COAL Front stands at Red River Farms for $2,000. That was the line that stood out on the Blood-Horse report of the latest Kentucky Derby trial, the Grade 2 $1.25 million Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn last Saturday.

You’ll not get a decent NH horse bred for that here. But Coal Front’s son Coal Battle is now a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby, sitting on top of the points list with 70 ahead of the top juvenile Citizen Bull.

Say what you like about US racing, but it regularly throws up a “feel-good” story of small-time connections.

Coal Battle went through the sales ring in Texas in August 2023 for the sum of $70,000 and is trained by Lonnie Briley, a 72-year-old Louisiana-based trainer who has his first horse on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

With Coal Battle breaking from the rail in the field of 13, jockey Juan Vargas kept his mount several lengths off the pace as the Bob Baffert-trained Madaket Road sped away on the leading group of four with the field well strung out.

Making his ground before the bend, he had only Madaket Road to catch, and Vargas got his mount to take command entering the stretch.

Madaket Road battled well but Coal Battle, also carrying 5lb more than his rival, was always holding him and hit the wire by a length and a quarter. Sandman did close well to take third.

It was also a race that will please Bob Baffert as Madaket Road did not seem to be his leading Derby contender and he ran a great race here, never giving up after making most of the running.

“(Vargas) had him in the perfect position. We figured the speed would’ve went, but we didn’t want to be too far back. He moved him at the right time. He ran big. ... What can I say? I couldn’t ask for more,” Briley was quoted afterwards.

Coal Battle’s career earnings are now $1,188,875 for owner Robbie Norman.

Although his spot in the Kentucky Derby field is secured, he may still run in the $1.5 million Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 29th.

In the fillies’ trial, the Malibu Moon filly Quietside recorded her first graded stakes victory when she took the Grade 3 $500,000 Honeybee Stakes on the card at Oaklawn, beating Five G and even-money favourite Muhimma, and earning 50 points on the road to the Kentucky Oaks.

The John Ortiz-trained fillly had been placed in her last four consecutive stakes races, including a third-place in the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland, behind the champion two-year-old filly Immersive.

Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (Group 1)

Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (Group 1)

KA Ying Rising continued his reign as Hong Kong’s sprint king with a superb victory in the HK$13 million Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup for David Hayes and Karis Teetan at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The world’s joint highest-rated sprinter landed his third Group 1 as settling outside the leader and last year’s winner California Spangle, Ka Ying Rising cruised to the lead entering the straight before rallying late over the seven furlongs to hold the charge of John Size-trained quartet Helios Express, Howdeepisyourlove, Beauty Eternal.

Ka Ying Rising notched his 11th win from 13 starts to secure the second leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series and he will attempt to clinch a HK$5 million bonus with success in the HK$22 million Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on April 27th.

Hayes was quoted afterwards: “It was an enjoyable last 100m but a frightening 200m. (Karis) said when he put him under pressure, he responded and he felt he didn’t have to give him much more. He’s a very special horse. There should be a lot more to come.

“I have always said he’s a miler but he’s just such a good sprinter, I’m a bit loath to change.

Substituting for injured Zac Purton, Teetan said: “It’s unbelievable how this opportunity came up to be sitting on one of the world’s best horses. I think I was just the pilot on him today.”

“I wanted him to use the early speed that he has but sort of dropped my hands and he just came back to me pretty easily and he was waiting for me to press the button and, when I did, he produced really well.

In the other Group 1, Voyage Bubble showed class to overcome several obstacles to win a dramatic HK$13 million Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup.

James McDonald arrived at Sha Tin from Riyadh, where he partnered Romantic Warrior into second place in the Saudi Cup.

McDonald hit trouble near the 800m mark when Voyage Bubble clipped heels resulting in the pair being shuffled to second last in the 10-horse field.

McDonald had to regroup before sending Voyage Bubble through a gap at the 300m and the Deep Field gelding powered clear away from Ensued to win by almost four lengths.

“I’m lucky to have him as a partner because he got me out of a sticky situation. It was very muddling and he overcame many obstacles throughout that race to come away for a great victory.”

Voyage Bubble also aims for a HK$10 million bonus for winning all three legs of the Triple Crown Series with the Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup on May 25th.