FOUR Irish-bred horses have made the cut for the Hong Kong Derby on Sunday week, March 18th.

They are Exultant (formerly Irishcorrespondent), Rivet, Doctor Geoff and Patriot Hero. On ratings all four will struggle to match the Australian-bred Nothingilikemore and the South African-bred Singapore Sling.

When trained by Michael Halford, Exultant was third behind Churchill in the Irish 2000 Guineas. After placing fifth at Royal Ascot, the son of Teofilo was gelded and bought privately to join Hong Kong trainer Tony Cruz. The horse won a handicap at Sha Tin in December and finished second to Singapore Sling in the HK Classic Cup last month.

Rivet was trained by William Haggas to win the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy as a two-year-old but he failed to win in his four starts for the trainer last season and was sold to the Far East. He has yet to win in Hong Kong and was withdrawn at the start last Saturday after giving trouble entering the stalls.

Ger Lyons trained Doctor Geoff to win a two-year-old maiden at Naas and the Tetrarch Stakes at the same track last May. That turned out to be his final European start and he has race four times with credit in Hong Kong without winning.

Patriot Hero was foaled in Ireland but this son of British sire Pivotal was actually bred by Italian connections and raced in Italy before being sold.

Irish racefans will also be familiar with Lockheed, who was trained by William Haggas to finish a distant third to Churchill in the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes in 2016. The son of Exceed And Excel ran second in the German 2000 Guineas last year prior to being exported.

The Hong Kong Derby dates back to 1873 and is the race that every Hong Kong horseman dreams of winning. The 10-furlong contest is the third and final leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

Nothingilikemore was an impressive winner of the Hong Kong Classic Mile, only to be superseded by Singapore Sling in last month’s Hong Kong Classic Cup. Those results set up the prospect of an intriguing decider in the Derby.

Trainer John Size not only handles Nothingilikemore, a winner of six from eight career starts, but also dark horse Ping Hai Star, who has won his last three starts, all at seven furlongs, in good style.

Singapore Sling was a high-class Group 2 winner in South Africa prior to making his mark in Hong Kong. His trainer Tony Millard won the Derby with the exceptional Ambitious Dragon (2011) and Keen Winner (2000).

Last Saturday at Sha Tin, the John Moore-trained Ruthven stamped his Derby claims with a tough win in the Class 2 handicap over nine furlongs. Last year’s Queensland Derby winner is by Domesday.

“He did what we hoped today – we hoped to get a bit more fitness out of him, more mileage into his legs and I’m pleased, even though he only just won,” Moore said. “The further he goes, the better, so he will appreciate the 10 furlongs of the Derby and he’s another good chance for us.”

Size also trains the improving Ping Hai Star who, as a son of Group 1 Australian Derby winner Nom Du Jeu, has a fighting chance of staying the Derby trip despite his unproven stamina.

Top jockey Joao Moreira was on board both the Size-trained winners last Saturday and ended the session with four winners. Moreira leads the table with 79 winners, 10 clear of Zac Purton.