Mondial winning a Middle Stakes race over 1600m at Turffontein Standside on December 5, 2023. (JC Photos)
The former Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Gr 1 SA Derby third-placed Flower Alley gelding Mondial is in 12th place in the “Priority To Start” list of the HK$13 Million The Hong Kong Classic Cup, to be run on March 2 at Sha Tin, despite having not had a race on the island to date.
If ever there was a horse who fitted the adage “stays all day” it is Mondial, so he could be a big runner in Hong Kong’s most prestigious local race, the HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby on March 23, although unfortunately for him it is over 2000m and not the traditional 2400m Derby distance.
The Classic series in Hong is for four-year-olds and the first leg, the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile, was won by the Mark Newnham-trained Flying Artie Australian-bred gelding My Wish, ridden by South African jockey Luke Ferraris.
The HK$13 Million Classic Cup forms the second leg and the Hong Kong race which as far as fever-pitch aniticpation goes is the island’s equivalent of the Hollywoodbets Durban July, the HK$26 Million Hong Kong Derby, is the third and last leg.
Mondial has had six barrier trails since arriving on the island.
He arrived last October, probably on the same flight as Mid Winter Wind.
A South China Morning Post racing writer ranked Mid Winter Wind as the 8th best contender for the Classic Cup, but that was before his run on Sunday, in which he appeared to not quite get home over the 1600m trip and he finished fifth. Mid Winter Wind does not appear in the Priority To Start list for the Classic Cup and is not even among the reserves.
Ferraris’ ride My Wish is number one on the Priority To Start list.
Mondial was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein and is out of the Tiger Ridge mare Amur Affair, who won the Gr 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m but did not appear to stay beyond a mile.
Among the horses she has produced have been the five-times winning sprinter Savea (Var), the three time-winning sprinter Herecomestherain (Soft Falling Rain) and the three time-winner from 1600m up to 2000m River Romeo.
Mondial must get his stamina from his sire Flower Alley, whose Gr 1 win was over 2000m and he is known as a stamina influence.
The big, rangy Mondial led the 2450m SA Derby from the start until the 450m mark at which stage he was overtaken by Purple Pitcher with Pure Predator also challenging.
However, he then fought back and had he not hung right across the track towards the inside in the final 50m he might well have won, because he was only beaten 0,40 lengths.
Mondial was purchased for just R120,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale.
That will look like an absolute pittance if he wins either of the remaining classic series races, which in rand terms are worth R30,94 Million and R61.88 million.
He was owned during his South African racing career by Messrs Trevelen Pillay, Kovilan Padayachee, Deven Govender, Brian Peerimal & Power Of 5 Syndicate (Nom: Trevelen Pillay) and is now owned by James Lau Po Man & Alice Woo Wai See.
He is trained by Australian David Hayes.
Interestingly, Luke Ferraris has ridden him in four of his barrier trials and workrider CM Thabana and Lyle Hewitson have ridden him in the other two respectively.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH MONDIAL’S BARRIER TRIAL ON 15/02/2025
THe Priority To Start details for the HK13M Hong Kong Classic Cup are:
MY WISH (AUS) 95
PACKING HERMOD (AUS) 93
RUBYLOT (AUS) 93
DIVANO (AUS) 91
JOHANNES BRAHMS (GB) 90
STUNNING PEACH (IRE) 87
MICKLEY (IRE) 85
NOISY BOY (AUS) 84
CAP FERRAT (AUS) 83
CALIFORNIATOTALITY (AUS) 81
PACKING ANGEL (NZ) 81
MONDIAL (SAF) 80
STEPS AHEAD (AUS) 80
SKY TRUST (AUS) 79
Reserves:
R1 SKY HEART (NZ) 76
R2 ROMANTIC THOR (USA) 80
R3 LUCY IN THE SKY (AUS) 79
R4 TALENTS AMBITION (AUS) 80
Earlier this month on February 10 Jay Rooney of the South China Morning Post listed his top ten contenders for the Classic Cup (read below).
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.
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.
