There was no shortage of highlights at a wonderful meeting at Sha Tin last Sunday when Vagner Borges again underlined the timeless value of commitment and discipline with Sight Success’ victory in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap.
Vagner had gone 101 rides, 99 days and 13 minor placings without a winner, yet he could hardly have produced a more poised display on Sight Success in the afternoon’s feature in a contest which again illustrated Hong Kong’s depth of quality sprinters.
Sight Success’ victory was a triumph also for John Size, who continues to excel and is once again contending for the Hong Kong trainers’ championship with a 2022/23 tally of 24 wins to trail only Frankie Lor (28) and Tony Cruz (25).
No trainer is immune to quiet spells but Frankie has made a bright start to January with a double at the weekend, including that of the impressive Sword Point who is now very much in contention for the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
Ahead of the close of entries next Monday (16 January) for the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 29 January, Sword Point has risen nine points from 75 to 84 after Sunday’s victory over 1800m under Hugh Bowman.
Based on his performances in Australia, where he was Group 2-placed over 1850m as a three-year-old, and his impressive display at Sha Tin at the weekend, Sword Point shapes as a leading contender also for the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and the HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).
Sinba, for Jamie Richards, also caught the eye with his win over 1400m under Karis Teetan and looks a talented horse with more improvement to come heading into the Four-Year-Classic Series, while Drombeg Banner’s victory in the Restricted Class 3 over 1600m for Pierre Ng was another important pointer ahead of the Hong Kong Classic Mile. Drombeg Banner’s victory was a surprise, carrying only 110 pounds, while the runner-up Sweet Encounter carried 135 pounds and was beaten by half a length, which is a good performance and makes him a strong contender in the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, especially over 1800m and in the BMW Hong Kong Derby itself.
The staging of the Restricted Lung Fu Shan Handicap for four-year-olds was a success, proving popular with owners and trainers and welcomed by our customers on a day when turnover hit a seasonal high of HK$1.868 billion.
Our PP Bonus scheme continues to provide significant rewards for owners with Sword Point, Drombeg Banner and Sinba all collecting HK$1 million bonuses for their connections.
Hugh’s effort to ride a treble with Sword Point, Tamra Blitz and Nicholson Returns elevated him into seventh place in the jockeys’ championship with 13 wins so far this season, again demonstrating the value of quality and experience. Vincent Ho, who is currently second in the jockeys’ ranks, continued an excellent season by adding another win to his tally to make it 38 for the campaign, while Zac Purton has had a very unusual run of two meetings without a win but if any jockey can overcome this, it is Zac.
Regarding our apprentice jockeys, Ellis Wong’s progress in South Australia has been most encouraging. With a four-timer at last Saturday’s metropolitan meeting at Gawler, Ellis sits third on the South Australian jockeys’ premiership with 33 wins to trail only Kayla Crowther (45) and Barend Vorster.
As with Vincent Ho, Matthew Chadwick, Derek Leung and Matthew Poon in the past, Ellis has been given the opportunity to ride overseas to gain vital experience and, with prizemoney earnings from his 251 mounts so far this season of A$990,810 (HK$5.33 million), he is clearly doing a good job.
Angus Chung is the latest Hong Kong Jockey Club Racing Talent Training Centre Apprentice Jockeys’ School talent to return to Hong Kong after riding in South Australia and the experience gained through riding in 689 races for 76 wins has proven invaluable – as demonstrated by his double at Sha Tin on Sunday aboard Drombeg Banner and Sakewin.
Angus has 13 wins and 33 placings from 160 rides so far this season and his 10-lb claim is an obvious attraction for trainers, not least his master Tony Cruz.
At Happy Valley tonight, we celebrate the staging of the city circuit’s only Group contest with the running of the G3 January Cup, which is carded as Race 7 at 9:45pm and run over 1800m for prizemoney of $3,900,000. The return to racing after a long break of Glorious Dragon, who won the 2021 Centenary Vase over this distance, adds further interest to a competitive contest, where a number of horses on the limit weight are racing in good form.
The pace in the race should be good and will be set by Money Catcher who has drawn the rails, with Red Majesty going forward from the outside gate with Looking Great also taking up a forward position.
Money Catcher broke through for a deserved win in the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse over this distance at Sha Tin on 6 November when leading. At his last start he ran third in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup behind Romantic Warrior and Danon The Kid, when stalking the speed set by Panthalassa. That form line makes him hard to beat here and with Silvestre de Sousa riding again, I make Money Catcher a win and place chance from gate one.
Looking Great had a perfect run behind the leader when coming away from Berlin Tango to win over 2200m here on 28 December. Berlin Tango settled back in the field and then came through near the rails to finish runner-up in that race. Before that he ran home strongly to finish a closing third to Spirited Success over this course and distance on 7 December. Karis Teetan takes the ride on Berlin Tango and I make him also a win and place chance.
There are a number of horses on the limit weight racing well and have place chances. Rise Brethren won over this distance beating Running Glory and raced without luck at his last start and is a place chance for Alexis Badel.
Packing Award disappointed at his last run but was a winner at three of his previous four runs and is a Happy Valley specialist. He has trialled since his last start failure and has been working well and I make him a place chance, while Nearly Fine, who is in great form and had to shift ground at the 200m last start but still finished strongly, is an interesting outsider.
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