Horse racing routinely produces ‘feel-good’ results and, at Happy Valley on Wednesday (28 September), there were yet more examples when Vincent Ho and Francis Lui shared the limelight with triumphant nights.
Francis’ effort to train his 800th winner was a wonderful achievement in itself, but even more so when it is considered only six other trainers – John Moore, Brian Kan, Tony Cruz, John Size, Caspar Fownes and Ricky Yiu – have achieved the feat in Hong Kong’s professional era.
It is a credit to Hong Kong’s training fraternity that Tony (1,419), John Size (1,416), Caspar (1,016), Ricky (905) and Francis (801) continue to excel after many seasons of sustained success, innovating and adapting well into their respective careers.
Francis and Vincent are synonymous, of course, with Golden Sixty and we eagerly await the imminent return of Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year, especially as the countdown continues to LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 11 December at Sha Tin.
Vincent has ridden more than 100 of Francis’ winners and it is clear, even after six meetings this season, that Vincent has further benefited from another short overseas stint during our off-season, this time in Japan.
His treble on Wednesday night leaves him second in the jockeys’ championship with nine wins, just two behind Zac Purton and, given his current form, Vincent is well placed to again entrench himself as Hong Kong’s leading home-grown rider.
At Sha Tin on Saturday, the seventh race is the National Day Cup, a Group 3 handicap run over 1000 metres. Interestingly, the top four finishers from last year’s edition are back as the four highest-rated horses in the seven-horse field. The top four last year, in order, with actual weights carried were Super Wealthy (115lb), Sky Field (133lb), Lucky Patch (124lb) and Stronger (128lb). Only five pounds separate the top four this year with Sky Field and Stronger equally weighted at 135lb, Lucky Patch at 132lb and Super Wealthy at 130lb under the handicap conditions.
The new names this year include two top chances – Cordyceps Six and Master Eight – and both on an upward trajectory. Cordyceps Six is a four-time winner over the course and distance. He enjoyed an exceptional three-year-old season which saw his rating soar to 107 and the only knock is he has never been a good first-up horse. His trial was satisfactory but he may not be ready to run his best race. I make him only a place chance despite getting 12 pounds from the top two. Alexis Badel has the return engagement.
Master Eight will show speed to track the early leader Harmony And Rich. The pace will be only moderate as most of the runners prefer to do their running from midfield or worse. Master Eight is a good first-up performer and he will get first run at Harmony And Rich. Unbeaten in his only two attempts over this trip, I make Master Eight a win and place chance with Matthew Chadwick riding for the first time.
Stronger is another horse that runs reasonably well first up and I make him a place chance with in-form jockey Vincent Ho. Super Wealthy will likely improve from his first-up run and is a place chance with Zac Purton riding. Both horses will do their running from the back and should close the race off well.
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