International racing highlights have flowed over the past month, allowing Hong Kong racing enthusiasts to follow the sport’s best horses and jockeys through the Club’s World Pool and Simulcast programme.
Last weekend alone, our customers were able to enjoy Group 1 racing across three continents with the Turnbull Stakes from Australia, the Sun Chariot Stakes from England and the LONGINES Gran Premio Latinoamericano from Argentina.
Although each jurisdiction involved in the World Pool delivers unique characteristics, the shared traits are quality competition and world-class entertainment. The growth and popularity of World Pool is based on elite racing while also delivering greater liquidity through commingling for customers.
The World Pool focus shifts to The Everest Day at Royal Randwick on Saturday (14 October), when the Club will simulcast for betting nine races, including the $AU20 million The Everest. I am attending the Everest race meeting, having arrived early on Saturday morning and I will fly back after the races to be in Hong Kong for tomorrow’s G2 Sha Tin Trophy.
The Everest is carded as S1-6 and will be run over 1200m on a Good surface at 1.15pm and will feature leading Hong Kong jockeys Zac Purton, who will ride IN SECRET for James Cummings, and Hugh Bowman, who partners ESPIONA for Chris Waller. I wish both Zac and Hugh the best of luck.
The pace in the race will be good.
OVERPASS will lead from his inside gate, with THINK ABOUT IT and CYLINDER in the forward division.
I WISH I WIN has the rails draw but will settle in the back half of the field. I WISH I WIN was brilliant winning the T.J. Smith Stakes over this course and distance in April when he stormed late to beat GIGA KICK and MAZU. He resumed over 1400m in Melbourne on 2 September when again closing late. I WISH I WIN has been freshened since that run and if Luke Nolen can find clear air in the straight, he is my win and place selection.
PRIVATE EYE was runner-up in this race last year when he looked the winner before being gunned down late by GIGA KICK. He showed he would be a leading chance again this year when prevailing in a tight finish from OVERPASS in the Shorts over 1100m three weeks ago. PRIVATE EYE is a place chance.
OVERPASS will lead from gate two and will be in front for a long way and Josh Parr will be hoping he can see off the closers in the last 50m and is a place chance.
THINK ABOUT IT has been beaten only once in 11 races and hit the lead half way up the straight and was able to hold off HAWAII FIVE OH in the Premiere Stakes over this course and distance on 30 September. THINK ABOUT IT has a perfect draw in gate five and is a place chance.
The Group One race on the card is the King Charles III Stakes carded as S1-8 over 1600m at 2.35pm.
MR BRIGHTSIDE won the G1 Doncaster Handicap over this course and trip in April and is undefeated in three runs this preparation in Melbourne. He will start from a middle gate and is my win and place selection.
THINK IT OVER ran down ZAAKI in the last few strides to win the major lead up to this race on 16 September. THINK IT OVER comes to this race in good form, has drawn well and is a place chance.
Zac Purton rides LIGHT INFANTRY who has been placed three times this year at Group One level in France and England this year. LIGHT INFANTRY comes to Australia off the back of another minor placing, this time in the G3 Superior Mile at Haydock on 9 September. LIGHT INFANTRY finds it hard to win but is racing well and is a place chance. Hugh Bowman also rides an internationally-trained runner, BUCKAROO for Joseph O’Brien.
Chris Waller is well represented with five runners. REDIENER, last start winner of the G1 Epsom Handicap over the course and distance, and star mare FANGIRL look the best of his chances.
On Sunday (15 October) at Sha Tin, we celebrate the annual Gentlemen’s Bow Tie Raceday and the running of the first Group 2 race of the season with the Sha Tin Trophy (1600m). Gentlemen’s Bow Tie Raceday has become one of the most popular days on the Hong Kong racing calendar as Sha Tin is transformed with a theme of “Race in Style.” There will be a host of on-course activities for our customers to enjoy with music and a series of unique murals which will allow attendees to explore a “Racing in HK City theme” – as well as our world-class racing.
The G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) has been won by many Hong Kong champions over the years including GOLDEN SIXTY, AMBITIOUS CHAMPION, VIVA PATACA and BEAUTY GENERATION and this year’s race has attracted a good field.
The pace in the race is expected to be good with CALIFORNIA SPANGLE going forward from the widest gate to lead. CIRCUIT STELLAR will race on speed with MONEY CATCHER and BEAUTY ETERNAL should settle behind the leader from his inside draw.
Trainer Tony Cruz made it clear last preparation CALIFORNIA SPANGLE is at his best when making the running and new rider Hugh Bowman should get a reasonably easy lead and dictate the way the race is run. CALIFORNIA SPANGLE won this race last year on his way to winning the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and starts a similar journey on Sunday.
CALIFORNIA SPANGLE had a long break at Conghua after his last start and has trialled well for his return to racing. He will give weight to all his rivals and has the outside draw but remains my win and place selection.
BEAUTY ETERNAL is one of the most exciting horses in Hong Kong. He finished his four-year-old season with successive Group 3 wins in June after being placed in the BMW Hong Kong Derby. Zac Purton will have him in a commanding position from gate three and BEAUTY ETERNAL looks hard to beat as he starts his journey to LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 10 December.
BEAUTY JOY will have benefitted from his first-up effort when fourth to HEALTHY HAPPY over 1400m on 24 September. BEAUTY JOY drops in weight and although he has not won at his last 12 starts he continues to race well and is a place chance.
There are a number of other runners with great ability, including STRAIGHT ARRON and ENCOUNTERED, on the limit weight and who will be fitter after their first-up runs and better suited extending to 1600m. MONEY CATCHER is consistent at the highest level and Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup winner RUSSIAN EMPEROR adds further interest to the race as he commences his preparation for the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase in December.
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