Dennis Yip Chor-hong has opted to spell Fast Network instead of placing him in the Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m), and his connections weigh in on the Group One Sprinter Stakes (1,200m) in Japan later this year.
After a fine campaign highlighted by a National Day Group Three victory (1,000m) and two Group One placings, Fast Network will be given a break before potentially making his debut overseas in September’s Athletics Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse.
“I think he needs to rest because he’s had a tough race and a long season,” Yip said.
“Maybe now he will rest and early next season, we will try to find a race overseas – maybe Japan. We are still thinking about it.”
Owners Yip and Fast Network had intended to field the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) at Meydan in March, but those plans were put on hold because of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
The Sprinter Stakes has been a popular choice for Hong Kong trainers and owners in recent years, but only three international raiders have won the race, including Hong Kong’s Silent Witness (2005) and Ultra Fantasy (2010).
Fast Network’s best success was in the Group Three National Day Cup in October before finishing three places behind champion Ka Ying Rising – two at elite level.
He was also a strong Grade One winner in March and finished his campaign a sound fourth behind Ka Ying Rising in last month’s Group One Chairman’s Direction Prize (1,200m).
Meanwhile, trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai has decided to line up Cap Ferrat for a clash with Romantic Warrior in the Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) on May 24 after his strong second in the Champions Group Mile.
Craig Williams will re-ride the son of Snitzel, who won last year’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) and came home from last to be beaten a neck by My Wish in the Champions Mile with the talented Australian jockey inside.
“He ran very well. Of course, it will be difficult against Romantic Warrior,” Lui said.
Cap Ferrat was second in the Champions Mile after serving a mandatory three-month ban from racing for a nosebleed in November.
Although the Champions & Chater will be his first test over 2,400m, he raced that trip in Australia before the import, finishing sixth in the Group One Australian ATC Derby at Randwick in 2024.
Lui will also be represented in the Champions & Chater by Winning Wing, who is coming off a third start under the same weight of 135lbs behind Romantic Thor in the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m).
“His last race was fine. He’s a handicap winner, not a Group winner,” Lui said of the four-time Sha Tin winner, who also ran third to Romantic Warrior in the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) in February.
In other Champions & Chater Cup news, trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai has ruled Voyage Bubble out of his title defense after the six-time Group One winner underwent further treatment on his elbow.
And Lui is expected to emerge with Hot Delight’s first victory after the three-year-old’s first defeat at the weekend, finishing fourth to Patch Of Stars in the Grade Two Sai Wan Shan Handicap (1,200m).
“He’ll probably rest. He’s just young,” Lui said.
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