Alexis Badel hopes Chiu Chow Spirit has what it takes to join the illustrious roll of honour of five-year-olds to have conquered Sunday’s Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin. The past five horses to win this weekend’s feature at the age of five all went on to become Group One winners, and while Badel isn’t setting his sights quite that high for Chiu Chow Spirit, the Frenchman believes the gelding is yet to find his ceiling. “He put in a great effort on the first day, he won the Class Two brilliantly so I’m hoping he can carry on,” Badel said.
“The horse is improving and he has got quality, so I think he deserved [that win].” Golden Sixty (2020), Beauty Generation (2017), Contentment (2015), Gold-Fun (2014) and Ambitious Dragon (2011) collected the Celebration Cup en route to top-level wins later in their careers. The Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained galloper will attempt to notch a breakthrough win in Group company at the first time of asking after taking out the Class Two Tai Mo Shan Handicap (1,400m) in striking fashion on the opening day of the season.
Chiu Chow Spirit returns in great order with back-to-back Class 2 wins at Sha Tin! @AlexisBadel is on the board for the 2024/25 season...
#SeasonOpener | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/rRM8fK79A0 Settled in midfield in the eight-runner contest, Chiu Chow Spirit made smooth headway 300m from home and kept on well to win by a cosy length and a quarter.
He was handed a seven-point rise for that victory and wi.