The imminent arrival of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series is always an exciting chapter in the Hong Kong racing season and 2024 is no exception with a string of outstanding lead-up performances recently.
While the complete pecking order is still taking shape for the Classic Series, HELIOS EXPRESS shapes as a logical favourite for the $13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 4 February following his brilliant Class 2 win over 1600m on 7 January.
As it currently stands, HELIOS EXPRESS is the only four-year-old so far to reach a triple-figure rating and, at 102, he is the measuring stick at this stage but – as with all aspects of high-level competition – things can change quickly.
With 16 wins, 30 seconds and 25 third placings from 266 runners, Tony Cruz’s season has been a study in frustrating near misses, but FALLON’s emergence as a Four-Year-Old Classic Series contender could mark a turning point.
Winless in his first three Hong Kong starts with placings of 12th, 10th and 11th over 1400m, FALLON has struck form with a vengeance since Tony added blinkers to the former Irish galloper – and paired him with Keith Yeung.
Keith has managed to extract the best from FALLON over 1600m with a pair of spectacular wins and his final sectional of 22.74s on Saturday (13 January) certainly indicated genuine talent while both Tony and Keith believe the horse still has room for improvement. Now rated 74, FALLON is a fascinating potential contender for the Classic Series.
With just under three weeks until the Hong Kong Classic Mile, anticipation is building towards the Classic Series which also features the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 3 March and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 24 March.
With a total of HK$52 million on offer across the series, there is a substantial prizemoney pool from which to deliver returns on investment for our owners who make significant outlays to secure the best equine talent available.
At Sha Tin last Saturday, GALAXY PATCH showcased unmistakable quality with his fourth win from five starts and while all of his victories have come over Sha Tin’s 1200m course, the nature of his latest success indicated he is learning to settle and that 1600m might eventually be within his scope.
Pierre Ng, who is having a wonderful season with 44 wins from 37 meetings, has reportedly decided to prepare GALAXY PATCH for the Hong Kong Classic Mile, which adds another level of excitement and depth to the race.
In defeating older horses at the weekend, GALAXY PATCH showed his class by running his final 400m in 22.38s – the fastest of the 10 race winners – and this was despite the very soft nature of his win.
This Sunday (21 January), we stage the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and it is hoped some of this season’s Hong Kong Classic Mile contestants can progress to the Stewards’ Cup next year.
At Happy Valley tonight, we launch the first of our Blossom Nights as part of the Lunar New Year Celebrations. To mark the occasion, Happy Valley’s world-famous beer garden will be transformed with vibrant cherry blossom displays to signify a prosperous start to the new year, while other visual elements will include lucky gold coins, red lanterns and brilliant neon lights.
Traditional lion dances, as well as captivating musical acts, will entertain our patrons, while on the track the feature race is the Chater Handicap for Class 3 horses over 1200m, which is carded as Race 8 at 10.50pm with prizemoney of HK$1,860,000.
The pace should be reasonably good, generated by LUCKY ARCHANGEL going forward from his outside draw with WATCH BUDDY and RAGING BLIZZARD also setting in the leading division from their inside gates. SUGAR SUGAR has drawn the rails and can hold a forward position.
The tempo will important for the chances of BON’S A PEARLA. She is quality mare who indicated she was close to a win when storming home to be runner-up to ARMOUR EAGLE on 29 December. At her next run, she again finished powerfully from near last at the 200m to defeat BEAUTY WAVES and SUPERB CAPITALIST on 4 January. Mares generally hold their form and BON’S A PEARLA is a place chance with Zac Purton riding her for the first time and her chances will be enhanced by a fast early tempo.
RAGING BLIZZARD is an emerging talent from champion trainer John Size’s yard and posted his second win from three starts this season when settling behind the leader from his inside gate to find the lead at the top of the straight, battling strongly to beat GORGEOUS WIN over this trip at Sha Tin on 26 December. This is RAGING BLIZZARD’s first start at Happy Valley but Karis Teetan will be able to use his good early speed to get a perfect run from gate three and he is a win and place chance.
A number of runners come from the race won by ARMOUR EAGLE over this course and distance on 29 December. ARMOUR EAGLE settled midfield, one off the fence in that race and finished strongly down the middle of the track to beat BON’S A PEARLA. He has drawn a little wider here but is a place chance for Andrea Atzeni who rides for the first time.
WATCH BUDDY ran very well in the race behind ARMOUR EAGLE, caught wide throughout off a fast pace and battled on strongly to be narrowly beaten into fourth place. At his previous start, WATCH BUDDY was impressive in beating SUPER EAGLE when he settled just off the pace from an inside draw and came off the leaders back to win. Harry Bentley will have WATCH BUDDY on pace from gate two and he is a place chance.
This is a very competitive race to conclude an excellent night of racing. STREET CONQUEROR and LUCKY ARCHANGEL ran well behind ARMOUR EAGLE and have claims and SUGAR SUGAR, PRINCE OF PORTY and TOGEPI are all racing well.
The imminent closure of Macau’s horse racing operation from 1 April, 2024 is clearly disappointing and presents several serious challenges for our sport, both immediately and in the longer term.
Horse racing around the world currently faces significant issues, not least with global economic headwinds, the ever-present threat from illegal bookmakers as well as growing competition from other forms of entertainment.
For many years, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has enjoyed a close working relationship with the Macau Jockey Club (MJC), including as a valued commingling partner. As a member of the Asian Racing Federation, the HKJC will now look to provide appropriate advice and support to the MJC especially in relation to critical issues such as horse relocation and welfare, the future of licensed and stable staff and any other associated matters.
Macau racing has enjoyed a long and colourful history and, like Singapore, it is sad that our close neighbours are now in this situation.
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