Last Saturday, we celebrated the finale of yet another extraordinary season of racing.
As I reflect back on the journey for not only the Club, but also the community we proudly serve, the challenges of the pandemic were on a scale we have never witnessed before. The successful outcome could only be achieved by a team effort where the entire racing community was forced to make sacrifices to navigate through different sets of scenarios where we needed to make constant adjustments. In the end, in combination with the additional simulcast races, racing turnover for the season up 3% to HK$140 billion – a new record for the Club.
All of these will not be possible without the support of all participants, including trainers, jockeys, owners, members, employees and customers – in allowing us to continue to showcase Hong Kong’s most popular sport to a global audience. We remained safe, steady and united throughout the challenging season and, for that, I would like to say thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Once again the Club was able to deliver an 88-meeting season, without a single race lost due to the pandemic. This included the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, where thanks to the successful implementation of “racing bubble” under the closed-looped mechanism, we welcomed top overseas horses and jockeys.
I would also like to congratulate our new champions Frankie Lor, Zac Purton and Tony Cruz Award winner Matthew Chadwick for their outstanding performance, as well as our champion horses, whose performances once again showcased Hong Kong’s world class racing.
True to the Cub’s purpose – the betterment of our society – we also maintained out strong support for the community. In particular we responded rapidly and in scale to the fifth wave of the pandemic. Since February 2020, our Charities Trust has approved HK$1.8 billion in pandemic-related donations, which have cumulatively benefited more than three million people. All this in addition to our regular donations, where our support remains steadfast.
Hong Kong’s can-do spirit is at the heart of all we do and while I am especially grateful to the significant sacrifices made by all involved to ensure racing continued throughout the season, I am certain that we all share great satisfaction in our contribution to the community in a time of need.
As we now take a break before welcoming another great season on 11 September, we can enjoy world-class racing through our summer simulcast offerings. Following last Sunday’s Singapore Derby Day, we are looking forward to Saturday’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day.
The Group 1 King George will be run as S1-4 at 10:35pm with a field of six runners facing the starter over 2392 metres. The field includes last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso, highly rated multiple Group 1 winner Mishriff and the fast-improving Irish Derby winner Westover.
The pace will be good to slow with last-start winner Broome going forward to make the running with Pyledriver and Westover tracking in close contention. Broome comes out of a key race having won the Group 2 Hardwicke over the course and distance in his last start. The Hardwicke has produced three winners of the King George since 2010 and five of the last 12 winners have won at the Royal meeting. He seems a bit vulnerable on the big stage but he will get every chance. I expect he will try to break the race open at some point and he is a place chance.
Mishriff has a new jockey in James Doyle and comes off a sharp effort in the Eclipse Stakes three weeks ago when a bit unlucky. He steps up in trip and was second in this race last year. I am not convinced that this is his best trip and I make him a place chance on class and consistency.
Three year olds once enjoyed great success in the King George, though this has not been in the case in modern times. Eight of the ten winners in the 1970s were three year olds and they enjoyed good success for the next two decades. Westover is a Frankel colt and he will get a dream run with Colin Keane from just behind the leader. He has shown steady improvement, including a good effort despite a troubled trip in the Derby, and was very impressive beating lesser opposition in the Irish Derby. I make him a win and place chance.
Emily Up John is a three-year-old filly and was narrowly beaten in the Epsom Oaks. Enable was the last three-year-old filly to win the King George, having done so in 2017 and she then returned to win it in 2019 and 2020. Frankie Dettori has the return engagement and she is in the King George after travel complications kept her out of the Irish Oaks. I make her a place chance.
Torquator Tasso would benefit from some give in the ground. This is where he is at his best as he tunes up for a defence of the Arc later this season. Pyledriver will be ridden by P J McDonald, who is filling in for the injured Martin Dwyer.
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