Trainer Ralph Beckett is eager to see his Breeders’ Cup-winning sprinter Starlust face off against the formidable local champion Ka Ying Rising in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on December 8.
After a stellar season that included wins at York and a third-place finish in the Nunthorpe, the three-year-old delivered a stunning upset at the Breeders’ Cup in Del Mar, cementing his place among the sprinting elite.
Now, Beckett is preparing Starlust for another high-profile international test.
“The horse has come out of California in great shape,” Beckett said. “Whether he’s good enough to be competitive is another matter, but Sha Tin should suit him well. His best form is on a flat track and around a bend, as seen at York, Del Mar, and Santa Anita.”
Starlust’s Breeders’ Cup triumph convinced owners Jim and Fitri Hay to supplement him for the Hong Kong Sprint, a race boasting a prize purse of £12.8 million. Beckett is seizing the opportunity, even as he acknowledges the challenge posed by Ka Ying Rising, who shattered the track record in last month’s Jockey Club Sprint.
“In these situations, you have to consider the opposition,” Beckett remarked. “Ka Ying Rising looked like an absolute monster the other day, but you have to run your horse where you think suits him best. He’s a Group One winner, and if we pass this up, we’ll be waiting a long time for ideal conditions again.”
The Hong Kong Sprint field could also include leading local sprinters California Spangle, Invincible Sage, and Victor The Winner, as well as international contenders like Japan’s Lugal and America’s Nobals.
Beckett expressed confidence in Starlust’s readiness for the task, highlighting the colt’s proven ability to handle travel.
“He thrives on the challenge of travelling, as we saw when he went to Santa Anita as a two-year-old and again this year. He’s straightforward to train, and I’m not concerned about how long he’s been on the go. He enjoys it,” Beckett added.
All eyes will be on Sha Tin as Starlust takes on some of the world’s best sprinters in his bid to claim another international triumph.