And so, capping what has been a momentous week in Hong Kong racing, the stage is set for FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Even in the absence of international rivals, the presence of Hong Kong’s elite horses – led by Golden Sixty, Waikuku, Russian Emperor, Wellington and Sky Field – coupled with emerging stars such as Romantic Warrior and California Spangle, leaves us with much to anticipate across a trio of G1 features collectively offering HK$65 million.
We are delighted to have secured permission from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to welcome back owners to the track for the first time on Sunday for FWD Champions Day since worsening COVID conditions compelled us to operate in closed-door mode from 12 January.
Owners are vital to the health and prosperity of Hong Kong racing and its standing as a world racing leader and the Club was delighted this week to unveil a host of significant prize money and bonus enhancements for next season.
The prize money pool will grow to HK$1.62 billion in 2022/23 following a record annual increase of 11.5 percent to HK$167.2 million overall, while there are also enhanced bonuses and a focus on improving the pool of staying horses and high-rated horses in Hong Kong.
The initial response to the prize money and incentive announcement – both locally and abroad – has been extremely heartening and I believe these investments are a vote of confidence in the future of Hong Kong racing.
I look forward to welcoming owners back to the track at Sha Tin tomorrow when The Chairman’s Sprint Prize is the first of the three Group 1 races on FWD Champions Day and is carded as the sixth race over 1200 metres. This is a very competitive race and has major implications in deciding this season’s Champion Sprinter.
Luke Ferraris will call on the speed of Kurpany to serve up a good tempo with Sight Success in close contention with new jockey Zac Purton. Master Eight will push forward with Karis Teetan, along with Computer Patch and Matthew Chadwick from the inside draw.
Sight Success has quietly developed into a top-level sprinter and comes off a big effort in the Group 2 Sprint Cup when getting five pounds from Wellington. This is a more difficult assignment at equal weights but he is in top form, is well drawn and will get every opportunity as a place chance.
Wellington will go back from his wide draw and jockey Alexis Badel will guide him to the outside to set up his closing kick. He came home with a final 800 metres in 43.68s when winning the Sprint Cup three weeks ago, including a final section in 21.68s. I make Wellington a win and place chance.
Sky Field has been freshened up and pointed to this race. He won the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint in December and has been working well since finishing fourth over good to yielding ground in the 1400 metre Queen’s Silver Jubilee two months ago. He will make his run under Blake Shinn in very close proximity to Wellington and will be a major player. He is a place chance, along with Super Wealthy with Luke Currie riding.
Golden Sixty will be very hard to beat in the FWD Champions Mile. He was sensational winning the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy in his last start and will get a similar run here from just behind the speed. Currently ranked fourth on the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, he has won nine of 10 over the course and distance and is a strong win and place chance to win a sixth Group 1 race under regular rider Vincent Ho.
California Spangle accepts a much tougher test here taking on more experienced opposition after acquitting himself admirably in the three legs of the Four-Year-Old Series. It is very difficult for horses who have already peaked in the BMW Hong Kong Derby to then try to peak again at G1 level, especially taking on older horses and a champion such as Golden Sixty. California Spangle will make the running with Zac Purton and has proven to be a tough horse to go past in the business end of his races. Healthy Happy will apply pace pressure to California Spangle, which will result in a good pace.
California Spangle drops back to his best distance of a mile after a tough fight in the BMW Hong Kong Derby over 2000m. In my view, he will become one of our best horses but he faces one of the best milers in the world in Golden Sixty, which will be difficult, and is a place chance.
It is worth noting that he has never finished worse than second from his nine career starts. He will need to run a career best to give Golden Sixty a fight at equal weights but he does appear to have consistency and some class in his arsenal.
Mighty Giant has not been at his best jumping from the barrier and will need to begin on terms to have any chance. He has been working well at Conghua and I make him a place chance under Derek Leung along with More Than This with Karis Teetan.
In the FWD QEII Cup, a rain-affected track would bolster the chance of Russian Emperor, a proven performer over 2000 metres. He is the likely favourite with or without rain but his win in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup in February showed his fondness for some cut in the ground.
The pace will be good to slow with Reliable Team to go forward from his inside draw with Derek Leung along with Ka Ying Star from a wide draw with Luke Ferraris. These two will make the running. Jockey Vincent Ho may call on Zebrowski to try and cross from the outside draw to get a prominent position after being ridden forward in his most recent trial at Conghua.
BMW Hong Kong Derby winner and Hong Kong International Sale graduate Romantic Warrior will get a soft run behind the leaders but, like California Spangle in the mile, he is rising to G1 company after peaking in the Four-Year-Old Series. Jockey Karis Teetan will hold him up for as long as possible and I expect he will be right in the frame when the field enters the straight. While I believe he is a very good horse, he has had a tough campaign and some tough races and stepping up against Russian Emperor, who is in the form of his life, will be a major challenge. I make Romantic Warrior a place chance.
Russian Emperor will not be too far back in the run and jockey Blake Shinn may elect to track Romantic Warrior. He had some lameness issues after running second to Golden Sixty over a mile three weeks ago but trainer Douglas Whyte reports his top horse ready for his best. I make him a win and place chance.
Columbus County returns from a freshening in Conghua and will be making ground late with Joao Moreira as a place chance along with Savvy Nine with Matthew Chadwick.
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