Harry Bentley hopes a combination of a light weight, rain-affected ground and natural stamina will be sufficient for Five G Patch to provide Tony Cruz with a fourth victory as a trainer in the HK$4.2 million G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (5 May).

Cruz, who previously won the staying test with Supreme Rabbit (2003), Super Pistachio (2011) and Exultant (2018), is represented this weekend by La City Blanche and Five G Patch, who finished sixth to Romantic Warrior in last Sunday’s (28 April) G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m).

Bentley believes Five G Patch will be suited by this Sunday’s conditions, having twice won in Ireland on yielding to slow ground when he raced as Collins Street for Joseph O’Brien.

“I think the ground will be absolutely fine for him and I think he’ll probably handle it better than some others will. We know he stays and this (2400m) is probably at the top of where he is stamina-wise, but this race looks very suitable for him,” Bentley said.

“He’s going to carry a light weight (118lb), which is going to suit. The quick back-up is obviously something to contend with especially when you’re running over these distances and isn’t as easy as it would be with a sprinter, per se. He seems in good form, looking at his results.”

With 30 wins for the season, Bentley is in the throes of another productive campaign, having posted 25 wins in each of his previous two Hong Kong seasons.

“Numerically, I’m ahead of where I have been in my previous two seasons and I’m extremely happy with the support I’ve been getting, so I’ve still got a few months left and if I can add to that tally, I would be extremely happy,” he said.

Dual Hong Kong Champion Stayer Russian Emperor heads the weights for the Queen Mother Memorial Cup with 135lb and will have to concede weight to all 10 rivals – Money Catcher and Senor Toba (121lb), Five G Patch (118lb) and Moments In Time, Running Glory, La City Blanche, Ka Ying Generation, Natural Storm, Unbelievable and Turin Mascot (all 115lb).

Hugh Bowman acknowledges the daunting weight task facing Russian Emperor ahead of his bid for a third consecutive victory in the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on 26 May.

“I think – more than the ground – the 135-pound impost against these quality horses with most of them carrying 115 (pounds) is a big difference and I think ultimately it will be the telling tale,” Bowman said.

“The horse is going really well. I’ve been really satisfied with how he’s come through the season and Douglas is happy, too, which is the main thing. As long as he races well and he enjoys his day out on the weekend, we’re there to win it if we can, but he found the big weight too much last year.

“We were still very happy with him. If we get a similar response this year, it will be all systems go. He doesn’t get many opportunities at this distance in Hong Kong and it’s where we see the best of him and I’m sure he won’t disappoint us at the weekend.”

Sha Tin’s 11-race card on Sunday (5 May) starts with the Argonaut Plate (1000m) for Griffins at 12.30pm.