From Racing Post Hk www.racing.scmp.comA rare full field for the Group Two Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial may be John Moore's ally as Viva Pataca chases his third successive victory in Sunday's feature event at Sha Tin. The 2009 renewal of the HK$3 million international lead-up will be the first full field in the short history of a race, which Moore said yesterday "will all come down to tactics and how the race is run".For the first time in Collection's local career, Darren Bea

From Racing Post Hk

www.racing.scmp.com

A rare full field for the Group Two Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial may be John Moore's ally as Viva Pataca chases his third successive victory in Sunday's feature event at Sha Tin.
The 2009 renewal of the HK$3 million international lead-up will be the first full field in the short history of a race, which Moore said yesterday "will all come down to tactics and how the race is run".

For the first time in Collection's local career, Darren Beadman will not be aboard, having switched to Horse Of the Year Viva Pataca after the pair worked on Tuesday.

"I don't think there's a lot between them, but Viva Pataca is the stable elect," Moore said yesterday. "Darren was very happy with his work this week, he did exactly what was wanted and is just about at his top - we've left just a little bit there for the internationals on December 13.

"On the other hand, Collection galloped quicker than I wanted on Tuesday and there was just a slight concern it might have taken the edge off him for Sunday. That's why we haven't worked him again since. He'll benefit from Sunday's run, but, having said that, I am sure he'll run well and I even thought my third runner, Eyshal, is a place chance. He's peaking now."

The Cup Trial has generally featured fields of seven or eight in recent years and a dawdling tempo as a result, which Viva Pataca was able to overcome in the past two seasons as an odds-on favourite, but the Cup Trial might see a more worthwhile tempo with a full field tomorrow.

"It will all come down to how the race is run and I would like to see a truly run contest - I wouldn't like to see Packing Winner amble in the lead as he did last time," Moore said. "Hopefully, with a horse like Iron Fist drawn wide, who does race forward, he will go and put some pressure on Packing Winner."