I had to angle my way out, but once I got into the straight, I had taken the lead a little bit too early, but I knew I was on the best horse in the race and I had a lot of confidence in the horse,” said Moreira, adding to his victory aboard the late Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss) in 2017. “I knew they were coming, they were good horses as well. He's not a specialist 2000-metre horse, in my opinion, but he's got heart and even if they were coming, he was giving his best.”

It was also a second Derby success for Fownes, who saddled Super Satin (NZ) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) to success in the 2010 renewal.

“It was the longest [last] 200 metres I've ever seen in a race, that's for sure,” the always-accessible Fownes told the HKJC notes team. “It felt like an eternity there and I'm glad he stuck his neck out and got the winning result. All in all, it's a magic day–massive satisfaction. This horse with the owners [the Kwan family], it's magic, they've been incredible people to train for.”

Sky Darci was the only member of the 14-horse field who was untried overseas prior to his import, similar to 2020 winner Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro).

WATCH: Sky Darci digs deep to win the BMW Hong Kong Derby

Pedigree Notes:

Sky Darci–the third and most successful of his dam's produce to race in Hong Kong–is the 52nd black-type winner for his sire, whose 11 Group 1 winners include D B Pin (NZ), winner in Hong Kong of the Centenary Sprint Cup and twice runner-up in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Despite his sire's propensity to throw a top sprinter, there is plenty in Sky Darci's pedigree to suggest he could stay the 2000 metres. His half-brother Chocante (NZ) was a Group 3 winner in New Zealand going an extended mile and a quarter and won the G2 Brisbane Cup over 2200 metres while finishing third in the G1 The Metropolitan H. (2400m) in Sydney. Sky Darci's second dam was a daughter of Red Chiffon, who annexed the G3 Canterbury Gold Cup going 2000 metres and was third in the 1988 G1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).

Sky Darci is the third winner of the Hong Kong Derby in six years to be raised at Highden Park in New Zealand. Sam and Libby Bleakley's operation was also responsible for 2018 Derby hero Ping Hai Star (NZ) (Nom du Jeu {NZ}), who was unsold on a bid of NZ$40,000 when consigned by Highden Park to the 2015 NZBSEL sale. They also had their hands on 2016 Derby winner and future Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), as well as Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}), two-time Horse of the Year who was third to Rapper Dragon in 2017 and became a two-time winner of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile.

Sky Darci is the fourth consecutive Derby winner to go under the hammer at the Karaka sales. In addition to Ping Hai Star, Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) was sold for NZ$210,000 as a yearling in 2016 and current Hong Kong king of the hill Golden Sixty fetched NZ$300,000 at the auction house's Ready To Run sale in 2017.

The dam of Chocante's gelded 2-year-old full-brother El Vencedor (NZ), Strictly Maternal is represented by a yearling full-brother to Sky Darci and missed to Shocking for 2020 before returning to the same stallion.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BMW HONG KONG DERBY 2021-LR, HK$24,000,000 (£2,221,667/€2,593,350/A$3,975,501/US$3,090,927), Sha Tin, 3-21, NH/SH4yo, 2000mT, 2:01.32, gd.
1–SKY DARCI (NZ), 126, g, 4, by Darci Brahma (NZ)
1st Dam: Strictly Maternal (NZ), by O'Reilly (NZ)
2nd Dam: Take Silk (NZ), by Star Way (GB)
3rd Dam: Red Chiffon (Aus), by Sovereign Red (NZ)
1ST STAKES WIN. (NZ$160,000 Ylg '18 NZBJAN). O-Jessica Kwan Mun Hang; B-M W Freeman & D G Price; T-Caspar Fownes; J-Joao Moreira; HK$13,680,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-HK, 12-6-3-0, HK$21,037,965. *1/2 to Chocante (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}), GSW & G1SP-Aus, GSW-NZ, $315,590.
2–Russian Emperor (Ire), 126, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Atlantic Jewel (Aus), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). O-Mike Cheung Shun Ching; B-Coolmore, Lauri Macri & Parnters; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Karis Teetan; HK$5,280,000.
3–Panfield (Chi), 126, c, 4, Lookin At Lucky–Esterina (Arg), by Orpen. O-Yue Yun Hing; B-Agricola Taomina Ltda; T-Tony Millard; J-Chad Schofield; HK$2,400,000.
Margins: HD, HF, 1. Odds: 11-2, 37-10F, 25-1.
Also Ran: Excellent Proposal (Aus), Delightful Laos (Ire), Healthy Happy (Aus), Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), Packing Waltham (Fr), Silver Express (Aus), Lucky Express (Aus), Maximus (Ger), Shadow Hero (Aus), Congratulation, Conqueror (Aus).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

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Luck of Hong Kong Derby Draw Favours Russian Emperor

After finishing a barnstorming second from gate 11 in a slowly run renewal of the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) four weeks back, last year's G3 Hampton Court S. scorer Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was assigned barrier five as post positions were drawn Thursday for the HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse.

