Past The Wire Search
February 19, 2021
Excellent Proposal’s rousing Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) victory set the benchmark for this year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and while the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) this Sunday (21 February) will paint a clearer picture for next month’s HK$24 million event, there is still sufficient time for a contender to emerge from the shadows with four weeks to go until the Four-Year-Old Classic Series’ third and final leg.
And, championship leading jockey Joao Moreira – who is without a ride confirmed for the Derby – isn’t going to be surprised if the Tony Millard-trained Panfield comes to the fore and stakes his claims for a Derby tilt in Sunday’s Class 2 Ambitious Dragon Handicap (2000m).
Argentine Group 1 Winner Mirinaque To Make First Start For Wesley Ward In Queens County Stakes Sponsored by:
Mirinaque works at Del Mar in August, 2020
Parque Patricios Racing Stables Mirinaque will attempt to parlay a strong runner-up effort against graded stakes company into his fourth start in North America in Saturday s $100,000 Queens County for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Argentinian-bred son of Hurricane Cat will make his first start for trainer Wesley Ward, who took over training duties from Maria Munoz.
Mirinaque arrives off a sharp second-place effort at 33-1 odds in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Marathon on Nov. 6 at Keeneland, where he secured a stalking position along the rail, made a four-wide move around the far turn and briefly took command just inside the eighth-pole.