With the transformation of Tai Kwun, we wanted to set an example for heritage conservation but at the same time create a unique public space in the centre of Hong Kong for Hong Kong citizens as well as for visitors from the Mainland and overseas.
It is gratifying to see that our plans and hard work paid off when this weekend, despite the significant outflow of Hong Kong residents, we had an estimated record 34,000 visitors in Tai Kwun – compared with usual visitation of 18,000 to 20,000 – enjoying the festive season with our Financial Secretary Mr Paul Chan also being a recent visitor.
The Club has long been a supporter of the city’s arts, culture and heritage – which is a strategic focus of the Club’s Charities Trust – and, through our partnership with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Tai Kwun has not only been conserved as an important heritage site but revitalised with a fresh identity.
At Sha Tin on Saturday (23 December), we had an attendance of 12,000 which, under the given circumstances, was acceptable especially with the very cold conditions with temperatures hovering around 8 degrees.
The fixture list around this time of the year is not ideal but we were left between a rock and a hard place with the cancellation of the 8 October Sha Tin meeting because of Typhoon Koinu and the rescheduling of a replacement meeting this week.
However, with the Four-Year-Old Classic Series rapidly approaching, we witnessed some very good performances at Sha Tin on Saturday from ENSUED and JOYFUL HUNTER.
ENSUED’s effort to beat older Class 2 horses over 2000m bodes well for the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 24 March. While FIVE G PATCH was most unlucky and was subsequently promoted to second placing after being disappointed for a run inside the final 100m, ENSUED’s stamina was impressive and he won decisively.
John Size can now look forward with confidence to the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which starts with the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 4 February, followed by the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 3 March, with ENSUED who, as a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old, still has plenty of scope for improvement.
JOYFUL HUNTER might also contest the Four-Year-Old Classic Series after surging from near the tail of the field to win at Class 3 level over 1200m. His last 400m of 22.47s was the fastest closing sectional by any horse across the 10 races and it appears that Francis Lui has another decent prospect on his hands.
Francis has indicated he will take a conservative approach with JOYFUL HUNTER but, with three wins from only six starts, and the powerful nature of his latest effort, a step to 1600m should be ideal.
The G1 Arima Kinen lived up to expectations at Nakayama Racecourse on Sunday (24 December) with DO DEUCE providing Yutake Take his fourth win in the race. At 54, Yutake has now won the Arima Kinen across four decades, starting with OGURI CAP in 1990, DEEP IMPACT in 2006, KITASAN BLACK in 2017 and DO DEUCE (2023).
With 81 Grade 1 victories in Japan, Yutake is a legendary figure on the international racing scene and his effort to guide DO DEUCE to victory over a very brave STARS ON EARTH and TITLEHOLDER was a perfect example of why he has been so successful.
At Sha Tin on Tuesday (26 December), the Choi Hung Handicap is carded as Race 3 for Class 2 horses over 1200m and will be run on the All-Weather track at 2pm for prizemoney of HK$2,840,000.
The speed in the race will be good with a number of runners generally racing on speed. PING HAI GALAXY should hold the lead from his rails draw with XPONENTIAL on his outside. SEASONS WIT will be prominent from his inside draw, with CAMPIONE also in the leading division.
SEASONS WIT was posted three wins on end over 1000m at Happy Valley last season and then won over the same course and distance when resuming on 29 October. SEASONS WIT was extending to 1200m last start when posted deep from a wide draw and fading to run well back behind SON PAK FU. SEASONS WIT is racing on this surface for the first time but trialled impressively on 14 December and from his inside draw is a win and place chance for Zac Purton.
YOUTHFUL DEAL won four races over this course and distance last season and started favourite when a disappointing sixth behind PING HAI GALAXY on 3 December. Vincent Ho takes the ride again here and should have him off the fence in clear ground from his draw. YOUTHFUL DEAL can bounce back from his last-start effort and is a place chance.
XPONENTIAL is a very consistent horse who was having his first races start on the dirt when he knuckled on jumping before recovering to race in a forward position and held on well to run fourth behind PING HAI GALAXY. XPONENTIAL has had time at Conghua since that run and is place chance here with Karis Teetan riding again.
MAJESTIC STAR was fifth in the same race when he didn’t have a lot of room trying to make a run at the 200m and can run well here with clear running and PING HAI GALAXY who led throughout at big odds to beat a lot of his opponents today in that race is also a place chance.
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