Encountered Poised for Man’s HKIR Call Up

Trainer Manfred Man will consider adding Encountered to his LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) arsenal after the under-rated stayer triumphed in Sha Tin’s HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) on Sunday. The son of Coolmore Stud stallion Churchill added a seventh success from 19 starts in Hong Kong when winning by over a length despite conceding 6kg to place-getters Champion Dragon (Starspangledbanner) and La City Blanche (Cityscape). According to racingnews.hkjc.com, if Encountered is to go down the HKIR path, Man isn’t committing to any particular springboard yet. “I will look at the programme first, I don’t know yet,” Man said in response to whether either the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) or the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin November were viable options. “I think he could handle 2000 metres – the horse makes me feel excited. He’s an easy horse to train. I think he will still improve.” It was Leung’s fourth win from six starts on Encountered who was coming off a last start second to world class California Spangle (Starspangledbanner) in the Gr2 Sha Tin Trophy over a mile.

Encountered ran home in 23.04 for the last 200m (pic: hkjc.com)