With only a week to go until the start of the 2022/23 Hong Kong racing season, it is timely to reflect on the success of the Club’s simulcasting of international World Pool meetings over the past two months.
One inescapable conclusion during my trip to Europe for the 200th anniversary of German racing with the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin Day and also G1 Prix Jacques le Marois Day at Deauville is that quality is an indisputable driver of success.
It was a privilege to witness the cavalcade of equine and human stars combining to snare prestigious races – including Baaeed and Jim Crowley in the G1 Juddmonte International at York, Rebel’s Romance and James Doyle at Berlin and Frankie Dettori and Inspiral at Deauville – during the summer break.
The positive publicity generated from elite racing underscores the value of international competition and Grosser Preis von Berlin Day was the first time the Hong Kong Jockey Club had broadcast races from Germany – an apt way to help celebrate the 200th birthday of German Racing, which started at Doberan with the first race on 10 August, 1820.
I was delighted to join the anniversary dinner in Berlin as Chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities and also to present the Preis des Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy to winning connections.
Deauville was another high point with Frankie’s victory on Inspiral for John & Thady Gosden, who celebrated their third successive Prix Jacques le Marois (1600m) over the straight course after previous wins by Palace Pier.
The increasing allure of international racing is reflected in growth of World Pool total turnover on 2021 of 26.3 percent – up HK$831.6 million to HK $3990.5 million – across the 12 simulcast summer meetings in 2022.
World Pool provides greater liquidity and more certainty around returns for our customers because of the deeper pools and, as the World Pool brand continues to shine as both a wagering innovation and funding mechanism for international racing stakeholders globally, I am excited by its future especially our plans to have more combined race cards from different countries to show the best races in the world to our customers.
Another positive aspect to our simulcast offerings is that it allows our customers to become more familiar with some of the best horses in the world – some of whom have already competed in Hong Kong and will hopefully return to do so again.
We have a combined card on Sunday (4 September) featuring Group racing from South Korea and Germany, starting in Seoul with the G3 Korea Sprint as the second of five races and to be run at 2:35 pm Hong Kong time. All races from Korea are run on a sand track with the Sprint run over 1200 metres and the G3 Korea Cup, carded as the third race, run over 1800 metres.
Computer Patch, who has an international rating of 112, will represent Hong Kong in the Sprint and will be one of several horses that will push forward to secure an early position. He is the highest rated and most accomplished runner in the field but this marks his first ever race on sand. He has trialled well at Sha Tin on our dirt track but the Seoul track is river sand, which is known for a lot of kick back. I make him a place chance with Matthew Chadwick.
The pace will be good and Raptus (109) from Japan is capable of joining the early mix with Computer Patch. Raptus has won nine of 18 races on dirt and all of his wins have come over 1400 metres. He will try to follow the pattern of Moanin, who came in from Japan to win this race while turning back in trip. Raptus has been freshened for this and this worked for him last September when he won a Listed race in Japan off a similar four-month break. He also performs well on a rain-affected track. Hideaki Mkyuki has made the trip to Seoul for the return engagement.
Raon First (98) reared at the start in his most recent race when heavily backed and now turns back in trip with jockey Park Tae Jong. He has drawn a good gate and had tactical speed to be prominent. I make her a place chance along with Morfhis (102) with jockey Johan Victoire. Both horses have good recent form at Seoul, with Morfhis being more of a value play coming from midfield.
In the Korea Cup, Kings Shield (99) must lead from his inside draw under Matthew Chadwick to have his best chance. This is his running style. He will face pace pressure from Raon The Fighter (109), a winner in 11 of 13 races in Korea, and a horse that has the same profile as Kings Shield. Winner’s Man (107) will also be forwardly placed and is another Korean runner in top form. The pace will be good to fast and this will make it very tough for Kings Shield.
Japan has had a stranglehold on this race and is represented by Sekifu (110), a three-year-old taking on older rivals for the first time in his career. His form is inconsistent and his pedigree is a bit of a question over this trip. He does his running from the back and will be advantaged by the fast pace. Japanese runners have an excellent record in Korea but I make him only a place chance on the strength of his good effort in a G3 in Tokyo three months ago. Kota Fujioka has the ride.
Winner’s Man is my win and place chance. He is perfect this season in four starts and should get an ideal trip with regular rider Seo Seung Un behind the leaders. He is proven over the track and distance and is in top form.
Intellogent (109) comes in from Great Britain with David Egan making the trip. He does his running from the back and is a horse that always gives his best. He will be closing along with the improving King Of The Match, (101) which must overcome his wide draw with Jung Do Yun. Both are place chances.
The Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden is the last of three races simulcast from Baden-Baden in Germany and will be run at 10pm Hong Kong time. This is a weight-for-age test over 2400 metres and last season’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso, with an international rating of 120, will be a strong favourite with Frankie Dettori taking the ride for the first time, while Torquato Tasso’s regular rider Rene Piechulek rides Mendocino (109) for his retainer.
Alter Adler (114) will find the front as the clear leader in the four-horse field, similar to what he did when finishing fourth three weeks ago over the same trip. He will be ridden by Adrie de Vries. He will be followed closely by in-form three-year-old Sammarco (114) with Bauyrzhan Murzabayev.
Torquator Tasso is a win and place chance after finishing second best to Pyledriver in the G1 King George at Ascot in his last start, many lengths clear of Mishriff in third. He is clearly the best horse in Germany and towers above the competition in his final tune up before his Arc defence. He should respond strongly when Dettori pushes the button.
Sammarco has won three straight races and has won four of five in his brief career. He likes to win by short margins, digging deep when called upon, and is the main threat to Torquator Tasso. He benefited from a perfect trip to beat older horses at Group 1 level in his last start and also won the German Derby. He is a place chance.
His fellow three-year-old Ardakan has been scratched from the race after being sold to Australian interests.
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