Coetzee stars in CXIR Mile, Sprint Trial double (1) - Turf Race Highlights

Race Meeting: 23/11/2008 Sha Tin
Hong Kong Group Two - 1600 Metres
THE CATHAY PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL MILE TRIAL

Felix Coetzee produced a riding masterclass of contrasts to win both the Cathay Pacific International Mile and Sprint Trials and fuel hopes of local glory in the Turf World Championships on 14 December.




The South African maestro outfoxed his rivals with a gem of a front-running ride aboard Egyptian Ra in the Mile Trial and had to summon every ounce of strength to force Enthused over the line a nose in front of Sunny Power in the Sprint equivalent.




Now facing a five-meeting spell on the sidelines for weighing in light last weekend, Coetzee joked: "The wins have come just in time because I need some money for my holiday!"




The fact that Egyptian Ra won the Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial could hardly be described as a shock despite the presence of the Horse of the Year, Good Ba Ba. It was, rather, the manner of victory that caught the breath.

Few, if any, could have predicted an all-the-way romp by three and three-quarter lengths from Sight Winner with Good Ba Ba in third. The latter had little hope with the way the race was run - the time of 1 min 33.28 was marginally outside the track record - having been over ten lengths last at halfway.

Trained by Tony Cruz, Egyptian Ra has long been known for his propensity to race too freely and burn his energy in the wrong part of the track. On this occasion, however, Coetzee bounced the seven-year-old to the front and dictated the tempo as he pleased. Turning for home, Egyptian Ra stole four lengths clear on the field and pretty soon the only race was for the minor money.




"He's improving, he's settling more and more each time and I believe he will be a serious contender for the Mile. It was a brilliant ride from Felix," Cruz said.

"The time he has run was great and it puts us right there in the international class because he's doing everything right. We've done a lot of work with this horse getting him to settle and I'd like to thank Craig Peddie in particular as he rides him every morning."

A model of consistency, in 15 local starts Enthused has never missed a cheque for his owners, Mr & Mrs Benedict Wong Chung-mat, and he seems firmly on course for his biggest payday yet having prevailed in a thrilling renewal of the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial.




Lucky Quality blazed a trail as expected with Coetzee handily placed on the John Size-trained gelding down the back straight. The race changed complexion as Sunny Power and Green Birdie darted from the pack with a furlong to race and the bob of heads went Enthused's way at the wire.

"I was exactly where I wanted to be early on. In the straight he got to the front a bit quicker than I wanted but he fought on very gamely. As we hit the line I thought I had missed the nod so I was delighted to see I had been wrong," Coetzee said.

Looking forward to the Sprint, trainer Size added: "He has come up to the mark this preparation and has run well in each of his starts and he has certainly built himself a nice platform to go into the international meeting. He has certainly earned the right to be there. He's a horse with very good character and he likes to fight out a finish. I'm just hoping he can get a good draw like he had today in the Sprint to help travel nicely."

Size was also pleased with the return to the fray of Armada who will take his chance in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile, a race in which he ran second two years ago.

"He hit the line well and it looks like he has returned to racing in good fettle so hopefully he pulls up well and then he can take his chance."

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[xjock2000]

well done craig peddie!! this horse wouldnt have won any more  races if it wasnt for you, incredable how you could change him from a mad hard puller, to being able to relax him on a long rein, every morning at sha tin race course , TO JOB CRAIG !