The arrival of SHAHRYAR on Wednesday evening (22 November) as the first of a decorated contingent of overseas horses bound for Sha Tin for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) means we are now only days from our flagship meeting on 10 December.
Over the next week, 24 fellow internationals are scheduled to join SHAHRYAR at Sha Tin, including HIGHFIELD PRINCESS, LUXEMBOURG, WEST WIND BLOWS, PROGNOSIS and WARM HEART.
Awaiting some of the finest gallopers from Japan, Ireland, Great Britain, France, Singapore and the United States are GOLDEN SIXTY, ROMANTIC WARRIOR, LUCKY SWEYNESSE and a host of talented Hong Kong representatives who will strive for success cross the four LONGINES Group 1 features – the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$32 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
The ‘Turf World Championships’ promises to be a fantastic event which not only delivers world-class racing, but also showcases Hong Kong as a magnificent city, and I wish to thank all of the owners, trainers and jockeys involved – both visiting and Hong Kong-based – for their ongoing support.
Preceding LONGINES HKIR is the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley on 6 December and I would like to congratulate Karis Teetan, Vincent Ho and Lyle Hewitson on their achievement in securing their place in the series alongside James McDonald, Zac Purton, Ryan Moore, Hollie Doyle, Rachel King, Yuga Kawada, Mickael Barzalona, Bauyrzhan Murzabayev and Tom Marquand.
The scene is now set for a fabulous week of horse racing as we gather to also celebrate the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey based on Group 1 success in 2023.
Elite international racing continues at Tokyo Racecourse with the running of the G1 Japan Cup at 2.40pm on Sunday. The Japan Cup, which features 18 starters, will be carded as S1-1.
The speed in the race will be good with front-runner PANTHALASSA taking up the running from gate eight. He will be keen coming off a long break since his last start in the Dubai World Cup in March.
EQUINOX is the world’s highest-rated horse and is undefeated in his three starts this year, winning the Dubai Sheema Classic, the Takarazuka Kinen in June and at his latest run the Tenno Sho (Autumn) on 29 October, when regular race rider Christophe Lemaire settled the champion on the speed and he came away for a comfortable victory over JUSTIN PALACE and PROGNOSIS.
EQUINOX should again be in the forward half of the field in running from his inside gate and is my win selection stretching back out to 2400m.
The biggest challenge to EQUINOX may come from wonder filly LIBERTY ISLAND, who has won her past four starts at Group One level sweeping the three legs of the fillies triple crown this year. At her latest run, she took the Shuka Sho over 2000m on 15 October.
At her previous start, LIBERTY ISLAND won the Japanese Oaks (2400m) by six lengths. This is her first run against older horses but Liberty Island is a rare talent and is a place chance as she seeks to become the first three-year-old filly since Almond Eye in 2018 to win the race.
Last year’s Japanese Oaks winner STARS ON EARTH returns to 2400m here for the first time since that win and should run well along with proven older horses TITLEHOLDER, DO DEUCE and DANON BELUGA. Last year’s winner VELA AZUL will be ridden by Hollie Doyle but is racing below his best form this year.
The last overseas trained horse to win the Japan Cup was Alkaased in 2005 and this year the sole international runner is IRESINE for France. The challenge for IRESINE is huge but he comes off a last start victory at Group Two level on 15 October.
At Sha Tin on Sunday, the feature race is the Chevalier Cup over 1600m carded as Race 7 at 4.10pm for Class 1 horses and carries prizemoney of HK$4,075,000.
The speed in the race will be good with front-runner TELECOM FIGHTERS going forward to lead from a middle gate. CIRCUIT STELLAR will be in the leading division from his draw, with RED LION and BOURBONAIRE likely to settle close to the front.
SUPER SUNNY SING was an impressive winner over this distance on 1 October beating SPIRITED EXPRESS and THE BEST PEACH. He was then well beaten as a short-priced favorite on 5 November in the race won by ENCOUNTERED over 1800m. SUPER SUNNY SING went back initially from a wide gate and then travelled wide throughout and failed to show his normal acceleration in the straight when beaten three and a half lengths into sixth place. SUPER SUNNY SING is capable of much better and is a win and place chance for Vincent Ho.
RED LION was having his first start this season when he jumped well and found the rails behind leader SAUVESTRE on 11 November. He chased hard in the straight but couldn’t reel the leader in and was beaten a neck in a close finish for second with DANCING CODE and ATULLIBEGEAL. Zac Purton should have RED LION in a perfect spot from gate four and he will derive benefit from that run and is a place chance.
From the same race ATULLIBIGEAL settled three back on the rails and was held up for a run early in the straight before finishing strongly when clear to be a close fourth. Keagan De Melo rides again and should be able to have ATULLIBIGEAL off the fence from gate seven and is a win and place chance.
CIRCUIT STELLAR has spent some time in Conghua since his last start fifth behind SAUVESTRE in the Panasonic Cup when he raced on the speed and faded in the last 100m. Angus Chung will claim 5lb and CIRCUIT STELLAR is a place chance.
This year’s Chevalier Cup has a lot of depth and virtually every runner is capable of finishing in the placings. HAPPY TOGETHER is undefeated in two starts this season since transferring to Frankie Lor’s stable and would have benefitted from time at Conghua since winning over this course and distance on 5 November and is a place chance.
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