5 days ago
Hard to resist Rebel's Romance
1 Cold Heart
Group 1 winner of the Gran Premio Derby Paulista (2,400m) in his native Brazil in 2023 and an interesting recruit to the domestic racing scene. Slowly acclimatising and recorded an encouraging third in the Group 2 Grosser Hansa-Preis (2,400m) in Hamburg latest on July 5 - a race that is hard to read, though. Trip is not a concern and will aim to keep up trainer Peter Schiergen's hot Group 1 form after winning the Preis der Diana with Nicoreni on Aug 3.
2 Junko
French stayer trained by Andre Fabre and who is no stranger to these shores, winning the Group 1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern (2,400m) in Munich in November 2023, followed the next month by a Group 1 Sha Tin win albeit in the slowest-run Hong Kong Vase (2,400m). Relatively lightly raced since and winless in three races this season, but latest third to Calandagan in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2,400m) on June 29 looks good enough on paper.
3 Narrativo
Fancied for the Group 1 German Derby (2,400m) in 2024 which turned out to be a non-event for him. Then second - though well beaten - by Al Riffa in this race in 2024. Latest second (ahead of Cold Heart) in the Group 2 Grosser Hansa-Preis (2,400m) in Hamburg latest on July 5 was good, though he is not the easiest to win with.
4 Rebel's Romance
Godolphin's globetrotting superstar who has more airmiles than most of us. Winner of this race in 2022 has shown that he retains all his ability at the tender age of seven in 2025 with three wins, including the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2,400m) on June 21, breaking a long run of outs at Royal Ascot for his trainer Charlie Appleby. British prodigy Billy Loughnane does the steering. Highest rated horse in this, and whatever beats him probably wins the race.
5 Straight
Well-travelled galloper who has not shown much ability on the track since a fruitful period last autumn - second to Rebel's Romance in the Group 1 Preis von Europa (2,400m) in Cologne on Sept 22, and winning the Group 2 Gran Premio del Jockey Club (2,400m) at San Siro, Milan on Oct 13. The booking of English jockey Jack Mitchell points to some stable confidence.
6 Nastaria
Tough and durable mare who has a bit of a cult following in Germany. A stout stayer who recently won the Listed Grosser Preis der Hannoverschen Volksbank - Steher Cup (3,000m) in Hanover on June 9, but looks outclassed in this.
Comments courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
