In the 14th and final instalment of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Road to the Derby series, we run the rule over the importance of having a high rating and a good barrier in the city’s most prestigious race, as well as having a look into the breeding of some of the contenders.
One of the biggest talking points of any Derby is the barrier draw and Thursday’s (19 March) allocation set plenty of tongues wagging after a number of key hopes drew wide for the 149th HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin this Sunday (22 March).
HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) conqueror Little Paradise was lumped with barrier 10, a gate that would have no doubt left connections smarting.
The data should give them a small boost with four winners since 2000, including Massive Sovereign in 2024, saluting from the alley.
Numbers drew barrier 13 and Beauty Bolt 11, while David Eustace was the hardest-hit trainer with his two runners – Seraph Gabriel and Dazzling Fit – lumped with alleys 12 and 14, respectively.
History shows it’s far from impossible to prevail from the outside gate of 14, however, with three gallopers doing it in the past 15 years, including Voyage Bubble in 2023.
