Latest News

By Ray Hickson

It would be fair to say that Desi Emperor has fooled trainer Tommy Wong a couple of times in his career to date.

Initially thought of as a sprinter, who attracted Hong Kong interest after a slick trial win prior to his debut, he didn’t win a race until he reached 1500m and his next three wins were at a mile.

But things have changed and after successive wins at 1100m the six-year-old eyes a hat-trick in the Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1000m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

“In his first trial he showed a lot of speed and I had owners from Hong Kong who wanted to buy him, at that time we thought he was a sprinter,’’ Wong said.

“In his second prep, I don’t know why, he wanted to go a bit further. Up to 1500m and 1600m but he doesn’t have that stamina any more.”

Desi Emperor, $23 with TAB on Tuesday, was Wong’s first city winner in some 18 years when he scored an all the way win on a heavy track at Canterbury six weeks ago.

Desi Emperor wins at Canterbury on July 9

He's now won just shy of $200,000 which is not bad for a horse that cost $3000 online back in 2021.

The Hawkesbury trainer, who has around a dozen in work, said the turnaround in the gelding’s form this time around is a combination of switching him back to sprinting and being clear of feet issues that plagued him late last year.

“He had some foot abscess bothering him last prep but this time he’s good,’’ he said.

“It was one after another, starting with the left then the right. We’ve used a tongue tie instead of the cross over nose band and that’s helped him.”

Keagan Latham continues his association with Desi Emperor at Warwick Farm and he’ll jump from the outside barrier over the short course.

Wong said while he hasn’t raced since July 9 the horse has trained on well and if he handles the expected testing conditions he sees no reason why he won’t be competitive again.

“He’s drawn 11 out of 11 which is a minus but it is only one turn,’’ he said.

“He’s eating well, doing everything right, so I think he can continue.

“Hopefully he’s not my best horse because I have some nice two-year-olds coming up.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting