Almost a week has now passed since LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), but the memories of what unfolded on a glorious Sha Tin afternoon last Sunday remain vivid.
The positive impact of a magnificent meeting continues to resonate with a tremendous amount of favourable discussion in international media forums, particularly around the quality of performances and the overall success of the day.
After three years of having virtually no international media and visitors at our flagship meeting, it is clear the global racing community was deeply appreciative of the chance to return to Hong Kong to enjoy world-class racing.
With 2022 HKIR behind us, we continue to search for ways to enhance the racing experience for our customers, participants and fans across the world.
With the festive period almost upon us, we are preparing for a busy week with three meetings in the run up to Christmas before we usher in the New Year. Beyond that, the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and the start of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series with the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 29 January shape as obvious highlights.
In particular, the potential clash of Hong Kong’s trio of superstars – Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior and California Spangle in the Stewards’ Cup – is sure to capture the imagination of all racing fans.
All three horses are graduates of our Four-Year-Old Classic series with Golden Sixty going through the three-leg series unbeaten in 2020, while Romantic Warrior (Hong Kong Classic Mile and BMW Hong Kong Derby winner) shaded California Spangle (Hong Kong Classic Cup winner and second in both the Hong Kong Classic Mile and Hong Kong Derby) for overall honours last season.
That all three might clash in the same race for the first time on the same programme that the 2023 Four-Year-Old Classic Series starts would be an incredible piece of timing.
After 27 meetings this season, the contest for the 2022/23 trainers’ championship is developing into a fascinating tussle in another reminder of Hong Kong racing’s famed competitiveness.
Only three wins separate our leading four trainers – Tony Cruz (22), Frankie Lor (21), John Size (20) and Francis Lui (19) – while Danny Shum (15), Caspar Fownes (15), Pierre Ng (14), Chris So (14), Benno Yung (14), Ricky Yiu (14) and David Hayes (13) are all within striking distance.
Those rivalries will continue at Sha Tin on Sunday, when the Lukfook Jewellery Cup for Class 2 horses over the straight 1000m course is carded as Race 8 at 4:35pm. The speed for the race will be good to fast from the outset with Classic Unicorn drawn the far side and Trillion Win drawn the grandstand side both fast out of the gates and natural front runners. Harmony And Rich, drawn gate six, and Whizz Kid from gate seven will also be racing on pace.
Whizz Kid has won five of his last eight starts over the 1000m, including once down the straight course at Sha Tin. Since his last start win at Happy Valley on 9 November, he has spent time at Conghua and trainer Tony Cruz has chosen to offset his rise in weight here by using 10lb-claiming apprentice Angus Chung. Whizz Kid has been kept up to the mark with a recent trial, is in great form and working well, but I prefer him at Happy Valley and make him a place chance.
Trillion Win resumes here after a mandatory break from racing and has looked good in two recent trials for Hugh Bowman. He will race on the lead on the rail and I make him a win and place chance.
Handsome Bo Bo has twice been placed over 1000m this season and, with Luke Currie to ride, I also make him a place chance.
Power Koepp is John Size’s other stable representative and will be ridden by Silvestre de Sousa. The last time Power Koepp ran down the straight course at Sha Tin he won in the last stride back in May last year and he continues to race well having won impressively at Happy Valley two starts back. I make him a place chance.
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