Wellington’s departure from Hong Kong on Saturday signals the imminent start of one of international racing’s greatest celebrations – next week’s five-day Royal Ascot meeting – and the farewell appearance at the world-famous meeting of Frankie Dettori.
With eight Group 1 races involving outstanding horses from Great Britain, France, Ireland, the United States, Australia and Hong Kong from next Tuesday to Saturday, Royal Ascot will again showcase horseracing on a global stage with a host of Group 1 winners in action.
While Wellington will command Hong Kong’s interest when Richard Gibson’s sprinter contests the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) next Saturday (24 June), the first four days will provide wonderful entertainment at a meeting renowned for its tradition and prestige.
With 77 wins at the Royal meeting – the most of any contemporary jockey – Frankie is set to bow out of the saddle at the end of this year and it is remarkable to think he won his first race at Royal Ascot on Markofdistinction in 1990 and subsequently won the meeting’s top rider award on seven occasions. I wish Frankie the very best at his Royal Ascot swansong.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s World Pool has operated successfully on Royal Ascot since 2019 with turnover growing from HK$1.09 billion to HK$1.76 billion in 2022 in what has been a very successful innovation.
World Pool enables customers from around the globe, including those in Hong Kong, to commingle into selected simulcast meetings and by pooling wagering investments from across more than 25 participating countries/regions, customers can enjoy greater liquidity which also delivers reduced odds fluctuation and better value opportunities.
I will travel to London for the final two days of the meeting and will be on-course to support Wellington, who will be ridden by another of Royal Ascot’s most successful jockeys – Ryan Moore, who has 73 wins overall at the Royal meeting and has been top jockey on nine occasions.
Following Royal Ascot, I will return to Hong Kong for our final two Group races of the season – the G3 Premier Cup (1400m) and G3 Premier Plate (1800m) – at Sha Tin on Sunday, 25 June as part of our twilight programme.
As we draw closer to the end of the Hong Kong racing season, it was pleasing to watch the continued development of Nordic Dragon, who posted his fifth win of the season at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
As a high-profile Hong Kong International Sale graduate, Nordic Dragon sold for HK$7 million at last season’s sale and through a combination of bonuses and prize money earnt since, he has now recouped more than his purchase price for Mr Edmond Yue, who looks to have another promising horse on his hands.
Given the quality of their wins on Wednesday night, Joyful Hunter, Fast Serve and Dancing Code also shape as horses worth following into the future.
At Sha Tin on Sunday, the Lek Yuen Handicap is carded as Race 8 at 7.35pm. The race is for Class 2 horses over 1400m and carries prizemoney of HK$2,640,000.
The speed in the race will be good with Flaming Rabbit the likely pace-maker and Erimo and Sauvestre also settling in the leading division.
Flaming Rabbit was a Group winner in Germany over this trip as a two-year-old and then at Goodwood over 1600m in his three-year-old season. He was having his third start in Hong Kong when he flew the gates to lead at his last start with Lyle Hewitson quickening the tempo appreciably from the 800m and looked to have the race in his keeping before being run down late by Tuchel over 1600m on 21 May. Flaming Rabbit comes back to 1400m here and from a good draw is my win and place selection.
Galaxy Witness went back from the widest gate at his last start and then made good ground down the middle of the track to be a close third to Red Lion and Erimo on 28 May. Galaxy Witness has drawn the outside barrier again and Vincent Ho will settle him at the back but he is a place chance if Flaming Rabbit sets a solid pace up front.
Amazing Victory has had a great season, from eleven starts he has finished in the top three on ten occasions, and has three wins for the campaign. At his last start he settled midfield on the fence before angling out in the straight closing late for third to Tuchel and Flaming Rabbit. Karis Teetan should give Amazing Victory an economical run from his inside gate and is a place chance.
Erimo is another horse racing with great consistency. He settled midfield and hit the front 50m out before being claimed by Red Lion in the last few bounds over this course and distance on 28 May. Last week he switched to the All Weather Track and fought on bravely to score from Adefill over 1800m. Erimo comes back to 1400m on turf here and is a place chance for Alexis Badel. This is a deep race with Flagship Warrior and The Golden Scenery racing in good form and the talented Beauty Live returning to racing after recovering from injury at Conghua and a forward run from him would not surprise.
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