Sky Field (Deep Field) will be given the opportunity to build both experience and profile when contesting the Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on Monday.
Trainer Caspar Fownes firmly believes the sparingly-raced son of Deep Field has the capacity to ascend to Group One company by the end of 2021, but realises the gelding needs more experience.
“He’s going good, I’m confident he’s going to make it into a top horse at the right time, at this stage with another six months under his belt, we’ll probably see the best of him,” Fownes said.
“He’s getting there – he ran well the other day (when third behind Wellington at Sha Tin in mid-March), I feel the rating of the race on Monday is against him this time but he’s slowly creeping into that area where he’s starting to make his presence felt in bigger races.
“I think he needs a bit more experience at the top end, but he can certainly reel off a very, very quick last quarter which makes him a chance to win a big race in Hong Kong.”
Fownes will experiment with a gear change he hopes will ultimately prove crucial.
“He’s had quite a few runs but in saying that I’m trying a Norton bit on him in a trackwork gallop and if that works, he’ll take that to the races and that might just be the making of him,” he said.
“If he respects the bit, that could be the making of the horse.”
Sky Field was purchased out of Trelawney Stud’s 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft for $175,000.
