Maurice Leads 2016 Hong Kong Cup Field & Betting

December 7, 2016

Maurice Leads 2016 Hong Kong Cup Field & Betting

Japanese superstar Maurice is clear favourite at bookmakers around the world to take out the Hong Kong Cup 2016 at Sha Tin Racecourse this Sunday on the Hong Kong International Race Day.

Zac Purton

Zac Purton rides Jockey Club Cup winner Secret Weapon in Sunday’s Hong Kong Cup 2016 at Sha Tin. Photo: Daniel Costello.

The HK$25 million (AUD$4.3m) Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) is the richest of four feature races on the December 11 card and features a final field of 14 hopefuls.

Heading the line-up are the Japanese-trained duo of the Noriyuki Hori-trained Maurice and A Shin Hikari who pay $2.50 and $6.50 respectively in the latest Hong Kong Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Screen Horse stallion Maurice returns 12 months on from his class win over Hong Kong champion Able Friend in last year’s Hong Kong Mile, while Deep Impact grey A Shin Hikari is back to defend his Hong Kong Cup title after a smashing all the way win in the classic in 2015.

The sole horse to enjoy wins in different Hong Kong International Races was French champ Jim And Tonic who took out the HK Mile (1998) and the HK Cup (1999).

This hoodoo is one the 2015 Japanese Horse of the Year Maurice is well fancied to overcome as he attempts the same feat with success in the latter on Sunday, the galloper coming off a last start win at home in the Tenno Sho (2000m).

The Masanori Sakaguchi-trained A Shin Hikari meanwhile is out to become just the second horse to win the race more than once joining Hong Kong’s heroic grey California Memory (2011 and 2012).

His win in a smart 2:00.6s last year was flying and he’s enjoyed some stellar international form this year including a 10 length romp home in Europe’s Group 1 Prix d’lspahan in the mud.

He does need to show notable improvement off his two lead-up runs however including the disappointing 12th behind Maurice in the Tenno Sho last time out.

Japanese duo face an onslaught of Group 1 winning gallopers from right around the globe including the Keiji Yoshimura-trained four-year-old mare from Japan Queens Ring ($6.50), fellow Japanese galloper Lovely Day ($13) to be ridden by Aussie hoop Hugh Bowman and the 2014 Hong Kong Cup winner Designs On Rome ($15) to be ridden by Joao Moreira.

Other standouts in this year’s Hong Kong Cup field include another classy Japanese raider Stephanos ($8.50) chasing a maiden Group 1 win on the back of a Tenno Sho third and the Dennis Yip-trained Secret Weapon ($11).

Secret Weapon comes off a win in the Group 2 Jockey Club Cup with Nash Rawiller in the saddle and if the pace is on shapes up as a livewire hope again as Zac Purton comes aboard for the ride.

Head to Australia’s premier online betting site Ladbrokes.com.au now for the full Hong Kong Cup 2016 betting odds and latest offers on all the international features at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Z...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pr...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

Pride Of Jenni was enormous running her rivals ragged with a blistering...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results:...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s 2024 Golden Slipper field after a gutsy...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results:...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

Celestial Legend put the writing on the wall for a huge year ahead with the...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Top honours in the 2024 Canterbury Stakes results at Royal Randwick went to...

Race Results

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Zougotcha Dives Late to Salute

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Race Previews

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

Fields & Form

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

2024 Randwick Guineas Field & Odds Update: Militarize Set to Strike Second-Up