Hong Kong Feature Runner-Up Contemplates Cox Plate Mission

Rulership, trained by Melbourne Cup winner Katsuhiko Sumii and raced by Mosheen's co-owner Katsumi Yoshida, careered away with Sunday's AP QE11 Cup (2000m) at Hong Kong's Sha Tin Racecourse courtesy of a dream rails run and an excellent ride from young Italian Umberto Rispoli.

The Japanese five-year-old stormed home to win the Group 1 by 3.75 lengths from the strongest finisher Thumbs Up -ridden by Brett Prebble for Caspar Fownes.

A slow first 800 metres of 50.8 seconds gave the closers little winning chance. The favourite Sweet Orange, shuffled back early, was third.

Prebble was delighted with the performance from an awkward gate 11 which had Fownes contemplating a Cox Plate mission.
“If only we'd drawn a gate,” Prebble said, “He's gone super having to sustain a long run all the way to the wire. I'd reckon he's run the quickest last 400 (metres).”

 “I'm keen to travel with him,” Fownes said. “He might be seven but he's never gone better. His form over the last 12 months or so has been excellent and the Cox Plate is an obvious target for him in Australia.

“I keep a close eye on all the Aussie races and I reckon it's worth a try. If all the local superstars get there it might be tough but they may not all get there. I think Thumbs Up could be competitive with a More Joyous.

“There's a lot of planning you'd have to do. A one race assault or perhaps arrive earlier to have a run before the Cox Plate, I'm not sure but it is on the agenda,” said Fownes whose wife Alix is Australian.

Sumii indicated that a Melbourne Cup run for Rulership was unlikely citing the distance “being too far”, but did not rule out the possibility of a Cox Plate mission.