Pierre Ng believes Mugen can keep up his resurgence when the six-year-old contests Saturday’s HK$4.2 million Gr3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap at Sha Tin.
Mugen is a four-time winner from 16 starts in Hong Kong (Pic – HKJC)
A tremendous talent who is Group 1-placed with four wins in Hong Kong, including last season’s HK$4.2 million Gr3 Premier Cup Handicap, Mugen is yet to match his previous highs this campaign across five unplaced appearances, however, a recent pair of fast-closing fourths indicates the speedster’s form is back on an upward trajectory.
“It’s taken him a while to regain his form after the Japan trip – at least six months. I think he’ll run a promising race this weekend off a light weight (115lb),” Ng said.
Mugen resumed in last September’s Gr1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama, where the gelding was 13th at the tricky Japanese course, but his 41-year-old trainer expects the 105-rating Deep Field gelding to take a crucial step forward after dashing late to finish first in a barrier trial at Conghua last Friday (23 May) in 1m 12.06s over 1200m on turf.
“Mugen trialled really well,” Ng said. “Karis Teetan trialled him the other day and was very happy. He feels his form is back.”
Mugen is rated 105 – 24 points shy of the race-topping Lucky Sweynesse (129). Mugen’s Premier Cup win last season saw him best former star galloper California Spangle – a triple Group 1 winner – in electrifying fashion by a neck under a light weight.
“I think he will have an advantage with the light weight. Carrying a light weight in these Group 3 races is always an advantage – I hope we can time it right,” Ng said.
Mugen is one of four representing Ng in Saturday’s two Group 3 races. The trainer also saddles Beauty Waves in the Sha Tin Vase, while Johannes Brahms and Ka Ying Generation tackle the HK$4.2 million Gr3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap.
Andrea Atzeni rides Mugen as well as Johannes Brahms, who finished sixth in March’s HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby – two lengths behind victor Cap Ferrat.
Ng said: “Johannes Brahms comes back to a mile and the light weight will be an advantage. He’s had three trials since his last run and we gave him a little bit more pressure in his last trial to bring his form back on. He had a little break after the Derby and with the light weight (115lb) – same again, I hope we can time it right.”
Rated 95, Johannes Brahms was formerly trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien, winning once at Naas, while Beauty Waves seeks a second Group 3 score in the Sha Tin Vase for Ng on Saturday. The 100-rating Starspangledbanner gelding pairs with Angus Chung.
“He (Beauty Waves) trialled pretty well. We tried racing him further back in running but it didn’t work really well. I think we’ll just go on with it. Magic Control will be on the speed as well, so we just have to sit with him and hopefully he can be tougher in the finish,” Ng said.
Ka Ying Generation makes his first start for Ng since failing to fire a shot in the HK$24 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase last December.
“He had an issue and it’s taken us some time to bring him back. He’s bringing his form on slowly and he’s much more fit. The mile isn’t his best distance but I’m looking forward to seeing him improve and find his form again,” Ng said.
Saturday’s 11-race fixture at Sha Tin commences at 06h30with the Class 5 Shing Mun River Channel Handicap.
