Hong Kong Derby Series Kicks Off With Classic Mile

The first leg of the Hong Kong 4-year-old Classic Series, the Hong Kong Classic Mile, has a full field of promising 4-year-olds for the Feb. 1 renewal at Sha Tin Racecourse and looks to be just about anyone's race. One thing—it's likely the winner will have had Zac Purton in the irons at one point or another in the past because the champion Hong Kong rider has been aboard more than half of them. With precious little else to guide the way, many of the locals will be looking to the one Purton chose for his Classic Mile mount, Sagacious Life. The Brazilian import, by Put It Back, has two wins from three starts in Hong Kong after running respectably in South America. Purton opts for him rather than Little Paradise, a Toronado (IRE) colt he's ridden to three wins from his last four starts, or Invincible Ibis (AUS), winner of four in a row, three of them with Purton aboard. The peripatetic rider also has partnered Classic Mile contenders Beauty Bolt, a Night of Thunder (IRE) gelding; Patch of Cosmo (NZ), a last-out winner; Akashvahi; Top Dragon (AUS); and Circuit Grand Slam, altogether more than half the 14-horse field. Purton landed on Sagacious Life for the first time Jan. 4 in the gelding's third Hong Kong start. He won first up in Hong Kong under apprentice Britney Wong, then finished sixth in a class 2 handicap with James McDonald taking over the reins. Trainer Pierre Ng said a recent barrier trial with Purton in the irons indicated Sagacious Life is fit and ready to extend his Hong Kong Success. "I'm enjoying it rather than feeling pressure. Because he's raced three times and won twice, already the pressure's off coming into the (Derby) series," Ng said. "Of course, I haven't got any results yet. But hopefully I can get a little bit more from this 4-Year-Old series. But not a lot of pressure. We are happy with the horse." Invincible Ibis, with Hugh Bowman named to ride, is a confirmed closer. But, despite having four entries in the Classic Mile, trainer Mark Newnham said none should be seen as "rabbits" for any others. "You've got to give every horse their best chance," Newnham said. "We've got a couple of on-pacers and a couple of back-markers. So hopefully it works out for one of them." The Hong Kong Derby series moves along and out to the Hong Kong Classic Cup at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) March 1 and concludes with the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4 miles) Derby March 22. All three races are on grass. While Hong Kong's international races have captured the imagination of the racing world, the Derby trophy is the most coveted among local connections. The quest to win the race has brought top-quality horses into Hong Kong who later went on to glory in those internationals, including 2020 winner Golden Sixty (AUS), 2022 winner Romantic Warrior (IRE), and 2023 victor Voyage Bubble (AUS).