THE Ralph Beckett-trained Chemical Charge flies the flag for Europe in the HK$10 million Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (12 furlongs) at Sha Tin tomorrow.

Chemical Charge will be the first international runner to tackle Sha Tin’s second top-flight mile and a half feature of the season. The son of Sea The Stars outran his 87/1 starting price in finishing fourth in the Hong Kong Vase in December, almost three lengths behind Highland Reel.

The home team is headed by the Tony Cruz-trained Pakistan Star, a runaway winner of the Group 1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at his most recent outing, as well as his stablemates Gold Mount, second in the QEII, and former Irish-trained Exultant, a last-start victor of the Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap at the course and distance. The John Moore-trained Eagle Way completes the line-up.

The 2017/18 term has been a rollercoaster ride for Pakistan Star – barred from racing after stopping mid-race late last season, his season appeared in jeopardy when he pulled himself up in a barrier trial in October.

Trainer Tony Cruz expects a big run from all three of his runners. “All three of my horses have very strong chances, but to me, Exultant is the one,” Cruz said at Sha Tin on Friday. “He’s the one who has won big over 2400m, whereas Pakistan Star hasn’t been to the trip yet. I’m hoping I can finish 1-2-3, though.”

Speaking on Chemical Charge, trainer Ralph Beckett said: “We were pretty sure Sha Tin and the style of racing would suit him before he went in December and he ran very well. I am very happy with the horse and confident of a big show because the track and the way the races are run there clearly suit him. He is definitely better going right-handed on a flat track.”

The Champions & Chater Cup generally comes at the end of a long season for the local gallopers - a factor that has been given as an excuse for beaten favourites like Vengeance Of Rain, Viva Pataca, Designs On Rome and Werther - and Chemical Charge arrives with strong claims for the final Group 1 of the Hong Kong season.

“It is going to be a small field and whether or not that will suit us, time will tell, but it does mean we pick up a large cheque,” Beckett added.

Chemical Charge’s strong Hong Kong effort in December capped a 2017 season in which he scored three victories, including a first group win in the Group 3 September Stakes on the Kempton Polytrack.

He has raced only once in 2018, finishing ninth in Doha last start in the Emirs Trophy, a Qatari Group 1.

Qatar Racing’s retained rider Oisin Murphy will once again take the mount on the six-year-old. The son of Sea The Stars is one of four rides for Murphy on the Sha Tin card.

VERDICT

Pakistan Star has this race at his mercy. A tactical renewal could bring him undone, although he has been showing that he is more tractable now. To be fair, on his QEII Cup win, the only thing that can beat him is himself - if he stops mid-race, then he might be conquered. This race has a habit of bringing short-priced favourites down but most of them are at the end of their season, whereas Pakistan Star is only just reaching his peak now.

Chemical Charge might be the danger if the favourite has an off day. His run in the Hong Kong Vase was solid and he has the tactical versatility to race handy. Don’t discount him. Pakistan Star’s stablemates Exultant and Gold Mount are next best.