Ryan Moore enters the fray as Million Challenge comes down to wire
Moore, who has been brought to Hong Kong as injury cover and begins a three-meeting stint in the city at the midweek fixture, will partner Million Challenge leader Soleil Fighter for trainer David Hayes in the Class Three Tsui Man Handicap (1,650m).
Soleil Fighter sits on 50 points at the top of the competition, which awards 15 points for a win, six for second, four for third and three for fourth.
While he could secure the Million Challenge's HK$1 million first prize with victory in Wednesday night's third event, there are three gallopers within striking range and ready to pounce should the five-year-old fail to fire.
While currently sitting in equal second position with I Can on 42 points, Gustosisimo won't race on Wednesday night and connections will be relying on results falling their way if they are to scoop some of the prize money, which sees HK$350,000 awarded to second and HK$150,000 to third.
I Can steps out in the same race as Soleil Fighter and if the Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained galloper were to salute under Andrea Atzeni, he would move to 57 points and victory would be his regardless of where Soleil Fighter finishes.
The two gallopers racing later on the programme who remain alive in the Million Challenge, Eternal Fortune and Aurora Lady, need Soleil Fighter and I Can to be beaten to remain a chance of victory by the time they step out.
The Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained Eternal Fortune, who will also be ridden by Moore, lines up in the evening's finale, the Class Three King Kwong Handicap (1,000m).
Sitting on 40 points, victory would be enough for Eternal Fortune to scoop top prize provided I Can doesn't win and Soleil Fighter misses the top two.
Aurora Lady is just within striking distance on 36 points but the Ng-trained runner would need Soleil Fighter to miss out on points completely and I Can and Eternal Fortune to fail to salute.
It's the 'Zac Purton Show' at Happy Valley! 📺
The superstar jockey makes it SIX WINS on the card tonight as Aurora Lady denies a fast-closing Beauty Destiny with consecutive victories... 🔥
@zpurton | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/MVyYTD9fxf — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 26, 2024
Aurora Lady jumps from barrier five under Atzeni in the Class Three Sing Woo Handicap (1,200m).
Further down the Million Challenge leaderboard, Red Elegance and Brave Star are the two other gallopers racing Wednesday night who could grab some minor prize money if results fall their way.
Held between September and February, the Million Challenge is open to horses in Class Three and above.
Hayes and Shum are chasing back-to-back victories in the competition after Tomodachi Kokoroe and Copartner Ambition shared top honours on 51 points 12 months ago.
'We really want to win it for the owner,' said Hayes.
Meanwhile, the entries for this Sunday's Classic Cup (1,800m) have landed as expected, with My Wish, Packing Hermod, Rubylot, Divano, Johannes Brahms, Stunning Peach, Mickley, Noisy Boy, Cap Ferrat, Californiatotality, Packing Angel, Mondial, Steps Ahead and Sky Trust making up the field.
Sky Heart is the first reserve for the second leg of the prestigious four-year-old series.
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