Harry bent on success aboard Senor Toba on flying visit to old stamping ground

Two-time H.H. The Amir Trophy-winning jockey Harry Bentley knows what it takes to enjoy success in Qatar’s signature race, and he believes Hong Kong raider Senor Toba has the qualities required to earn the lion’s share of the US$2.5 million (HK$20 million) purse at Al Rayyan Racecourse on Saturday.

Caspar Fownes-trained Senor Toba and Douglas Whyte-prepared Russian Emperor, the latter of whom former Hong Kong-based rider Alberto Sanna will steer, drew gates eight and four, respectively, at Wednesday’s barrier draw for this weekend’s 2,400m turf race.

Hong Kong has had 330 overseas starters across 10 jurisdictions for 36 victories, but Qatar is virgin territory for the city’s gallopers, although Fownes is not a stranger to the Middle East having saddled 10 runners in the United Arab Emirates since 2011.

Fownes booked Bentley, who celebrated Qatar champion jockey titles in six successive seasons – 2013-14 to 2018-19 inclusive – and rode The Blue Eye to H.H. The Amir Trophy wins in 2016 and 2018, after Hugh Bowman turned down the chance to stick with last-start Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m) victor Senor Toba.

Bentley jumped at the opportunity to return to his old stamping ground, and he thinks Senor Toba could carry him to his third triumph in the major event.

“To represent Hong Kong abroad is really fantastic,” said Bentley, who flew to Qatar after riding a Happy Valley winner, Splendid Living, on Wednesday night.

“I know the race extremely well, and I know what it takes to win it. I think a horse who stays like Senor Toba has a massive feather in his cap. He relaxes, and we know he likes quick ground.

“The track is relatively tight – it’s probably the best part of a mile round – and they go pretty hard as well, so it’s not too dissimilar to the racing style in Hong Kong. It’s very competitive racing.

“Year on year, [the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival] has stepped up its game as an international fixture. This year, having had a brief look at the race cards, it’s attracted better quality horses. The prize money has been ramped up, and that’s brought good horses.”

The good horses lured to compete in H.H. The Amir Trophy, which the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club has programmed for 9:15pm Hong Kong time on Saturday night, include Aidan O’Brien-trained globetrotters Stone Age and Broome, both of whom are rebounding from Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) flops.

Stone Age (fifth) and Broome (eighth) were no match for Japanese visitor Win Marilyn in December’s Hong Kong Vase, a race that Senor Toba led for its first 2,100m before fading to finish in seventh position.

Russian Emperor, whose local rating of 118 is the same as that of Senor Toba, was fifth in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) on international day before, under Bentley, he was sixth in the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) last month.

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One of the lesser exposed H.H. The Amir Trophy competitors is Warren Point, the Charlie Appleby-prepared four-year-old son of superstar stallion Dubawi and Listed-winning stayer Gaterie whose record reads five wins and two placings from seven starts.

Godolphin-owned Warren Point won a Listed race over 2,000m in Bahrain by three lengths two weeks ago.

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