Dennis Yip backs in-form Noisy Boy to prove Hong Kong Derby credentials in Classic Cup

South China Morning Post

01-03-2025

Daring to dream of a second straight Derby victory, Dennis Yip Chor-hong is confident Noisy Boy will stamp his credentials for the city's biggest race when he steps out in Sunday's Classic Cup (1,800m) at Sha Tin.
Yip was on top of the world 12 months ago when celebrating Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) glory with Massive Sovereign and he feels Noisy Boy is capable of following in that galloper's footsteps.
The Australian import has made an impressive start to his Hong Kong career, notching back-to-back wins over 2,200m at Happy Valley and the Derby course and distance leading into the Classic Cup.
'He's working very well. He trialled [at Happy Valley] and it was very good,' Yip said of Noisy Boy's strong victory in a 1,700m trial on February 15.
'He is coming up very nicely. The 1,800m should be OK. Hopefully he can sit second or third and he's proven at 2,000m and 2,200m, while many four-year-olds aren't proven. I think he's a good chance.'
After a pair of solid runs over 1,400m and 1,650m, Noisy Boy thrived stepping up in trip to comfortably score at the Valley on Boxing Day under Zac Purton.
The son of Real Steel then accounted for a Class Two field featuring the likes of subsequent Group Three runner-up Winning Dragon and Classic Cup contenders Mickley and Stunning Peach.
Andrea Atzeni booted Noisy Boy home last start and has committed to riding him in the final two legs of the Classic Series.
Racing under the same name in Australia, he won a 1,550m maiden on Randwick's Kensington track and also ran a close second in the Group Two Tulloch Stakes (2,000m) at Rosehill.
Despite drawing wide in gate 12, Noisy Boy is expected to be one of the pace influences in the Classic Cup along with Californiatotality, who also jumps from a wide barrier in 14.
Californiatotality has leapt into Classic Cup and Derby contention with three wins this term – two of which have been at the course and distance of Sunday's feature.
Tony Cruz will bid to win a third Classic Cup when he starts Californiatotality and Stunning Peach, who has shown indifferent form this campaign but gets the services of superstar jockey James McDonald for the first time.
Nice win, @brentonavdulla! 👊
Californiatotality, a son of Zoustar, offsets top-weight and a wide gate to capture a third victory. Tony Cruz makes it a double from the first three races at Sha Tin... ✌️ #SaSaLPDay | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/zPLNZOfR01 — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) November 3, 2024
'I think my two horses have got a chance. I'm very happy with them condition wise and they're in good health,' Cruz said.
'Californiatotality is a one-paced type of horse. Stunning Peach probably needs 2,000m and above. He's a real staying type of horse. He's the spitting image of Exultant – that horse had no speed at all. In his barrier trials, he was always last.'
Alexis Badel will ride Californiatotality.
Elsewhere on Sunday's card, Cruz's former apprentice Angus Chung Yik-lai returns from a fractured facial bone sustained in a horrific fall on February 5. Chung will ride He was You, Smart Beauty and Lovero for Cruz as well as Silver King and Wonderstar.
Yip has another top chance on the card in Fast Network, who drops back in distance from the Classic Mile to contest the Class Three Yau Oi Handicap (1,200m).
Fast Network ran a solid fourth to My Wish in the Classic Mile when ridden by Christophe Soumillon.
'Class Three is easier for him and he's a sprinter,' Yip said of the three-time Sha Tin 1,000m winner.
'The maximum for him was a mile and I think 1,200m or 1,400m is the best distance for him. Soumillon told me the mile is his maximum.'
McDonald will also ride Fast Network, who has the blinkers reapplied for Sunday's race and has drawn barrier 10 of 11.