Pakistan Star “a normal horse” into G2 Chairman’s Trophy

Pakistan Star wins the QEII Cup last year. Source: HKJC

Paul O’Sullivan is not getting carried away ahead of Pakistan Star’s first start for his stable in Sunday’s (7 April) Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m).

“We’re all guessing,” he said when pressed about whether or not the high-profile gelding still has what it takes to nail another big-race win.

What O’Sullivan does know is what he has seen since the two-time G1 winner arrived in his yard two months ago.

“Everything’s fine, he trialled well and he’s behaving himself – he looks pretty content. He’s a nice, kind horse in the box, he’s fed well and he just does everything you want him to do,” the New Zealander said.

“He certainly arrived in good order and we’ve just done what we normally do with them, which wouldn’t be too much different to what Tony (Cruz) would have done. But we’ve given him a bit of a freshen-up.”

The hope is that a refreshed Pakistan Star will step out this weekend and show a glimmer of his old verve, just as he did in the same contest 12 months ago.

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A trademark rattling late run to fourth on that occasion was the platform from which he sprang to G1 scores in the QEII Cup (2000m) and Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m).

But this season has been a flat disappointment. He made the short walk to O’Sullivan’s yard from the Tony Cruz stable off a six-race campaign that suggested the enigmatic galloper had declined from his impressive peak.

Pakistan Star appeared to be in a good frame of mind and state of wellbeing, though, when he passed the post first in a 1200m dirt-track trial on 26 March under race day pilot Matthew Chadwick.

“I spoke to Tony (Cruz) about him and he said he always trials well – he enjoys them. He’s just got to try and take that form into race day,” O’Sullivan said.

The handler is looking for a signpost run on Sunday to get a handle on what he has to work with.

“If he can be making up good ground at the end, that’s all we’d be looking to do,” he said. “His work’s been fine and he’s just been a normal horse. He’s given me no indication to say ‘yes, I’ve improved out-of-sight’.”

Normal is not a word that has often been associated with Pakistan Star: mercurial, enigmatic, recalcitrant have been more readily thrown at the Shamardal six-year-old.

But O’Sullivan has seen no untoward antics so far.

“One of the boys fell off him one morning but that wasn’t even the horse’s fault,” he said.

Pakistan Star will carry a 5lb G1 penalty in the feature, as will Hong Kong’s champion, Beauty Generation. The field also includes the high-class Conte, Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner Mission Tycoon and the talented Rise High.

The Group 2 Sprint Cup (1200m) is also on Sunday’s card, featuring Hong Kong’s top-rated sprinters Mr Stunning and Beat The Clock.

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