After an “emotional” victory in the Hong Kong Vase almost 18 months ago, trainer Tomohito Ozeki is optimistic that experience can help his stable star Glory Vase repeat the dose in Sunday’s Group One FWD QE II Cup.
Of the four Japanese raiders taking part in the HK$25 million feature, Glory Vase is the only one to have already tasted success at Sha Tin and Ozeki thinks that gives him an advantage.
“The horse is in very good condition. It’s his second time coming to Hong Kong and that has made a difference with how he has travelled and settled in,” he said. “He’s very relaxed at the moment. He’s a happy horse and everything is on track.”
Most fans will remember Glory Vase’s stunning victory at the Hong Kong International Races in 2019, when he stormed over the top of his rivals to win by three and a half lengths, leaving Lucky Lilac and odds-on favourite Exultant in his wake.
It was one of the biggest moments in Ozeki’s career and when asked for his memories of that day, the trainer spoke from the heart.
“It was quite emotional to get the result after all the hard work we did with the horse to get him to peak on that day,” he said. “It was very fulfilling.”
Glory Vase’s form in Hong Kong also played a key role in connections choosing to target the QE II Cup, even though the 2,000m trip is a little short of his preferred 2,400m.
“There were a couple of factors – one was of course his result in the Vase and the other factor is the racecourse in Japan that I believe he is most suited to, Kyoto, is under construction at this time so that helped us to decide to target this race,” Ozeki said.
The international fixed-odds bookmakers suggest the Japanese horses should dominate the QE II Cup with Daring Tact ($2), Glory Vase ($4.80), Loves Only You ($5) and Kiseki ($9) at the top of the market while the four locals have double-figure prices.
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But Ozeki isn’t worried about any of the external opinions and has full faith in his galloper.
“We have enormous respect for the quality of the other horses in the race but I’m very confident in my horse and I think he has what it takes to get the win,” he said.
With the pandemic making it harder for Japanese jockeys to make the trip, Karis Teetan picked up the ride and will get a feel for Glory Vase on Thursday morning.
“It’s always been a dream for me when the Japanese horses come to Hong Kong to try to get on one of them because I know they will be very competitive,” Teetan said. “This is really a great opportunity for me.
“I think the main factor in the race will be the pace – how fast will Time Warp go? It’s a small field, so I don’t think the draw will matter, it’s just about the pace.”
Meanwhile, the Tony Cruz-trained Furore has been scratched from the QE II Cup with “continuing lameness” in his right front leg.
Furore, who was runner-up in the Group One last year, was originally found to be lame during a routine inspection on Tuesday afternoon and his condition had not improved by Wednesday, prompting his withdrawal.
This leaves a field of seven left for the QE II Cup, with the Japanese horses now outnumbering the locals.
