Fownes has Group 1 goals as Straight Arron maintains advance
Hong Kong has some of the world’s best top-end talent right now.
Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior and Lucky Sweynesse continue to dominate their respective divisions, winning three out of the four star-studded Group 1s at Sunday’s HK$118 million Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin.
The trio has 53 wins combined, including 19 at Group 1 level, and boast a firm stranglehold over the city’s feature races – a grip that trainer Caspar Fownes is hoping to loosen this season with Straight Arron, one of the most exciting horses in training.
Getting better each time he races, Straight Arron – a five-year-old – improved again on his way to finishing an impeded fourth in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m), just behind Romantic Warrior, while virtually alongside Japan’s Hishi Iguazu and the triple Group 1-winning Luxembourg, who is trained by Aidan O’Brien.
“It was a huge run, he got buffeted all over the place. It was a tough watch but these things happen – that’s racing,” Fownes said.
Providing another clue to his level of ability, Sunday’s outcome suggests that Straight Arron’s best is yet to come.
He now hops on a Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) trail, which should see him face Romantic Warrior for a third time on 25 February, 2024.
“You’re still happy to walk away after seeing that the horse is starting to show where he’s at, he’s picking up and fighting it out with some of the best staying horses in Hong Kong, as well as the world,” Fownes said.
Straight Arron has four wins in Hong Kong. His biggest scalp came in last month’s Group 2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m).
After rating 77 on debut 13 starts ago, he currently sits on a mark of 117.
“At this stage he’ll go to the Gold Cup and QEII Cup (Group 1, 2000m). We’ll obviously enter him for Qatar, Dubai and places like that but that’ll just be on the backburner as we see what’s going on and what’s happening in Hong Kong,” Fownes said.
The bay is sired by champion sprinter Fastnet Rock and is out of the mare Imperial Lass, who finished third to Winx in the 2015 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).
“It was a good effort (by Straight Arron) and hopefully he’ll continue on that upward spiral, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t. We’re looking forward to his next race to see how we go.
“It’s a big step up and I’ve always believed in the horse. I’ve always felt that he is capable of getting to the 120-plus mark, he’s nearly there now, he’s on 117 and he’ll get there for sure now.
“We want him to be consistent and we want him to win Group 1s,” Fownes said.
Looking to more immediate tasks, Fownes has another Australian import – Fashion Legend – accepted for his Hong Kong debut on Wednesday night at Happy Valley in the Class 3 Jordan Valley Handicap (1200m).
The Deep Field four-year-old was a five-time winner pre-import in Australia, taking the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) and Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1425m).
“He’s just coming along slowly. He’s really started to pick up over the last week a little bit more, which is nice to see. We’re starting off over 1200 metres and we’re drawn a little bit awkward, especially for his first run at the Valley.
“We took him there for a trial. We’ll take him back and hopefully we’ll see him make some ground – he gets further.
“He’s rated 76, which is a tough rating in Hong Kong, because if you can come in and compete straight away, you’re in business, but if you don’t it’s a bit of a drop to get him where he should be before progressing,” Fownes said.
One of six entries for Fownes at the midweek fixture, Fashion Legend has been assigned barrier nine of 12 and will step away under jockey Andrea Atzeni.
“He looks very healthy in the coat, he’s done everything right and we’re hoping to see him running on nicely,” Fownes said.
Wednesday’s nine-race fixture at Happy Valley kicks off at 6.40pm with the Class 5 Ngau Tau Kok Handicap (1000m).