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| Staff Writer |
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Starlust, the Del Mar Breeders' Cup hero, is maintaining his enthusiasm ahead of Sunday's Longines Hong Kong Sprint bid at Sha Tin, where he will face local sensation Ka Ying Rising.
The globe-trotting 3YO, trained by Ralph Beckett, produced a stunning last-to-first victory in the Gr.1 Turf Sprint at Del Mar, adding to his impressive 2023 campaign that began at Meydan.
Having already competed across Dubai, France, England and America, the Jim and Fitri Hay-owned speedster showed no signs of fatigue during his Wednesday morning canter on the Sha Tin all-weather surface.
Previous winners of this prestigious sprint include the legendary Lord Kanaloa, who claimed back-to-back victories in 2012 and 2013, before going on to sire multiple Group One winners including Almond Eye.
Racing manager Alex Cole expressed confidence in Starlust's ability to handle the Sha Tin layout: "A Breeders' Cup winner running anywhere is very exciting. He's a horse that is three years old, he's run in Dubai, France, England, America and this will be his 11th run this year. He shouldn't be enjoying it as much as he is, but he does, he loves it."
Cole added: "He enjoys his job and while he enjoys his job, we're going to enjoy it with him. We've had to supplement him, if you finish top three you're over the moon but he's a Breeders' Cup winner over five furlongs, round a bend."
Meanwhile, the Longines Hong Kong Cup suffered a setback with Massive Sovereign withdrawing due to a hind leg injury. The 4YO, previously known as Broadhurst when with Aidan O'Brien, had won at Dundalk and Leopardstown before his sale last year, and subsequently claimed the Hong Kong Derby in 2024.