A Friday morning jump out has been scheduled for Irish sprinter Slade Power as his final hit out before lining up in the Group 1 HK$15m Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Irish trainer Edward Lynam is keen to get Slade Power accustomed with the starting gates at Sha Tin as the four year old can sometimes be a bit tardy at the start.
Lynam describes Slade Power as an improving horse who will be chasing his first Group 1 victory after being placed at the top level twice this year.
Sole Power ran third to super sprinter Lethal Force in the Group 1 £500,000 Darley July Cup (6 furlong) at Newmarket on July 13 as well as running second to Gordon Lord Byron in the Group 1 £250,000 Betfred Sprint Cup (6 furlongs) at Haydock on September 7.
At his latest start Slade Power ran out a neck winner over Jack Dexter in the Group 2 £350,000 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (6 furlongs) at Ascot on October 19 giving Lynam the ammunition to head to Hong Kong.
“He’s an improving horse, winning a couple of Group 3 races, being placed in a Group 1 race, and winning a Group 2. If he breaks well, he’ll run a good race,” Lynam told the Hong Kong Racing News.
Lynam will also saddle up King’s Stand Stakes winner Sole Power and has reported that the six year old has settled in nicely alongside of his stable mate.
“They have both travelled well and have settled in here with no bother, which is the main thing,” Lynam said.
“I hope they will run their races on Sunday. Sole Power has been running well all season, he’s an experienced horse, getting wiser as he gets older – a bit like his trainer! He’ll need to run a lot better than he did in this race two years ago (9th in 2011), but if he relaxes in the race he’ll get the six furlongs alright. He’s fresh and well and his training has been good.”
Sole Power claimed his second Group 1 trophy winning the Group 1 £350,000 The King’s Stand Stakes (5 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on June 18 but has been winless at three subsequent runs, his latest when sixth to Maarek in the Group 1 Group 1 €350,000 QATAR Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (1000m) at Longchamp in France on October 6.
Japan’s champion sprinter Lord Kanaloa heads the betting for the Hong Kong Sprint at $2.20 with local hero Lucky Nine on the second line of betting at $5.50, with other local gallopers Charles The Great at $8.50 just in front of Steerling City at $9 while Sole Power has been marked a $12 chance just ahead of stable mate Slade Power at $13.
