Yuga Kawada knows exactly what it takes to push Romantic Warrior to his limits and the ice-cool Japanese rider is adamant Liberty Island has the right credentials to overthrow the reigning Group One Longines Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) champion.
Kawada, riding Prognosis, came within a neck of Romantic Warrior at his second crack at Danny Shum Chap-shing’s superstar in April’s Group One QE II Cup (2,000m).
He returns to the city with a four-year-old filly and a point to prove, planning to use his experience of going toe to toe with Romantic Warrior to finally topple “Hong Kong’s hero”.
“I think she has a big chance, she’s a filly with a huge amount of quality,” Kawada said. “I have that experience competing against Romantic Warrior from when I rode Prognosis and that’s why we brought her here. I know her very well and I’m very confident.”
Liberty Island burst onto the scene with a top-class two-year-old campaign and stamped her authority at Group One level in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (1,600m) on only her third start.
She continued her rise the following season, with the daughter of Duramente sweeping the Triple Tiara Classics – the Group One Oka Sho (1,600m), Group One Yushun Himba (2,400m) and Group One Shuka Sho (2,000m) – in emphatic style under her regular rider Kawada.
In the final run of her campaign in November last year, only Equinox stood between Liberty Island and Group One Japan Cup (2,400m) glory as the star filly ran on for second in the famed contest.
This year has been far from smooth for Liberty Island, however, with a ligament injury after her third in March’s Group One Sheema Classic (2,410m) sidelining her for seven months before an underwhelming effort in Group One Tenno Sho Autumn (2,000m) last month.
While she was sent off a warm $2.3 favourite in Tokyo, Liberty Island weakened into 13th in the 15-runner field.
Winner: Equinox(JPN)
J: Christophe Lemaire
T: Tetsuya Kimura
Sire: Kitasan Black
Dam: Chateau Blanche#ジャパンカップ は、#イクイノックス が優勝！！ pic.twitter.com/FPDms91jDk
“She was in good shape in the Tenno Sho but she is the type of filly who needs a preparation race ahead of the main target,” Kawada said. “That is why we are coming here now, because we feel she is at the very top of her game.”
Currently around $6.5 in overseas markets to defeat Romantic Warrior in Hong Kong’s richest race, Liberty Island will bid to give Kawada a second triumph in the HK$40 million contest after he steered Loves Only You to success in the Cup three years ago.
He will also have the chance to taste success in the Group One Longines Hong Kong Mile aboard Jantar Mantar.
“Jantar Mantar is a quality horse and the first time I rode him, he felt great,” Kawada said. “He had a bit of a setback before he came to Hong Kong and he was meant to have a preparation run before he came, but he couldn’t.”
This news appeared first on @South China Morning Post
