Turin Redsun’s timing couldn’t be better after his slashing second to California Spangle last month – pulling it all together for a performance that Alexis Badel hopes can springboard the Dubawi gelding to another level in Sunday’s (20 March) HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) – the final leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
“He’s a top little horse and I think we haven’t seen the best of him yet, hopefully he’s going to be right there this Sunday but I’m confident Douglas (Whyte) is doing the right thing and having the horse in good form for this weekend,” Badel said.
Constantly showing signs of improvement, Turin Redsun – under the hands of Badel – finished only a length behind California Spangle at 20/1 in the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at just his fourth start in town last month, previously catching the eye with fourth in the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m).
“It was a massive run but I think the winner (California Spangle) has got quality and he has that gate speed, that early speed that won him the race and even from a good draw I tried to jump as well as I could but I just didn’t have the same speed as him.
“So, I was travelling behind Ima Single Man (in the Hong Kong Classic Cup) and he was just pulling back – tactically, Zac (Purton) won the race after the jump,” Badel said.