International success remains the ultimate achievement in horseracing and two European Classics – the Deutsches Derby (2400m) in Hamburg and the Irish Derby (2400m) at The Curragh – on Sunday both delivered memorable highlights.
Sarah Steinberg became the first woman to train the winner of Germany’s most important race when Fantastic Moon charged down the outside fence, coming from the tail of the field, to secure a watershed victory.
At 34, Sarah is one of the brightest talents in Europe and has been training since only 2015 and her Classic triumph in tandem with jockey Rene Piechulek, who is also her partner, with a horse having only his fourth start was a fantastic feat.
Sarah travelled to Hong Kong last December with Mendocino but unfortunately the horse took no part in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase after rearing at the start and failing to leave the barriers. Hopefully Sarah can return to Hong Kong in the future and enjoy better luck.
At The Curragh, Aidan O’Brien continued his extraordinary career with a 15th Irish Derby victory with Auguste Rodin, who has already won the Epsom Derby this season, and is clearly an exceptional horse.
Remarkably, Aidan saddled the first four across the line in the Irish Derby, securing his 100th European Classic – an incredible achievement.
Given the scope and quality of Aidan’s extraordinary feats, superlatives fail to do him justice.
On Sunday, I had the privilege of visiting Tai Kwun’s Vital Signs exhibition, which celebrates Hong Kong’s unique and distinctive visual identity by tracing the history of the city’s iconic neon heritage.
The exhibition spans two entirely separate spaces within Tai Kwun and features signs which have been conserved and, in some cases, recommissioned by Tetra Neon Exchange and are on public display for the first time.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club, through its Charities Trust, is proud to support the exhibition which highlights the flair and imagination of Hong Kong’s neon pioneers and allows visitors to absorb the multi-coloured neon which lit up Wan Chai, Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay in the 1970s and ‘80s.
It is a spectacular exhibition with huge and elaborate artefacts and I highly recommend visiting it to enjoy the incredible neon craftmanship.
We continue one of the busiest phases of the season tonight at Sha Tin where the feature race is the Kau Sai Chau Handicap carded as Race 8 at 10.50pm for Class 2 horses over 1400m and carrying prizemoney of HK$2,640,000.
The pace in the race will be good with Flaming Rabbit having the gate speed to hold the front, with Sauvestre also going forward from his wide gate. A Pal and Oriental Smoke should also be in the forward division.
Bravehearts is an interesting runner making his Hong Kong debut. The four-year-old won the G1 Carlos Pellegrini, Argentina’s most important race, at his last start in December. That win was over 2400m and no doubt Bravehearts will be seen at best advantage over more ground as he sets his sights on the 2024 BMW Hong Kong Derby.
Flaming Rabbit is close to a win having finished runner-up at his last two starts when going down by narrow margins in the last few strides each time. Lyle Hewitson takes the ride again and Flaming Rabbit is a place chance. Sauvestre sat outside Flaming Rabbit on 18 June and, in a driving finish, was able to win. He is a place chance despite his awkward draw.
Howdeepisyourlove races at Sha Tin for just the second time this season having won four races at Happy Valley during the campaign. Howdeepisyourlove has barrier 13 to contend with and extends to 1400m for the first time, but with Hugh Bowman aboard he is a place chance in a very tough race.
Flying Ace was unbeaten in four runs last season and returned to winning form when he went back from a wide draw and finished powerfully to win easily from Ace One over 1200m on 18 June. Zac Purton takes the ride again and although Flying Ace also steps to 1400m for the first time he is a win and place chance.
There are a number of other runners with claims, including last start winners A Pal and Find My Love, as well as Amazing Victory who holds his form having finished in the top three at 11 of 12 runs this season.
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