It is barely a week since Hong Kong celebrated the close of another incredible racing season and, speaking on behalf of all involved, we can feel immensely proud of our 2022/23 achievements.
Hong Kong once again displayed its amazing resilience and ‘can-do spirit’ by staging a spectacular finale despite the hoisting of the typhoon signal No. 3 and the inclement weather which tested the resolve of all participants.
Despite those significant issues, we successfully overcame those challenges to celebrate a season which again saw Hong Kong showcasing its world-class racing on a global stage.
Integral to our successful delivery of an 88-meeting season was the commitment and dedication of an incredible Hong Kong racing community, which again triumphed in the face of adversity – not least the pandemic, which lasted well into the New Year.
Not one meeting was lost to COVID-19 and with the eventual removal of restrictions, we were able to welcome back our fans to our racecourses as our magnificent city returned to normalcy.
We can reflect on a string of racing highlights, especially those delivered by our equine idols – Golden Sixty, who became the first horse to win three consecutive Horse of the Year Crowns, the advance of Lucky Sweynesse to standing as the world’s highest-rated sprinter and the Group 1 heroics of Romantic Warrior, Russian Emperor and California Spangle.
The tone for Hong Kong’s record-breaking season was set with the performances of our top horses at the Hong Kong LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and FWD Champions Day, where Hong Kong horses claimed six of the seven Group 1s.
John Size continued an astonishing career with a record 12th Champion trainer title, while Zac Purton created history of his own with a single-season record of 179 wins. Vincent Ho further bolstered the history theme with a fourth victory in the Tony Cruz Award for the best performed home-grown jockey with a stunning season.
From an entertainment and business perspective, our commingling and simulcasting services allowed us to continue building a global audience for the benefit of Hong Kong and world racing in a season where the Club posted a record HK$141.1 billion in racing turnover.
None of this would have been possible without the commitment of all participants, including trainers, jockeys, owners, members, employees and customers and I am grateful for the support of everyone involved.
The success of our operation allows the Club to significantly contribute to Hong Kong’s community with betting duty and charitable donations for the betterment of our society – our core purpose – and as I look to the future, I hope we can contribute even more to our city as part of our spirit of “One Club, One Team, One Vision.”
Our simulcast and World Pool programme continues throughout Hong Kong’s racing off-season and on Sunday our focus turns to the SIN G1 Singapore Derby (1800m), which is carded as S1-8 and run at Kranji Racecourse at 5.05pm.
The pace is expected to be good with City Gold Wonder and Dream Alliance, who both have inside gates, and Invincible Tycoon likely to press forward. Golden Monkey, Cavalry and Super Salute are expected to settle midfield with Saint Tropez and Ahorsewithnoname, while Sousui, Elite Legend and Istababa will likely drift towards the rear of the field.
Hugh Bowman takes the ride on Golden Monkey, who was a brilliant last-start winner of the G2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) despite covering ground. Golden Monkey has five wins in Singapore and steps to 1800m for the first time. Golden Monkey has missed a place only once this campaign and, despite stamina doubts, is a win and place chance.
Cavalry is a dual Listed winner in Australia at 1830m and 2200m and showed his class with a fast-finishing win over 1400m at Kranji at his first Singapore start on 8 July. He has drawn barrier six and should get a good run under Vlad Duric and is the hardest for Golden Monkey to beat.
Super Salute’s winning streak ended with a tiring second in the Stewards’ Cup but he is drawn to get a good run behind the speed from barrier five under Manoel Nunes. This is his first attempt beyond 1600m and he is a place chance. Invincible Tycoon has been remarkably consistent with three wins and four placings from his past seven starts and is a place chance along with Dream Alliance, who was held up in the straight in the Stewards’ Cup and will be ridden by Daniel Moor, and Saint Tropez, who won over 1800m in April, and finished solidly when fifth to Golden Monkey last start.
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