Time Warp and Pakistan Star are among the big names on the starter list for Sunday’s (8 April) Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy over a mile at Sha Tin Racecourse. Both are preparing for a heavyweight clash in the Group 1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (2000m) at the track on Champions Day (29 April).

When the stablemates met six weeks ago in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, Time Warp had the measure of all, leading the top-class field through strong sections to become the first horse to go sub two minutes for 2000m at Sha Tin. Pakistan Star was a fine fourth, starting, as he was, for the first time since his now infamous heel-digging antics in a race last June.  

The latter, in need of miles in his legs after such a lay-off, has raced since, running fourth in a steady-tempo Class 1 handicap at a mile. Time Warp, on the other hand, has been given space to recover from his incredible effort and Cruz revealed at Sha Tin this morning that he has seen no ill-effects in his charge after that herculean victory.

“No, he looks good,” the trainer said. “His barrier trial was very good and he’s holding his condition very well. He’s a strong, tough horse that holds it all together.”

Although the APQEII Cup is the main spring target for Time Warp, Cruz is still expecting a bold showing from the strapping Archipenko gelding, who also carried off the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) in December. The chestnut will carry a 5lb penalty on Sunday for his G1 triumphs.

“Time Warp will run his usual race; he has his own way of running so the plan is to lead. He doesn’t do as well trying to come from behind,” Cruz said of Zac Purton’s big-race mount.

“The mile and a quarter is his distance, not the mile, but he does have a lot of natural speed, so we’ll see what happens. He holds the track record for 1800 metres at Happy Valley!” he added. Time Warp will break from gate one.

Cruz is also pleased with Pakistan Star. His previously errant galloper was unsuited by a steady tempo when finishing behind the front-running Southern Legend on 18 March.

“His work’s been very good, he’s in good shape and I’m very happy with his condition,” the trainer said.

“This time I think the pace will definitely be on and you’ll see a different horse. Last time there was no pace and it was a sprint home and that wasn’t good for him, especially at the mile, he’s got to have pace on.”

Joao Moreira will maintain his partnership with Pakistan Star, having jumped back aboard last start for the first time in a race since the Shamardal five-year-old refused under him 10 months ago.

“He’s over his troubles – I believe that’s in the past,” Cruz said. “He’s got a racing mind now. It’s not like before, he was thinking too much, but now he’s got the correct mind set.”

Beauty Only, the mount of Neil Callan, will also represent the Cruz stable. Last season’s Champion Miler has been unable to recapture his best form in eight runs this term.

“Beauty Only seems like he’s not the same horse that he used to be,” Cruz said of the seven-year-old, who carried off the Chairman’s Trophy two years ago.

“But the last race was slow-slow and then a sprint home,” he continued. “If the pace is on, he can run close again, and he doesn’t have the Group 1 penalty any more, but I don’t think he’ll win – I think his prime time might be over.”

The 10-runner field, scheduled as race eight at 4.35pm, is also set to feature this season’s star miler, the two-time G1winner Beauty Generation, as well as his John Moore-trained stablemate, another dual G1 winner, Helene Paragon.

The Peter Ho-trained Fifty Fifty has stepped up creditably to the G1 ranks since the turn-of-the-year, running second in the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and third in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m), while another emerging talent, the Benno Yung-trained Pingwu Spark, is also in the line-up.

Champion trainer John Size will look to Hong Kong Mile runner-up Western Express and the admirable Dinozzo, while the Caspar Fownes-trained G1 place-getter Joyful Trinity completes the field.

Sunday’s high-class action will see the Size-trained Mr Stunning, winner of December’s G1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), take his place in the G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) against seven others. His rivals include his talented stablemates Beat The Clock and Amazing Kids.

The 10-race action at Sha Tin starts at 1pm with the Class 4 Chaoyangmen Handicap (1000m).