It has been a privilege this week to attend the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou to support our elite athletes across a variety of sports and to watch the equestrian team create history by claiming a bronze medal in the team dressage.
The effort of Jacqueline Siu, Annie Ho and Samantha Chan to secure the bronze medal at the Tonglu Equestrian Centre was amazing – marking the first time Hong Kong, China had won an Asian Games medal in team dressage – and is recognition not only of the fantastic skills of the riders but also that of Club’s support team, which has worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
All the equestrians representing Team Hong Kong, China are members of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Equestrian team and prepared for the Asian Games with coaching and support provided by the Club under the Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan.
The Club’s Head Of Equestrian Affairs Amanda Bond has worked in the international equestrian field for more than 30 years and joined the Club in 2014. She has been instrumental in the development of Equestrian Sport in Hong Kong with the nurturing of talent through our youth and children’s squad.
Several of the competition horses for the dressage, eventing and show jumping have been provided by the Club, while the specialist support team in Hangzhou, includes coaches, grooms, veterinarians, farriers and physiotherapists for both athletes and horses.
In addition, the Club has also provided technical support for the Asian and the collaboration of the Hong Kong Jockey Club team we sent to support our friends from the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee has been exceptional. It has been recognised by HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee as well by the overseas teams who praised the quality of the venue and operations as first class. While I would like to express a big thank you to all team members who have worked tirelessly to stage this event.
The Club is also sponsoring Hong Kong’s Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme, which recognises the medal-winning efforts of our athletes at the Asian Games by providing cash incentives of up to HK$1 million for an individual and HK$2 million for a team.
So far, two individual athletes – champion swimmer Siobhan Haughey and Olympic gold medallist Cheung Ka-long – the rowing pair of Lam San-tung and Wong Wai-chun and the Rugby Sevens team have claimed cash incentives for Asian Games gold medals, while several other athletes have earned significant incentives for silver and bronze medals.
I wish our athletes the very best for the rest of the Asian Games.
The value of experience can never be under-estimated and a glance at the Hong Kong trainers and jockeys’ championships provides more evidence of why seasoned performers remain so influential in horseracing.
After five meetings, the top five positions in the trainers’ table are held by either successful trainers with extensive experience in Hong Kong or by winners of previous championships – Francis Lui, Caspar Fownes, Danny Shum, Frankie Lor and Tony Cruz.
Francis, who is 64, has made the best start to a season since gaining his trainers’ licence in 1996/97 with eight wins from only 26 runners so far. Caspar clearly has designs on a fifth championship title, while Danny, Frankie and Tony, who continues to excel at 66 years of age, all share a fierce competitiveness.
Francis’ treble at the weekend further underlines the quality of a team – headed by his great champion Golden Sixty and bolstered by a string of emerging talents – which carried him into second place in last season’s championship.
Second-season trainer Pierre Ng, aged 40, sits sixth overall with three wins to date, but it is worth bearing in mind Hong Kong’s most successful trainer and 12-time champion John Size, who traditionally makes a conservative and measured start every season, has had only 18 starters for the campaign so far.
I have no doubt John’s stable will soon start hitting its straps and the winners will flow.
The jockeys’ championship is also headed by world-class riders with a wealth of experience – 43-year-old Hugh Bowman, 40-year-old Zac Purton and 33-year-old Karis Teetan. Beyond the leading trio, however, sits a cluster of highly ambitious riders including Lyle Hewitson, Angus Chung, Luke Ferraris and Vincent Ho.
The depth in expertise in both rosters bodes well as the season unfolds.
At Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the first section of Cuckoo Handicap is carded as Race 9 at 10.50pm for Class 3 horses over 1200m and carries prizemoney of HK$1,860,000.
There is no recognised pacemaker in the race but the speed should still be good with VICTORY SCHOLARS going forward from the outside gate to take up the running. AMAZING ACE has drawn the rails and will be in a forward position with SWEET BRIAR, who has a middle draw also settling on the pace. STREET SCREAM may also be near the leading division from his draw.
REWARD SMILE jumped well but was caught wide and drifted back to last before the turn and made no impact at all in the run home when resuming, in the race won by XPONENTIAL at this course and distance on 13 September. REWARD SMILE’s form last season was excellent and I expect sharp improvement on his first up effort. From gate four and with Hugh Bowman aboard, he is a win and place chance.
SWEET BRIAR finished his debut season with successive wins over 1200m at Sha Tin, the latest on 9 July beating RAGING BLIZZARD in a tight finish. This is SWEET BRIAR’s first start at Happy Valley, but he trialled here on 16 September and is a place chance for Lyle Hewitson.
STREET SCREAM won his first three starts of last season over this course and distance before his form tapered off. STREET SCREAM had an extended stay at Conghua over the off season and looked good in a trial there on 7 September. He has drawn well and should get a good run from gate three for Matthew Chadwick and is a place chance.
SOLAR PARTNER finished the season off with a running double in Class 4 over the course and distance, when stalking the speed and running on well. SOLAR PARTNER has also spent time at Conghua since his last run. He has drawn an inside gate and with clear running in the straight is a place chance for Keagan De Melo.
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