Caspar Fownes will unleash a formidable armada of runners on the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 May) as the four-time Hong Kong champion trainer bids for successive wins in the HK$3.9 million staying test.
Fownes will be represented by 2022 winner Senor Toba, G1 place-getter Columbus County and exciting prospect Straight Arron in a 12-horse field which also features G1 winners Russian Emperor and Panfield as well as 2021 Queen Mother Memorial Cup victor Butterfield.
Senor Toba, who carried 120lb to victory last season under Joao Moreira, will shoulder 134lb on Sunday for Harry Bentley as he returns to Sha Tin after an unavailing overseas campaign which produced three unplaced finishes in Qatar and Dubai.
“Coming back from overseas, he appears to be in good enough form. He’s carrying a big weight, coming off a couple of substandard efforts overseas which disappointed us, so he’s got to bounce back in Sha Tin,” Fownes said of the grey, who trialled strongly at Happy Valley on 21 April, winning over 1700m.
“He won this race last year, so he’s out there again to see how he is. His work has been fine, he trialled up pretty good at Happy Valley and he’s fit and well, so now we just see if he can bring it to the races and show us something.”