He has been replaced by Zac Purton but takes over from Ryan Moore and Luke Currie is hopeful he can again make an impact in the four-year-old series in Sunday’s Hong Kong Classic Cup (1,800m) at Sha Tin.
So good was Tuchel’s runner-up effort under Currie in last month’s Classic Mile – the first leg of the Classic Series – reigning champion jockey Purton elected to jump back aboard the John Size-trained four-year-old for this weekend’s race after partnering him to three of his four career victories.
However, with globetrotting superstar Moore riding in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night and unable to make it to Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon, Currie finds himself aboard another Size-trained galloper who looks right in the mix, Sweet Encounter.
“I suppose going into that race last time Sweet Encounter was probably the fancy of the two. Ryan Moore being on probably made a bit of a difference, but I’m quite happy to be riding Sweet Encounter this week,” Currie said.
Like many in a Classic Mile that Ricky Yiu Poon-fai’s Voyage Bubble led throughout, Sweet Encounter was victim of a slow pace, struggling to make ground after jumping a touch sluggishly and settling behind midfield before finishing eighth.
“I think last time when he was a bit slow [away] and slow to get into stride, it just put him in a position where – in a race that didn’t shape for those horses in his position – he had to come out and make a long sustained run, which just didn’t suit,” Currie said of Sweet Encounter, who jumps from gate seven this weekend.
“I haven’t really dissected it yet, but I feel that if he jumps away clean, he can probably hold a position, as he’s done in a few of his previous starts over a shorter trip. If there’s a bit more pressure on, he can be just off them.
“I just hope he gets it right out of the barriers and then I can make a decision from there as to how the race pans out. The speed’s drawn inside him, and if they did happen to be going steady, he’s a strong type of horse and I don’t think he couldn’t handle going forward. We’ll have to see what John says, but I imagine he could be adaptable.”
While Currie is confident he has options with Sweet Encounter, Jamie Kah is unlikely to have to think too hard about where she positions Voyage Bubble as he bids to become the first galloper since Golden Sixty in 2020 to win the first two legs of the Classic Series.
“I think the 2,000m of the Derby is a much tougher task, but another 200m extra – if they let him to do his own thing [in front] – he’ll perform,” Yiu said.
Jockey Club fines Zac Purton HK$150,000 for criticism of new chief steward
“We’re really looking forward to seeing how he runs at 1,800m. It’s a little bit bigger task for him, but I think looking at him and considering his pedigree, I think 200m more shouldn’t be a problem because he’s a horse who keeps improving.”
Kah is one of three jockeys jetting in from Australia to ride in the Classic Cup, the others being James McDonald (Beautyverse) and Blake Shinn (Galaxy Witness).
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