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Sacred Kingdom confirmed for sprint showdown

4th Sep 2009

Racenet - Brad Waters - Friday, 4 September 2009

The world’s two best sprinters are set to clash after trainer Ricky Yiu confirmed Hong Kong star Sacred Kingdom would head to Japan to tackle next month’s Group I Sprinters Stakes.

Waiting for Sacred Kingdom will be the newly-crowned Australian Horse Of The Year Scenic Blast who is currently rounding out his preparation for the event in England.

At stake for Scenic Blast is a US$1 million bonus for winning three Global Sprint Challenge races in three different countries after the gelding won the Lightning Stakes in Melbourne and the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The pair did not clash in the UK after Sacred Kingdom missed the King’s Stand Stakes in favour of the Golden Jubilee Stakes, finishing fifth Art Connoisseur.

"I thought there were a few factors against him at Ascot in the race,” Yiu told the South China Morning Post.

“The style of the track didn't really suit him and the ground was a little on the soft side. And Brett was forced to hit the front too early because he didn't want to get pocketed.

"All the leading runners got very tired and the winner came from right out the back and I don't think that was a real indication of the horse."

Yiu said there were no suitable races for Sacred Kingdom in Japan, meaning the Australian-bred galloper will run in the Sprinter’s Stakes first-up.

"Unfortunately there is no suitable race here to prepare him for Japan,” Yiu said. “So we have to go there first-up. But he'll have a strong barrier trial before he goes and I'm confident he'll be ready.”