World-class competition has long been a trademark of Hong Kong racing and, as we approach the fourth quarter of another remarkable season, a cursory glance at the trainers’ and jockeys’ championships provides a reminder of what it takes to succeed in this extraordinary city.
After 556 races across 59 of 88 scheduled meetings, the trainers’ and jockeys’ titles remain delicately poised with Frankie Lor and John Size level on wins accrued, while only one victory separates Zac Purton and Joao Moreira.
Frankie, who briefly trailed John by eight wins, has drawn level with 61 wins but leads overall with an edge in minor placings – 92-75 – while Tony Cruz (43), Francis Lui (43) and Danny Shum (34) are all having excellent seasons.
In terms of an intensifying battle between John, the 11-time champion, and his protégé Frankie, it can hardly have been any tighter over the past 10 meetings. Since the start of March, John has had 74 starters for 12 wins and 12 minor placings, while Frankie has had 65 starters for 13 wins and 17 minor placings in the same period.
It is similar story with Zac and Joao. Zac leads 97-96 after Joao took March honours with 20 wins and 22 placings from 81 rides and then posted a double and four placings from 10 rides last Sunday. Zac posted 19 wins and 17 placings from 75 rides in March and added a single win and a placing at the weekend.
With so much on the line as John chases a record 12th championship, Frankie a first title and four-time champions Zac and Joao jostling for fifth crown, the stage is set for exciting finales on both fronts.
Last Sunday’s G2 double-header left us with much to savour ahead of FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on 24 April.
The stunning wins of Golden Sixty in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) and Wellington in the G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) have set the scene perfectly for FWD Champions Day.
Vincent Ho’s ride on Golden Sixty enabled Francis Lui’s champion to show his true qualities, cruising to victory by two lengths, clocking 22.87s over the final 400m, to equal the biggest winning margin of his career while posting a Hong Kong record 20th victory.
Golden Sixty took his earnings to HK$102,000,600 and, based on his latest performance when not fully fit, he is poised to overtake Beauty Generation’s all-time Hong Kong prize money record of HK$106,233,750 when he contests the G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) on 24 April.
Wellington paraded his versatility and superiority for Richard Gibson and Alexis Badel with a searing 21.68s final sectional to beat many of the horses he will next face in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin in just over two weeks’ time.
Our focus returns to Happy Valley on Wednesday when the fourth race of the evening is a Class 2 handicap over 1800 metres with a field of only seven runners due to the temporary suspension of cross-border horse movement. The pace of the race will be good to slow with Telecom Fighters, Enjoying and Money Catcher all taking up forward positions.
Money Catcher is the most interesting runner of the night as he takes on older horses after a pair of solid runs in the Four-Year-Old Classic series, including a good third in the BMW Hong Kong Derby. Money Catcher was second in two Group 2s over 1600m and 2100m in New Zealand and was allocated an initial Hong Kong rating of 78. He showed improvement in his second start over 1800m in a Class 2 at Sha Tin when finishing fifth, beaten two lengths, to Charity Go and then showed further improvement when third to California Spangle, beaten by two lengths in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), and received a rating increase of 10 pounds to a rating of 88 for this performance. His third in the BMW Derby after a good trip when staying on in 23.93s got him a rating increase of another six pounds to a rating of 94.
Money Catcher is working very well, but has to overcome his significant rating increase as well as having his first start in Happy Valley. His first Hong Kong trial was in November at Happy Valley but this is inconclusive because he has improved significantly since.
He is the horse with the most potential and is a win and place chance in a small field but is vulnerable. He will cross over from his outside draw and jockey Derek Leung will have him in a contending position from the outset.
Enjoying is in excellent form and is a last start winner at Sha Tin in this class and distance. He has yet to make a mark at Happy Valley from limited opportunities but was not on his game at that time. He will set the tempo with Matthew Chadwick and will be in the fight to the end as a place chance.
Savaquin will have every chance in the small field and will make his run from the back under Joao Moreira and, along with Sunny Star, is the only horse in the field who has been placed over 1800m at Happy Valley which makes him a place chance.
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