Karis Teetan believes Furore “deserves a win” in Sunday’s Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) after consecutive placings behind Exultant at Group One level.
Last year’s Derby winner has failed to salute since securing Hong Kong’s most prestigious race but has been around the mark all season and seems to have found an extra yard since being switched from Frankie Lor Fu-chuen to Tony Cruz three starts ago.
“He’s run so many good races so he definitely deserves a win like this to finish off the season,” Teetan said. “I think he has his chance, he seems to be still going very well.”
Teetan has been in the saddle for Furore’s past two appearances and is confident the five-year-old will handle the step back to 1,800m from the 2,400m of the Group One Champions & Chater Cup.
“The 1,800m should be fine, he’s got natural speed and he can put himself wherever you want him,” the Mauritian said.
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Among Furore’s main dangers is the in-form Southern Legend, who took out the Group One Champions Mile in April before finishing second at Group Three level last month, also at a mile.
“Last time it looked like Southern Legend had enough in the tank to win but he suddenly came back again. It’s going to be tough to beat him, he’s a very good horse,” Teetan said of the Caspar Fownes-trained galloper, who won at 1,800m in November’s Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse.
Also in the race are More Than This and Savvy Nine, who finished third and fourth in this year’s Derby, respectively, as well as Harmony Victory, Preciousship, Dances With Dragon and Helene Leadingstar.
Teetan also climbs aboard an in-form galloper in the day’s other Group Three contest, with Perfect Match heading into the Premier Cup (1,400m) on the back of an impressive win earlier this month.
After a nine-week freshen up, the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained gelding returned to salute in Class Two lumping 130 pounds and the four-year-old will carry the minimum of 113 in Sunday’s five-horse race.
Perfect Match is rated 23 points below top weight Thanks Forever, but Teetan is hopeful his charge can take it up to the Group One performer.
“With no weight on his back and a small field he goes in with a nice chance,” Teetan said. “He’s taking on big horses but they will have to carry the weight.
“I sat on him [Thursday] morning and he’s in good shape, he felt great so I’m looking forward to riding him. His last win was very good and that little break has done him good.”
Also lining up are Fat Turtle, Northern Superstar and Jolly Banner, who won at Group Three level last season over 1,000m.
Teetan himself heads into the final Group meeting of the season in scintillating form after a four-timer last weekend and says he’s enjoyed the chance to catch his breath in the absence of the midweek meeting due to Royal Ascot.
“I’ve just been watching Ascot and it’s been good to freshen the mind up a little bit,” he said.