3 minute read
Trainer James Peters is heading into the Group 3 Fortune Bowl (1400m) with a strong China Horse Club double-barrelled attack on January 26.
The Chinese-based outfit's Grand Koonta and Skywalk, who happen to be the Englishman's two highest-rated horses at 87 and 102 respectively, will fly the stable banner in the $175,000 feature race, held traditionally on the second day of the Lunar New Year since 2010.
Going with their recent sparkling forms, both gallopers are expected to be popular picks with punters in search of an abundance of hongbaos in that upcoming Year of the Rat.
The sparingly-raced Skywalk, who seems to be going through a second lease of life since his win in a Class 1 race over the Polytrack 1100m in May, flew home for second in the Group 3 New Year Cup (1200m) on Polytrack, while Grand Koonta is also coming off a runner-up spot, but two months ago in the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m).
While it remains to be seen if the Fortune Bowl will for the first time adorn the China Horse Club's trophy cabinet for a most symbolical memento given the close affinity with mainland China's most important festival, Peters could not fault either horse.
Both are well to him. Skywalk has been kept ticking over and Grand Koonta was humming during his barrier trial with regular partner Alysha Collett up on Tuesday morning, ambling along to a pleasing third to his last-start EW Barker nemesis Fame Star.
"I was very happy with Grand Koonta's run in the EW Barker. I knew the seven furlongs wouldn't be a problem for him," said Peters who opened his 2020 account with another promising sort in Siam Warrior on Friday night.
"Ideally, I would have preferred 1200m first-up for him before going into the Fortune Bowl, but there was no such race that suited his programme.
"He prefers to run fresh, I always space him six weeks in between runs and the New Year Cup would have been only three weeks in between runs.
"He trialled well this morning. Alysha knows the horse and my training style, she just switched him off in the early stage and let him come through around the bend.
"It looks like he will get in at a light weight again, which is good."
With the highest class of his four wins having been registered at Class 2 level, the Irish-bred grey five-year-old by Dark Angel will for the fourth time in a row have no weight on his back – only 52kgs.
Similarly for Skywalk, Peters said while turf is not the Battle Paint six-year-old's forte, the conditions of the race will also help his cause given he has won up to Class 1 level, which equates to a luxury load of 54kgs.
"He's better off on Poly but there are few options with his ratings. He also gets in at a nice weight, the conditions have worked out well for him," he said.
"We'll take our chance with him and Daniel Moor will ride him again."
