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South China Morning Post

Classic Cup top 10: My Wish and Packing Angel lead early rankings

Classic Mile victor and Francis Lui's exciting galloper headline the Post's ratings for the second leg of the four-year-old series by Jay Rooney on Monday, February 10, 2025 11:47 AM My Wish (right) wins the Classic Mile under Luke Ferraris. Photos: Kenneth Chan After My Wish claimed the Classic Mile with a tough victory, attention now turns to the second leg of the four-year-old series, the Classic Cup on March 2. The step up to 1,800m will suit some but others will be challenged by the trip in what is traditionally the key lead-up race to the city's most coveted feature, the HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 23. The Post has ranked the top 10 contenders for the Classic Cup. 1. My Wish Mark Newnham's pint-sized gelding slipped slightly under the radar heading into the Classic Mile but stamped his claims as a force to be reckoned with. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 3, 2025 Newnham made a great point post-race – when My Wish has hit the front in his races this season, he has not been headed. He might be a son of a sprinting sire in Flying Artie, but there is some staying blood on his dam side and his ability to race on the speed and keep finding in the straight will again give him a big advantage over several key rivals. 2. Packing Angel While he will face a rise in class and distance, Packing Angel will no doubt be an exciting addition to the four-year-old series after three straight wins. Francis Lui Kin-wai's promising galloper was a dominant Class Three winner over 1,400m on Classic Mile day, despite missing two days of work with a hoof abscess in the lead-up, and he was to be Zac Purton's ride before he was injured. As a son of Melbourne Cup (3,200m) winner Shocking, he should handle further ground. 3. Mickley The British import once again had excuses in the Classic Mile, but his eye-catching performance puts him right in the mix for the next two legs of the Classic Series. Despite being unbalanced as a result of heavy contact from Markwin in the straight, the John Size-trained gelding stormed home in the second-fastest final 400m of the race to finish fifth. 4. Divano Lui's talented galloper dispelled any queries he would run a strong mile emphatically, almost pinching the Classic Mile with a barnstorming run from last. He was the only horse to break 22 seconds for the final 400m when beaten a neck. If he can back that up rising to 1,800m, he can figure prominently again. 5. Rubylot The David Hayes-trained gelding was snagged back to near last from gate 10 and made his run down the outside when sixth, running the third-fastest final 400m of the Classic Mile. With his pedigree indicating the rise to 1,800m will be ideal, he is certainly capable of improving on that performance. 6. Noisy Boy Another likely addition from outside the Classic Mile, Dennis Yip Chor-hong's import will chase a third straight win after saluting over 2,200m and 2,000m. The drop back to 1,800m might not be ideal, but the former Australian Group Two runner-up looks on track to run a big race en route to the Derby. 7. Cap Ferrat Nothing went right for the Australian import in the Classic Mile, fading to finish 12th after travelling wide without cover for most of the race. He was narrowly beaten on his Hong Kong debut behind Mickley and will get better over more ground, with his pre-import record highlighted by a second in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2,000m). 8. Mid Winter Wind The South African import created a big impression on his Hong Kong debut for Newnham, rocketing home to score over 1,200m at Sha Tin. While it would be a quick rise to make it to the Classic Cup and Derby, he was tested up to 2,000m pre-import and shapes as a contender with X-factor. Newnham plans to step him up to a mile on Sunday. 9. Californiatotality Tony Cruz's tough on-speed galloper looks a stayer in the making and is fresh from a strong 1,800m win on Sunday. It was the son of Zoustar's second success at the trip and Cruz is bullish about his prospects over the 2,000m of the Derby. 10. Packing Hermod Sent off the $2.8 favourite in the Classic Mile, Lui's quality galloper had every chance but fell short when beaten half a length in third. While the step up to 1,800m is a query and Purton has jumped off, he is still more than capable and shouldn't be written off.