Dirt specialist Sword Point confirmed for Dubai World Cup meeting in April
by Jay Rooney on Thursday, February 20, 2025 11:34 AM Sword Point scores on the dirt on January 5. Photos: Kenneth Chan
Frankie Lor Fu-chuen has confirmed Sword Point has been invited to race on Dubai World Cup night in April, with the dirt specialist set to continue his path to the overseas mission in Sunday's Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin.
Lor and owner Li Chi-pong have accepted the invitation to run Sword Point in the Group Two Godolphin Mile on the Meydan dirt on April 5.
Unbeaten from two starts on the Sha Tin all-weather surface this season, the American Pharoah gelding's rating has soared to 111, prompting his trainer to search for suitable targets overseas.
'There are no more dirt races for him here in Hong Kong, so I need to run him on Sunday and then after, maybe he will trial before we go to Dubai,' Lor said. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 5, 2025
Sword Point will join what is expected to be a strong squad of Hong Kong representatives at the Dubai World Cup meeting, headlined by champion galloper Romantic Warrior.
Danny Shum Chap-shing's superstar is likely to tackle the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m), but he has also been entered for the Group One Dubai World Cup (2,000m) on dirt.
California Spangle, Invincible Sage, Howdeepisyourlove, Flying Ace and Beauty Waves have been entered for the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m), while Beauty Waves also holds an entry for the Group One Dubai Golden Shaheen (1,200m) on dirt.
Sword Point was an explosive first-up winner this term when trying the dirt for the first time, before extending his unblemished record on Sha Tin's all-weather surface with another strong triumph last month.
The six-year-old heads into Sunday's Gold Cup off the back of a last-start eighth to Chancheng Glory in the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m) on turf.
He has drawn barrier eight and will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni.
Lor's consistent galloper Happy Together joins Sword Point in the Gold Cup, with the Group Three victor fresh from a solid sixth in the Centenary Vase.
He will again be ridden by Alexis Badel and jumps from barrier four in the 10-horse field, which is headlined by three-time Group One winner Voyage Bubble.
Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's stable star bids for a third straight elite-level success after dominant displays in the Hong Kong Mile and Stewards' Cup (1,600m).
He has drawn barrier one for Kiwi star James McDonald, who has just two rides at the Sha Tin meeting.
Complications with a return flight from Saudi Arabia, where McDonald rides Romantic Warrior in the US$20 million Saudi Cup (1,800m) on Saturday night, forced the champion jockey to forego other rides on Sunday including Howdeepisyourlove in the Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m).
Elsewhere on Sunday's card, Lor will aim to maintain Bottomuptogether's unbeaten record down the 1,000m straight when the talented sprinter contests the Class Two Citi Private Bank Handicap.
Hugh Bowman replaces the injured Zac Purton on Bottomuptogether, who notched his fourth victory at start eight when scoring over 1,000m at Happy Valley last month.
'He's won twice down the straight,' Lor said of Bottomuptogether's Sha Tin 1,000m wins on his first two starts last season.
'The race should be run at a fast pace and that should be suitable for him. I don't want him to always go forward. If the pace is fast, maybe he can relax. He trialled last week with Hugh Bowman on and he trialled well.'
In a strong field of eight speedsters, Bottomuptogether clashes with straight-track specialist Magic Control, Full Credit, Whizz Kid, Superb Capitalist, James Tak, Stellar Express and Healthy Healthy.
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