Sky Darci Doubles Down in Lion Rock

Hong Kong Derby (2000m) hero Sky Darci picked up where he left off at Sha Tin on Sunday when winning the Gr3 Lion Rock Trophy (1600m). Ten weeks following his Derby triumph, Sky Darci recorded a short-head victory. "On paper it looked a nice comeback race for him, 115 (pounds) on his back and a nice soft draw (barrier three)," trainer Caspar Fownes said. "He landed in the spot we thought he would be, just relaxed and came out and you can see what he's got… At the end of the day, we're very happy to bring him back from the Derby. There's always pressure on you to get these horses to come back and perform. Sky Darci's latest triumph leaves Fownes with a host of long-range options beyond a possible start in the Gr-3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) – including a potential tilt at the Gr1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in December. Despite winning the Derby, Fownes isn't convinced he's a natural stayer, saying, "He's a sprinter-miler in my mind and he's showing us that, so we'll just try to pick the best possible options and avoid the champions." Sky Darci was purchased out of Highden Park's 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $160,000.

Sky Darci's trainer Caspar Fownes (pic: hkjc.com)