The former Aidan O'Brien galloper was no factor and well beaten in his first two local appearances, including a ninth to the upset-minded Excellent Proposal (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the Hong Kong Classic Mile in January. But trainer Douglas Whyte added blinkers for the Classic Cup and Russian Emperor hit the line hard to miss by a neck to Healthy Happy (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), who enjoyed a very soft time of it in front.

“He'll get the trip and plus, so he's going to have every answer–that's the beauty of being drawn where he is,” the 'Durban Demon' said. “[Jockey] Karis [Teetan] can now use the draw and ride a race.”

If that version of Russian Emperor shows up, they may all be running for second, but three-time Derby-winning conditioner John Size will try to make his presence felt with a trio of entrants. The highest-rated of them is Excellent Proposal, who returned a colossal $23 (22-1) in the Classic Mile and was one of several inconvenienced by the lack of pace in the Classic Cup. He has gate eight for Blake Shinn, who nearly pulled the upset in last year's Derby with 289-1 Playa Del Puente (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}).

“I'm pretty comfortable with barrier eight, it's a middle of the line draw, he'll have all the main chances around us–I'm happy,” Shinn said.

David Hayes is in the Derby in his first season back in Hong Kong, having saddled the filly Elegant Fashion (Aus) (Danewin {Aus}) in 2003. The more likely of his two runners appears to be the classy Shadow Hero (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}), who rallied from midpack to be third in the Classic Cup. While he drew nicely in seven, stablemate Conqueror (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was less fortunate to land 13.

Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) carries the highest local rating of 103 into the Derby, and while Sunday's 10-furlong trip looms a bit of a question, his chances to stay were enhanced when he and leading rider Joao Moreira pulled gate two Thursday.

“I'm very pleased with that draw–he needs a soft gate and I'm very happy, it's going to give him his chance,” said trainer Caspar Fownes, whose Super Satin (NZ) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was piloted by Whyte when taking out the Derby back in 2010.

Our special BMW Hong Kong Derby cheat sheet will appear in Saturday's TDN Europe/International edition.

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Longines HKIR Notebook: Inferno Out of the Sprint

Barree Stable’s Singapore-based Inferno (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) has been scratched from Sunday’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin after being found to be lame in his left front leg by Hong Kong Jockey Club veterinarians Tuesday.

Very little went as planned for Inferno on his trip over to Hong Kong. The air conditioning in the horse float that transported Inferno from Kranji Racecourse to Changi Airport about 30 minutes away broke down and the horse was subjected to the heat for three hours. He then had to endure the four-hour flight up to Hong Kong and making matters worse, connections were dealing with a foot issue in the 24 hours prior to departure. Inferno galloped well over the Sha Tin all-weather Monday morning, but the decision to come out of the Sprint was not a difficult one for trainer Cliff Brown.

“Inferno became distressed after the air-conditioning in his box broke down. He was melting in the heat at the airport for three hours,” Brown told the Singapore Turf Club’s Michael Lee. “Luckily, [Singapore Turf Club veterinary surgeon] Dr Dan Shaw and [assistant-trainer] Tony Lane were able to hose him down and sedate him as he was getting so upset.

“From the way the trip has unfolded, it was a really bad start, and once he arrived in Hong Kong, things got worse when he didn’t eat properly for three nights. To top all that, the day before he left, he had a small foot issue. I thought it would get right, and he actually cantered fine yesterday, his work was fine.

“But all in all, he was not coming right, and as I needed him to gallop tomorrow, I’ve decided to pull the pin early. We’re coming home. The horse already had this foot issue, and in hindsight, maybe I could have pulled the pin there and then,” Brown concluded.

Inferno is the winner of eight of his nine starts in Singapore, including an impressive score in the Lion City Cup Oct. 25. Hong Kong’s second leading rider Zac Purton now picks up the mount on Amazing Star (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who moved off the reserve list and into the field when Perfect Match (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) was taken out Monday. Also joining the field is Stronger (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), who gives trainer Douglas Whyte a first runner at the HKIR.

Fast Work for Golden Sixty, Classique Legend…

A pair of locally based runners that will carry favourtism in their respective races put in some fast work over the turf course Tuesday.

Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro), who figures a warm choice in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, went five furlongs on the turf and was allowed to roll through the final 400 metres, clocking a final sectional of :23.2 with regular rider Vincent Ho in the saddle.

“Both Vincent and me are pleased with his trackwork performance this morning,” said trainer Francis Lui, who saddled Lucky Bubbles (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) to a runner-up effort in the 2016 Sprint, but is still in search of a maiden HKIR winner. “We will arrange him another gallop this Friday and that will be an easy work.”

Classique Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), last-out winner of The Everest at Randwick Oct. 17 and the likely choice in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, was a modest third in a 1000-metre barrier trial last week, but looked to have improved from that after finishing 800 metres of work in :23.1 Tuesday morning.

“He had a nice half-mile gallop, he had a companion lead him out and he quickened up nice, he ran home in 23 (seconds) and he did it nice and easily,” said trainer Caspar Fownes. “Vincent Ho, who galloped him this morning, was very happy with him– he’s getting there now, he looks good–I can’t do any more with him.”

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