The recruitment of the best possible jockeys and trainers for Hong Kong horseracing is an abiding objective for the Club in its ambition to be a world leader in the sport and, as such, I am delighted with James McDonald’s decision to accept an invitation to ride in Hong Kong from late November until early January.
As the 2022 LONGINES World’s Best Jockey, James has few peers on the international stage and he has proved so again this year with 11 Group 1 victories so far, including ROMANTIC WARRIOR’S historic W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) triumph at Moonee Valley last month.
James was a dominant figure at last week’s Melbourne Cup carnival with G1 triumphs in the Victoria Derby (2500m), VRC Oaks (2500m) and Champions Stakes (2000m) and he will arrive in peak form as Hong Kong prepares to stage the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley on 6 December and LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) at Sha Tin on 10 December.
James will feature in both of next month’s major events, starting with the LONGINES IJC, which is established as one of the most coveted titles in international racing before reuniting with ROMANTIC WARRIOR at LONGINES HKIR.
James’ arrival for his 23 November to 1 January stint is certainly timely. Sadly, Hugh Bowman – a fellow winner of the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey award – suffered injuries in last Saturday’s (11 November) unfortunate racing accident at Sha Tin and, based on current estimates, he will miss up to six to eight weeks as he recovers.
I would like to wish Hugh a speedy recovery and I look forward to his return and a continuation of the form which saw him ride 21 winners from 95 mounts to be sitting second in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship behind Zac Purton with an excellent winning strike rate of 22.1%.
Hugh has been ruled out of the LONGINES IJC, but the Club has worked hard to assemble another incredible cast of elite riders crowned by the presence of three previous LONGINES IJC champions – Ryan Moore, Zac and Tom Marquand.
Additionally, that trio and James will be joined by Mickael Barzalona, Hollie Doyle, Yuga Kawada and LONGINES IJC newcomers Rachel King and Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, all decorated and accomplished riders.
The remaining three positions will be decided by performances across the next three meetings, starting with tonight’s Happy Valley fixture and finishing with the 22 November meeting. Based on current standings, Karis Teetan, Andrea Atzeni, Lyle Hewitson, Luke Ferraris, Vincent Ho and Matthew Chadwick are all in contention.
The LONGINES HKIR form lines for Hong Kong-trained horses will become clearer this Sunday (19 November) with the three Group 2 races – BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m), BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) and BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) – at the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Race Day.
With five individual Group 1 winners entered – LUCKY SWEYNESSE and WELLINGTON (Sprint), CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (Mile), RUSSIAN EMPEROR and LA CITY BLANCHE (Cup) – racegoers will have the opportunity to gauge performances ahead of LONGINES HKIR.
The feature race on the card at Happy Valley on Wednesday night is the Tokyo Handicap carded as Race 7 at 9.45pm, for Class 2 horses over 1650m with prizemoney of HK$3.12 million.
The pace in the race will be good with TELECOM FIGHTERS taking up his usual role as pace maker. MEANINGFUL STAR has drawn near the rails and should have enough gate speed to be on the leader’s back. ERIMO and TRUE LEGEND should settle close to the speed from their draws, with HELENE FEELING landing just behind the leading division from his middle draw.
TAJ DRAGON settled three back the fence and once he found clear running room in the straight let down well to beat SUPER WINNER over 1400m at Sha Tin last start. TAJ DRAGON rises in class and distance beyond 1400m for the time. He also comes to the city track for the first time but was impressive last run and is a win and place chance from a middle gate with Zac Purton aboard again.
TAJ DRAGON will deliver his owner a HK$1.5 million PP Top-Up Bonus if he wins the race.
HELENE FEELING finished in the top three at all his five runs in his first season of racing and then resumed with an impressive win over this course and distance on 20 September. At his only run since he settled at the tail of the field and ran home fairly when eighth to RISING FROM ASHES over 1800m. HELENE FEELING has trialled well since and is a win and place chance.
HAMERON was also slightly disappointing in the race won by RISING FROM ASHES, finishing just behind HELENE FEELING after being held up for clear running in the early part of the straight. At his previous run, HAMERON ran home strongly to beat RED MAJESTY over this course and distance on 13 September. Regular rider Luke Ferraris stays aboard and HAMERON is a place chance.
TELECOM FIGHTERS is a course and distance specialist. He drew widest and held on well at his seasonal reappearance on 20 September, beaten two lengths behind HELENE FEELING. He then switched to the All Weather Track at Sha Tin and didn’t find the front when unplaced on 25 October behind ALL FOR ST PAUL’S. TELECOM FIGHTERS has an ideal gate to lead reasonably comfortably and is a place chance with Angus Chung taking his 5lb claim.
GALAXY WITNESS will get back in the field from his rails draw but wasn’t beaten far when fifth to HELENE FEELING here two runs ago and is also a place chance for Vincent Ho.
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