from RACING POST HKThe 1010 Million Challenge will wrap up with a minimum of fanfare at Happy Valley tonight since Cape Canaveral has it well put away and won't even be present, but Imperial Rome has claims on being runner-up if he can win the Briar Handicap (1,200m).The Jockey Club programmed two Class Ones in case of a big finish to the annual Happy Valley competition, but they'll have to stand on their own merits with Cape Canaveral's 63 points not just a winning score to take the HK$650,000

from RACING POST HK

The 1010 Million Challenge will wrap up with a minimum of fanfare at Happy Valley tonight since Cape Canaveral has it well put away and won't even be present, but Imperial Rome has claims on being runner-up if he can win the Briar Handicap (1,200m).

The Jockey Club programmed two Class Ones in case of a big finish to the annual Happy Valley competition, but they'll have to stand on their own merits with Cape Canaveral's 63 points not just a winning score to take the HK$650,000 prize but a record and the Challenge has been over for weeks.

Still, there remains some intrigue in the HK$250,000 second-place bonus, with Gold Racer having one hoof on it at the moment and it will be all his if he runs first or second in race four.

But if he misses the quinella, it opens the way for Imperial Rome or Romantic City in race five and Noble Deluxe in the seventh, but they all need to win.

Best placed looks to be the David Ferraris-trained Imperial Rome (Weichong Marwing) in what is almost a head-to-head match-up with in-form Caspar Fownes-trained sprinter Windicator Star (Zac Purton).

Neither is particularly reliable at the start but both will appreciate what looks a guaranteed strong tempo with Romantic City and Good Boy Boy engaged.

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