With current leader Chill Chibi watching on from his barn at Sha Tin after suffering lameness and five gallopers capable of catching him, the HK$1.5 million DBS x Manulife Million Challenge is set for a thrilling conclusion at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
With three wins and a third, Chill Chibi sits on 49 points heading into the final meeting of the competition, which sees points awarded to horses who finish in the first four in Class Three races or above at the Valley between September 13 and February 21.
Fifteen points are awarded for a win, six for second, four for third and three for fourth, with the winning connections walking away with a HK$1 million bonus.
If Chill Chibi is to be usurped, the Class One Singapore Pools Handicap (1,200m) could prove key with Tomodachi Kokoroe, Majestic Knight and Son Pak Fu all within striking distance of the competition leader.
Nothing but a win will do for Son Pak Fu, who sits on 39 points, but he appears to be the class act competing on the final day of the contest after finishing a good fourth in the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) at Sha Tin last month.
With two wins, a second and a fourth from his four Happy Valley starts this season, including a length-and-a-quarter success over Majestic Knight in November, Son Pak Fu should prove tough to beat and trainer Benno Yung Tin-pang is hoping to scoop the valuable first prize.
“Hopefully he can win it. Both the owner and I want to win the Challenge,” Yung said.
Son Pak Fu is likely to be flying down the outside of the field late given his customary style of racing and should be taking aim at Majestic Knight, who always races on the pace.
Douglas Whyte’s runner (42 points) is another who can only win the Million Challenge with a victory but he does have a win over Son Pak Fu to his credit this season.
Tomodachi Kokoroe (36 points) is the third runner in the race mathematically in with a chance but not only will David Hayes’ improver need to win on Wednesday night, he will need Copartner Ambition (45 points) to finish out of the first two in the Class Three Sing Woo Handicap (1,200m).
Trained by Chill Chibi’s handler Danny Shum Chap-shing, who could lock up the first two spots if his six-year-old delivers, Copartner Ambition has actually won four races at the Valley this season but the first success came at Class Four level, which does not count for the purposes of the competition.
Now up to a career-high mark of 82, Copartner Ambition is the in-form runner and looks to have a good chance of at least making the frame.
Aside from Son Pak Fu, Yung has a second chance of pocketing the top prize as Tourbillon Prince (37 points) takes in the Class Three Village Handicap (1,650m), with the five-year-old racking up his points mostly with placed efforts this season.
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