Persistence and determination are prerequisites for success in all facets of Hong Kong life and especially in horse racing.
The Hong Kong trainer and jockey roster is filled with world-class talents and the challenges associated with success can be immense in an environment internationally renowned as one of the most competitive in our sport.
With few exceptions, all participants are prone to the ebbs and flows that emerge from pitting their skills against the elite.
In such an environment, it was heartening to watch the performances of Matthew Poon and Keith Yeung at Sha Tin last Sunday. As two established home-grown jockeys, Matthew and Keith have both endured testing seasons.
Matthew’s treble in October was followed by a barren spell of 38 losing rides which ended with another three-timer on Sunday when he partnered a trio of all-the-way winners – Speedy Fortune, Pakistan Friend and Ka Ying Spirit – to take his tally to 19 wins for 2022-23.
Keith had the misfortune to suffer injury in a race in March and spent several weeks on the sidelines recovering. One of the most positive characters in the jockeys’ room, Keith returned to the winner’s circle on Sunday on Find My Love for Manfred Man and I hope now Keith can build some momentum throughout the rest of the season.
We have been very pleased in recent seasons with the talent flow from the BMW Hong Kong Derby – particularly the deeds of Golden Sixty and Romantic Warrior – and it seems the 2023 Classic will also be associated with helping launch more high-class horses to subsequent stardom.
This season’s Derby winner Voyage Bubble – who also claimed the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) – competed strongly when fourth to Golden Sixty in the G1 FWD Champions Mile last month, while Beauty Eternal (third in the Derby) and Straight Arron (fifth) have since showcased their potential with impressive wins.
Last Sunday, it was Derby runner-up Tuchel’s turn to excel with a Class 2 victory under 134lb for John Size and Zac Purton, having to concede weight and almost five lengths to Flaming Rabbit before winning by a neck with a final 400m of 22.78s.
Tuchel’s latest performance earned a six-point rise in the ratings to reach 100, joining Voyage Bubble (108), Beauty Eternal (106) and Straight Arron (102) on a triple-figure mark after the quartet started season on 74 points, 52, 70 and 77, respectively.
Dream Winner, who debuted for Frankie Lor last weekend with a resounding five-and-a-quarter length win in the Class 4 Hong Kong Sports Association For The Physically Disabled 50th Anniversary Handicap (1000m), earned a 12-point rise to 64 after setting the fastest 1000m time this season of 55.14s to threaten United We Stand’s class record of 54.94s. Based on Sunday’s effort, Dream Winner’s future progress will be keenly monitored.
At Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the Iris Handicap is carded as Race 9 for Class 3 horses over 1650m at 10.50pm with prizemoney of HK$1.9 million.
The pace in the race will be strong with natural front runner Red Majesty drawn in gate two. Skyey Supreme and Viva Hunter will also drive forward from their respective draws, ensuring there will be plenty of pace generated early.
Winning Dragon has gate eight and will settle in the leading division. He drew the widest at his last run when racing outside the leader and fought on gamely in the straight to beat Helene Feeling on 3 May. That was Winning Dragon’s third win this season at the course and distance and he is a place chance.
Zone D was third behind Winning Dragon when he settled at the back of the field and finished strongly to be beaten under a length by the winner. Zone D has been a model of consistency in ten starts this season all over the same class, course and distance and is a place chance again after spending a couple of weeks at Conghua since his last run.
Rattan Kingdom stepped up to this trip for the first time this season when he ran home strongly down the middle of the track to beat Maldives on 12 April. Rattan Kingdom will be suited by the strong pace expected here and is a place chance for Karis Teetan.
Eighteen Palms was placed at his first three career runs all at this course and distance. He had blinkers added to his racing gear last start when coming through near the rails to beat Splendid Living here on 12 April. Eighteen Palms steps up to Class 3 tonight but his break through win was impressive and I make him my win and place selection under Vincent Ho.
This is a competitive race as we continue a wonderful month of Happy Wednesdays celebrating French May at Happy Valley.
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