just to add to the confidence straight from the hong kong website again
"Lucky Nine thriving on home turf ahead of Sunday(8/12)’s LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
03/12/2013
Brett Prebble has partnered Lucky Nine in 24 races in five countries/regions and has been in the saddle for numerous early morning gallops, so when the Australian ace says “he’s never felt better” ahead of Sunday’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint it makes sense to take note.
“The horse is full of energy, I can’t give you any negative and I’m excited for Sunday to come,” said Prebble of last season’s G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint hero.
Hong Kong’s Champion Sprinter is bidding to emulate the great Sacred Kingdom (2007 & 2009) by regaining the Hong Kong Sprint crown he won in 2011 but relinquished 12 months ago when only fifth. The horse that emphatically wrested the title in 2012 was Japan’s star sprinter Lord Kanaloa and Prebble is looking forward to locking horns with that rival once more.
“I’m worried about the draw but I’m not worried about Lord Kanaloa. If I get a draw – I’m not saying we’ll definitely beat him – we’ll certainly give him a race,” said the jockey, who was also atop Lucky Nine when the gelding was an unlucky fifth to Lord Kanaloa in the 2012 G1 Sprinters Stakes in Japan.
“We’ve met Lord Kanaloa twice and both times I’ve stood him up a huge task to catch him because my horse has come out very awkward both times – he’s jumping much faster now. If I’m in front of Lord Kanaloa, he’ll have a race on his hands.”
Lucky Nine has had an unusual campaign so far this term, his two lead-up races having been in Australia. After an agonising nose defeat in the G1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in October, the Caspar Fownes-trained six-year-old failed to fire when sixth down the Flemington straight in the G1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) on November 9.
“It’s hard to put a finger on what took place at Flemington because he’s done well down the straight here at Sha Tin, so I’m not saying it was just the straight course – the horse wasn’t comfortable when he started,” commented Prebble. “Since he’s got back here he’s a different horse to what he was down there. I worked him yesterday (Monday) and it was the Lucky Nine of old.”
Lucky Nine went 1200m of the Sha Tin all-weather on Monday and after a steady 33.
opening 400m he wound up with a 25.
split before closing off with a 21.
final section for 1m 20.
.
“He can’t be better, he’s on top form and Caspar’s done a fantastic job to get him back to the form he’s in now,” enthused Prebble. “He’s as good as he’s felt in a very long time. It’s very important to draw a good gate, but if he does, we’ll be in the finish. We just need a bit of luck, get the barrier draw, and we’ll see the real Lucky Nine on Sunday.”
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