The New Zealand bred galloper drew barrier 13 in the field of 14, with only Saintly's half brother Aucash faring worse on the outside of the field.

There was a much better draw for another Hayes trained runner at today's draw. Super Molly will jump from barrier two on the outside of Luckswell.

The in form galloper Golconda drew fairly in nine, while Jeune King Prawn, another Aussie bred, was rewarded with gate five.

A field of fourteen will clash in the HK$14 million Group One Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The complete draw is as follows:

01 AUCASH - 14
02 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - 4
03 DANAMITE - 13
04 DANEFACTOR - 6
05 DASHING WINNER - 8
06 DIAMOND MOON - 12
07 GOGGLES - 10
08 GOLCONDA - 9
09 JEUNE KING PRAWN - 5
10 LUCKSWELL - 1
11 MAGICAL WARRIOR - 7
12 OLYMPIC EXPRESS - 11
13 PRECISION - 3
14 SUPER MOLLY - 2

Thanks to the Hong Kong Jockey Club we provide a runner by runner profile on each of the runners.

Aucash (AUS) 4 b c
Danehill (USA) – All Grace (NZ) by Sir Tristram (IRE)
Trainer: Ivan Allan
Owner(s): Sandy Hioe Tsun-cheng, John So Li-chuan
HK rating: 114
HK record -16 starts: 7-2-0-7-0
HK wins: 1-ST 1000 G, 2-ST 1200 GF/GY, 1-ST 1400 G, 3-ST 1600 G/GF(2)

Powerfully built colt and very well bred – a Danehill half-brother to Saintly, the former Australian champion. Has been in good form this term winning three times - twice over a mile and once over 1200m - from seven starts. His best win arrived in the Po Yan Handicap (Premier-1200m) when, on a good to yielding track, he displayed a excellent turn of foot to defeat a first-rate bunch of sprinters fair and square. Held every chance in the Classic Mile (HKGr.1-1600m) before fading to finish 2¾ lengths fourth. Staying 2000m should not be a problem judged on a nose defeat by Cheers Hong Kong (subsequently a very good third in the Hong Kong Gold Cup (HKGr.1-2000m)) and his 1½ length fourth to Peak Power in the Pok Oi Cup (Premier -2000m).

Cape Of Good Hope (GB) 4 ch c
Inchinor - Cape Merino by Clantime
Trainer: David Oughton
Owner(s): Ronald Carstairs
HK rating: 91
HK record - 2 starts: 1-0-0-0-1
HK wins: 1-ST 1400 G

The winner of a 19-runner maiden over 1400m at Newmarket on only his second start in the UK, and his former trainer, David Elsworth, reckoned he would need at least a mile to show his best. Has raced twice over 1400m in Hong Kong: made an encouraging debut in the Chinese New Year Cup and won on his second start, staying on well from just off the pace to last home by a head from Romantic Symphony. Further improvement can be expected although he is untried beyond 1600m.

Danamite (NZ) 4 b g PP (B3)
Danasinga (AUS) - Imposing Choice by Imposing (AUS)
Trainer: David Hayes
Owner(s): Ivy Woo Wan-kam, Connie Wong Li Wan-fan, Peter So Hong-hing & Cheung Chi-kan
HK rating: 112
HK record - 2 starts: 0-0-1-0-1
HK wins: None

Was ranked amongst the best of his generation in New Zealand and Australia last season having run third in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (Gr.1-1600m), second in both the Canterbury (Gr.1-1900m) and Rosehill Guineas (Gr.1-2000m) and third in the AJC Derby (Gr.1-2400m). Gained two Pattern wins in New Zealand, however, with success in the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2-2000m) and the Wellington Stakes (Gr.3-1600m). The Hong Kong Derby has always been his principal aim and a good display on his Sha Tin debut in a domestic Group 1 over the minimum distance against the best sprinters in town was most encouraging. He followed this up with a solid effort in the ATV Cup (Premier -1600m) last weekend by running a very close third to Red Sun with Derby rival Goggles, to whom he was giving 5lbs, just a head in front of him in second place. Is proven to be equally effective between 2000m and 2400m.

Danefactor (AUS) 4 b g PPG (A6)
Danehill (USA) - Belle Chanson by Biscay
Trainer: Brian Kan Ping-chee
Owner(s): Adam Hassan
HK rating: 84
HK record - 24 starts: 4-2-5-4-9
HK wins: 2-ST 1600 GF/GY, 2-ST 1800 G/GF

Honest handicapper that takes his fair share of racing. Yet to win this season from 13 starts though went closest last weekend when half a length second to Mentor (rec.10lbs) in a handicap reserved for horses rated 84-60 over the Derby course and distance. Only previous run in Group company was in last year's Hong Kong Gold Cup when he finished 4¼ lengths behind Idol in eighth place. No problem with trip/ground but has plenty to find with some of the leading players off level weights.

