Former Australian galloper Six Pack embarks on a new career chapter in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Guangzhou Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley on Sunday (27 October) as trainer Douglas Whyte plots a path towards Hong Kong’s lucrative 2025 Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
By Rubick, Six Pack raced as Hey Fat Cat t in Australia where he won two of 10 starts for trainer Robbie Laing, also finishing fifth behind Mr Brightside in the G1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and sixth to Southport Tycoon in the G1 Australian Guineas (1600m) before transferring to Hong Kong.
The gelding arrived at Sha Tin in July and has since trialled twice in preparation for his Hong Kong debut, pleasing Whyte with his quality.
"He's been well grounded and he's a lovely horse. I just hope he can handle all the pressure of a day meeting at the valley with the crowd and a new environment. If he does that, he's a lovely horse going forward," Whyte said.
"This race looked the most promising going forward for his education in Hong Kong, so we'll see how he goes and from here on in, we'll step him up and look for other alternatives."
Six Pack finished third in an 800m trial at Conghua on 24 September before finishing second, beaten only half a length, to boom sprinter Ka Ying Rising in a 1200m trial at Conghua on 10 October.
"I've trialled him twice and he's done minimal efforts in his trials. I haven't tried to do anything with him, it's just about getting the rustiness out of him and getting him into the system," Whyte said.
To be ridden this weekend by Lyle Hewitson from barrier six, Six Pack (119lb) will face 11 rivals - Copartner Prance (135lb), Superb Capitalist (133lb), Tomodachi Kokoroe (132lb), Beauty Charge (130lb), Lucky Encounter (127lb), Gorgeous Win (126lb), Raging Blizzard (125lb), Dancing Code (122lb), Seasons Wit (121lb), Sing Dragon (120lb) and Wonderstar (120lb).
Provided his new charge runs well, Whyte will work towards the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on 31 January. The Hong Kong Classic Mile kicks off the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which continues with the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 2 March and culminates with the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2400m) on 23 March.
"He looks like a miler and, should he run well and perform well and handle all the pressures of the Hong Kong environment, he looks like he could end up a Classic Mile horse," Whyte said.
With five of his 12 winners for the campaign so far coming at Happy Valley, Caspar Fownes takes an eight-strong team to the city circuit on Sunday, when he will team with Hugh Bowman across the first three races with The Khan, Noble Pursuit and Capital Legend.
Four-time winner of the Hong Kong trainers' championship, Fownes will start talented Dancing Code in the meeting finale with Alexis Badel to take the mount from barrier 11.
"I was pleased with his first run and now he's back to his favourite track," Fownes said. "He's got the blinkers back on and from a good soft gate, I think he'll run a nice race but it's quite a strong race. There are some nice horses in there but he's a nice horse himself.
"I think he's a chance to get to close to 100 points (in the handicap). He's in the low 80s (84). If we can get him through a nice prep without any interruptions - he's had enough of those but he's over them now - I think we can look at the (Class 2) Chevalier Cup (Handicap, 1600m) on 24 November.
"I think he will be at his peak for that."
Sunday's (27 October) 10-race card at Happy Valley starts with the Class 5 Chaozhou Handicap (1200m) at 12.45pm.
