The increasingly popular HKJC World Pool returns for Kia Tancred Stakes Day at Rosehill Gardens, and the British visitor Dubai Honour is $3 race favourite with agencies nation-wide.
With $31 shot Kalapour winning last year’s Tancred, it was NZ Derby winner Orchestral at $1.60 who claimed the Vinery Stud Stakes, while Treasure the Moment is $1.55 with Australian betting sites for Saturday’s Vinery.
Of course, its an additional Group 1 that Newmarket trainer Willian Haggas is wanting to achieve with Dubal Honour, as in 2023 he took out the $4m Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Ranvet Stakes.
Now with 8 wins and $7.4m in stakes, he’s first-up from second in the Hong Kong Vase in December, having earlier won the Gran Prix de St Cloud and second in the Gran Prix de Baden-Baden.
Again with ‘Aussie’ Tom Marquand in the irons, and starting from Barrier 4 of 14 runners he carry’s 59 kg over the 2400m race distance, and races in the blue with red silks of Mohamed Obaida.
Now a 7yo gelding by Coolmore’s very successful shuttler Pride of Dubai, he was a 110,000 Gns 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling buy, being the family of Champion Irish 2YO filly in Damson.
At $4 is the first-up Sky High Stakes winner Vauban, who at York in August won the Lonsdale Cup of over two miles, and will jump from Gate 3 for Tim Clarke and owners Australian Bloodstock.
Purchase from flamboyant British owner Richie Rich for $2m, and now trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, he’s at $7 for the Sydney Cup and the $11 favourite for the Melbourne Cup.
At $6 is the 2023 Tancred Stakes winner Arapaho who starts from 6 with Rachael King, being second in the Sky High Stakes, while Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa is at $7 for Harry Coffey.
The Yulong bred VRC Oaks winner Treasurethe Moment is looking to have the Vinery Stud Stakes of 2000m as her seventh consecutive race success, having last won the Kewney Stakes.
Now with a 9: 7-2-0 and $1.4m record for trainer Matt Laurie, she’s by Yulong’s top young sire Alabama Express, with her Street Cry dam Draconic Treasure, a $500,000 Newgate mare sale.
Quated as the $7.50 second race favourites Declichy Boulevard jumps from Gate 9 for Nash Rawiller while Movin Out has James McDonald starting in 7, with both trained by Chris Waller.
With Races 8 to 10 being open to the World Pool on Saturday, it’s the Win Bet with a 17.5% takeout rate, with the Quinella in being the first and second to finish with a 17.5% takeout rate.
The Place betting is picking any one of the first two horses with 4-6 starters in the race, three horses for 7-20 starters and four horses for 21 starters or more, and all with a 17.5% takeout rate.
Quinella Place is any two of the first three horses in any order, also with a 17.5% takeout rate, while the Trifecta is the first three horses past the post in order, and also with a 25% takeout rate.
With news that the Longines World Best Racehorse of 2024 City of Troy will be shuttling to Coolmore Australia for the SH season, it was his Derby victory that was the Moment of The Year 2025.
On receiving the prize David Hickey, City of Troy’s groom said “Winning the $4,000 World Pool Moment of The Day was a huge reward, so to be named Moment of The Year is even more special.”
On winning a VIP trip to Hong Kong with three friends David went onto say “I’m now looking forward to the trip to Hong Kong, and I think I will head out in March for the Derby which will be great.”
“He’s the most genuine horse that you could ever have anything to do with – I’m mad about him and it’s been a pleasure looking after him – he’s a classy gentleman of a horse – it was a fantastic day that I’ll never forget.”