Dashing Winner (NZ) 4 ch g
Deputy Governor (USA) - Double Liz (USA) by Nodouble (USA)
Trainer: Peter Ng Bik-kuen
Owner(s): Joseph Choi Yip-leung
HK rating: 97
HK record - 13 starts: 5-2-1-0-5
HK wins: 2-HV 1000 GY/S, 1-ST 1000 GF, 2-ST 1400 G/GF

Proving very tough and consistent between 1000m and 1400m, rising 34 points in the ratings on the back of three wins and three minor placings. Followed up a smart win over 1400m in December by claiming the notable scalp of Precision, a prominent Derby aspirant (was in receipt of 8lbs for a 1½ lengths beating, however). Has since won and run a close second over sprint distances. Can he stay 2000m? It's not out of the question as his sire has already spawned a HK Derby winner in Holy Grail (when the race was over 1800m in 1999) and his dam has produced four other winners that have all won between distances ranging from 1600m to 2400m. In any case, his recent form merits the supplementary entry.

Diamond Moon (IRE) 4 ch c PP (B19)
Brief Truce (USA) - Diamond Sun (GB) by Primo Dominie (GB)
Trainer: Francis Lui Kin-wai
Owner(s): Dorice Chan Ying-gi
HK rating: 92
HK record - 6 starts: 0-0-0-0-6
HK wins: None

Ex-German trained colt whose best piece of European form was a fast-finishing fourth-placed effort in the German 2,000 Guineas (Gr.2-1600m) last May. Has raced six times in Hong Kong between 1400m and 1800m and has been found with little chance of success a long way from the winning line on all bar one occasion. Finished over 12 lengths adrift in the Classic Mile (HKGr.1-1600m). Needs to improve considerably and is far from certain to get the trip either. Some of Brief Truce's progeny can stay 2000m, but the fact that this fellow hails from a middling sprinting dam-line does not fuel optimism that he can do the same.

Goggles (IRE) 4 b g
Eagle Eyed (USA) - Rock On by Ballad Rock
Trainer: John Moore
Owner(s): Matthew Wong Leung-pak
HK rating: 108
HK record - 3 starts: 0-2-0-0-1
HK wins: None

Attractive sort and a Listed Race winner last August on his last start in England where he was a game and reliable performer that was best over a mile on fast ground. Left a very good impression first up in Hong Kong, only going down by a head to My Honour, who received 4lbs. It didn’t help that he over-raced a bit early on in the Classic Mile (HKGr.1-1600m), and disappointed, finishing 8¼ lengths behind Olympic Express and company. But he was back to form last time out in the ATV Cup (Premier -1600m) when he came from 10 lengths last on the home turn to just miss out on victory by a short head. Another that has yet to be tested beyond 1600m, but could stay further judged on his style of racing.

Golconda (IRE) 4 b g
Ezzoud - Gerante (USA) by Private Account (USA)
Trainer: Ivan Allan
Owner(s): George Tso
HK rating: 81
HK record - 12 starts: 3-1-4-0-4
HK wins: 2-ST 1000GF/Y, 1-ST 1200 GF

Useful type that won two Griffin events last season over 1000m and 1200m although he finished well beaten in the Juvenile Sprint Trophy. Begun the campaign in good heart winning again down the 1000m chute on a yielding surface and since placed four times from six starts. Finished half a length third to fellow Derby contender Cape Of Good Hope over 1400 on his most recent outing when, despite racing a bit too freely through the early stages, he took up the running entering the straight and was only relegated to third place inside the final 100 metres or so. Untried beyond 1650 metres so far.

Jeune King Prawn (AUS) 4 b c
Danehill (USA) – Western Chorus (NZ) by Western Symphony (USA)
Trainer: Ricky Yiu Poon-fai
Owner(s): Mr & Mrs Lau Sak-hong
HK rating: 115
HK record - 9 starts: 6-0-2-0-1
HK wins: 1-ST 1000 GF, 1-ST 1200 GF, 3-ST 1400 G(2)/GF, 1-ST 1600 G

Strong, well-made colt, capped a fine season last June by wining the Sha Tin Futurity Trophy (HKGr.3-1600m). Only made his seasonal reappearance two months ago (won comfortably) but quickly followed it up with a creditable third in the Stewards Cup (HKGr.1-1600m) when he was beaten five lengths by Electronic Unicorn. In the Hong Kong Classic Mile (for which he started favourite), he hit the front with 200m to race before Olympic Express flew past him and Super Molly pipped him for second on the line. Is obviously very talented but is far from certain to see out the Derby distance.

