Russian Emperor will break from barrier seven in Saturday’s (17 February) G3 H.H. The Amir Trophy (2400m) when he faces 10 rivals at Al Rayyan in Doha, Qatar.

Victorious last year, Russian Emperor has done nothing but please trainer Douglas Whyte in the Middle East ahead of his US$2.5 million (approx. HK$19.54 million) title defence.

“His turf gallop on Tuesday (13 February) with me on was as expected, he’s just flying at the moment – his action’s been great, his attitude and his weight is his winning weight which he was at last year,” Whyte said.

“I just can’t seem to get him to this weight in Hong Kong. It’s phenomenal, he’s healthy and he’s very fluent in his action – I’m very happy with how he is going.”

The seven-year-old by Galileo won from gate four in 2023 under jockey Alberto Sanna as the first and only Hong Kong-trained horse to salute in Qatar. 

“You’d always like to have a middle-to-inside gate. Seven is a soft option, you have one of the best who rides this track perfectly, Alberto Sanna – he knows the horse and he gave him a great ride last year,” Whyte said. “The horse has come back in good form.”

Sanna has won several riding titles in Qatar and Bahrain. He was once champion apprentice in his native Italy and is eager to reunite with Hong Kong’s two-time champion stayer.

“It was a beautiful day and an emotional race. It’s always a pleasure to be back on Hong Kong horses, join my friend Douglas and also have the support of the owners.

“This race is quite a special race for me. This year it’s going to be tougher because there are better horses, but Russian Emperor is in good order and we are going to try and do the double,” Sanna said. “There isn’t a strong favourite like last year with Warren Point who you will have to keep an eye on, so I’m looking forward to it.” 

Godolphin’s duo Rebel’s Romance and Passion And Glory drew gates 10 and two, respectively. Second in the 2023 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), Zeffiro received barrier 11, while fellow Japanese raiders North Bridge (four) and Satono Glanz (five) scored soft draws.  

Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said of Zeffiro: “It’s not too bad. He sits midfield. The mile and a half is more his distance – I think it is good for him. The grass suits him, that’s why we came here.”

Aidan O’Brien’s representative Point Lonsdale slots into barrier three for the 12-furlong journey, while Simca Mille holds the rail in gate one for trainer Alban de Mieulle.

“2400 metres will be better for him this time. This horse is a special horse, he’s proven that he’s a good horse,” De Mieulle said.

Simca Mille won his first and only start in Doha last month over 2200m. He is owned locally by Wathnan Racing, who don a familiar set of blue and gold silks with a red cap.

John and Thady Gosden are represented in the race by the Group 2-winning Israr, who drew gate six, and sports the blue and white Shadwell colours.

Thady said: “He’s done well. He ran in Bahrain in November and he’s had a bit of a break since then. He comes here in good form and he’s stepping up to a mile and a half (2400m).”

The 11-runner field features jockeys from across the globe: Haunted Dream (Oisin Murphy), Israr (Jim Crowley), North Bridge (Yasunari Iwata), Passion And Glory (Tom Marquand), Point Lonsdale (Ryan Moore), Rebel’s Romance (William Buick), Russian Emperor (Alberto Sanna), Simca Mille (Mickael Barzalona), Zeffiro (Joao Moreira), Jeff Koons (Faleh Bughanaim) and Satono Glanz (Yuga Kawada).

The H.H. Amir Trophy, presented by LONGINES, will be run as race seven at Al Rayyan on Saturday afternoon at 4.15pm (AST) in Qatar, which is 9.15pm (HKT) in Hong Kong.