Luckswell (NZ) 4 ch g
Senor Pete (USA) - Pink Melody (IRE) by Stop The Music
Trainer: Alex Wong Siu-tan
Owner(s): Wong Hon-yuan
HK rating: 85
HK record - 15 starts: 3-3-3-2-4
HK wins: 1-ST 1800 GY, 1-ST 2000 G, 1-ST 2200 GF

Decent staying type and has run nine times this season, winning twice. Didn't fare too badly on by far his stiffest assignment to date last time out when fourth (beaten 3½ lengths) by Rebel Leader. But, to put the size his Derby mission into perspective, Precision, runner-up on that occasion and a lively Derby candidate, finished 3 lengths ahead of Luckswell despite conceding 12lbs. Acts on any going and stays the Derby trip but still hard to envisage him figuring prominently.

Magical Warrior (NZ) 4 ch g
Grosvenor - Full Detail (AUS) by Jon George (GB)
Trainer: John Size
Owner(s): Chow Wai-kong, Chow Shiu-leung
HK rating: 82
HK record - 5 starts: 0-1-1-2-1
HK wins: None

Raced as Lord Romar in New Zealand where he has three wins from 1400m to 2000m to his credit, including the ARC Mercedes Derby Prelude. Has been performing consistently in his five HK starts to date, never finishing worse than fifth place, 2½ lengths off the winner between distances of 1400 to 2200m. Finished third, a short head behind Danefactor, one of his Derby rivals, last weekend but has never had to encounter anything like the opposition he will face on March 17. Has proven staying ability and loves fast going but, on ratings, he has a lot to find with the leading contenders.

Olympic Express (GB) 4 br g
Bishop Of Cashel – Rachael Tennessee (USA) by Matsadoon (USA)
Trainer: Ivan Allan
Owner(s): Larry C K Yung
HK rating: 120
HK record - 4 starts: 1-2-0-0-1
HK wins: 1-ST 1600 GF

Tall, athletic performer that ran second in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot last season when trained in Great Britain under the name of Ecclesiastical. Finished second twice (beaten 2½ lengths by Derby rival Precision on the latter occasion) from his first three starts locally. Despite racing wide and off the speed in the Classic Mile (HKGr.1-1600m), a race featuring several Derby candidates, his acceleration in the home straight was far too hot for his rivals to handle and he won going away by 2¼ lengths. The win - which should ensure that he goes to post as the Derby favourite - gained even more lustre as trainer Ivan Allan reckoned that he was only 90% ready. Acts best on a fast surface and is another that has yet to be tested beyond 1600m.

Precision (FR) 4 gr g
Anabaa (USA) - Stop Fiddling (IRE) by Welsh Term (IRE)
Trainer: David Oughton
Owner: Wu Sai-wing
HK rating: 101
HK record - 9 starts: 3-2-1-2-1
HK wins: 2-ST 1400 GF, 1-ST 1600 G

Attractive, progressive sort and a leading contender judged on three victories and three placed runs this term from seven starts. His most notable success came when showed great acceleration to account for principal Derby fancy Olympic Express (gave 13lbs) by an easy 2½ lengths having raced wide and from off the speed. Most recently, he lost nothing in defeat when failing by half a length to give 6lbs and a beating to his five-year-old rival, Rebel Leader and there should be further improvement to come on the big day against his peers. Has improved each time as he has stepped up from 1400m to 1800m and he should have no problem staying the Derby distance.

Super Molly (AUS) 4 b g
Snippets – Shingle Moss by Twig Moss (FR)
Trainer: David Hayes
Owner: Gaga Racing Syndicate
HK rating: 115
HK record - 14 starts: 7-1-1-1-4
HK wins: 1-HV 1200 GF, 2-ST 1200 G/GF, 3-ST 1400 GF, 1-ST 1600 GY

Very smart performer that has risen through the local ranks in no uncertain fashion. Was good enough to earn a place in the Hong Kong Mile in December but he was outclassed that day, finishing 7 lengths behind the winner, Eishin Preston. Back against his own age group in the Classic Mile, he ran on well from off the pace to chase home Olympic Express and defeat prominent Derby rivals Jeune King Prawn and Aucash. Although as yet untested beyond 1650m, he appeared full of running crossing the line in the Classic Mile and therefore the Derby distance may be within his compass.

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