And so, after farewelling the Year of the Rabbit, we welcome with optimism and hope the Year of the Dragon. Reflecting on the many accomplishments and challenges over the past 12 months, Hong Kong can be proud of its horse racing achievements, both domestically and on the global stage.
The Year of the Rabbit provided much to celebrate, not least the magnificent stagings of our 2023 international flagship meetings – FWD Champions Day and the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races – which once again showcased Hong Kong’s capacity to excel, both from a performance and organisational perspective.
While memories of the spectacular equine feats of GOLDEN SIXTY, ROMANTIC WARRIOR, LUCKY SWEYNESSE and JUNKO remain vivid, and as proud of we are of our achievements – including having four Hong Kong horses in the top 15 of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings and all 12 Hong Kong Group 1 races in the 2023 LONGINES World’s Top 100 Group 1 races – our focus is unquestionably on the future and a relentless quest for improvement.
Today, we celebrate Chinese New Year Raceday – one of the most auspicious days on the Hong Kong racing calendar – in customary fashion with what shapes as a wonderful meeting at Sha Tin. The opening race is the Kung Hei Handicap at 12.30pm for Class 5 horses over 1200m – and it is a race that every owner, trainer and jockey want to win to make a successful start to the Year of the Dragon, while all our customers and fans are eager to make a winning start.
The Chinese New Year Cup Handicap for Class 1 horses is carded as Race 8 at 4.05pm with prizemoney of HK$3,720,000.
The pace in the race will be slow to good with no natural leader. RED LION has gate two and Zac Purton may elect to take up the running, with SUPER WEALTHY and COURIER WONDER both in the leading group.
MUGEN’s usual pattern is to come from the back and Karis Teetan will likely adopt similar tactics, having drawn the rails in the small field. MUGEN was incredibly impressive last start when coming from last on the turn to win running away from SUPERB BOY and ATULLIBIGEAL over this trip on 21 January.
MUGEN has won three of his four runs this season and is an emerging talent. He is my clear win selection.
RED LION is a four-time winner over this course and distance. His last start was in the race won by MUGEN on 21 January when he settled behind the speed, one off the fence, and was presented to challenge at the top of the straight but faded in the last 100m to finish fifth. Zac Purton has won three times on RED LION and goes back aboard today and he is a place chance.
COURIER WONDER was having first start for the season and for his new stable when he went back from a wide draw and was never a threat behind VICTOR THE WINNER in the Centenary Sprint Cup over 1200m on 28 January. COURIER WONDER was consistent last season without winning and is capable of improvement on his first-up run and is a place chance.
DUKE WAI also went back from the outside barrier in the Centenary Sprint Cup but failed to run home as he usually does in his races. DUKE WAI’s form before that was good without threatening to win and he is a capable of a top-four finish.
The YUE YEE Handicap, for Class 2 horses, is carded as Race 10 at 5.15pm for prizemoney of HK$2,840,000. The race brings together a field of outstanding sprinters and is a highlight on the Chinese New Year Raceday card.
The pace in the race will be good with MAJESTIC KNIGHT the likely leader from gate five, and LUCKY ENCOUNTER on the leader’s back. PACKING TREADMILL and REWARDING TOGETHER will also push forward and be in the leading group. BUNDLE OF CHARM can race handy but Antoine Hamelin may choose to settle off the speed from his wide gate.
GALAXY PATCH is undefeated in four runs on turf in Hong Kong and has been impressive in each of the victories. GALAXY PATCH was a little slow to move but showed brilliant acceleration in the straight when sprinting clear of GUMMY GUMMY and being eased down in the closing stages over this trip at his last start. This represents his biggest test yet, but Karis Teetan should have him in a striking position coming to the turn and GALAXY PATCH is a win and place chance.
INVINCIBLE SAGE is an exciting four-year-old who has won three out of his seven starts – with all of his wins coming over the straight 1000m course this season – before stepping up in class and finishing second to WHIZZ KID in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy, again over 1000m here on 7 January. INVINCIBLE SAGE is a success story for the 22/23 David Hall Trainer Syndicate and has risen 24 rating points to 97 since his first win in October, winning more than HK$8 million in prize money, including a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million. The question is can he produce this form over 1200m against very strong opposition with proven 1200m form records. He is a place chance for Alexis Badel.
FLYING ACE has been consistent at this level and last start stepped up in class to contest the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup where he ran well finishing fifth, beaten four lengths to VICTOR THE WINNER. Zac Purton takes the ride and if he can get a reasonable run from his wide draw, FLYING ACE is a place chance.
This is a race laden with sprinting talent, all racing well and the chances of horses like PACKING TREADMILL, HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE, LUCKY ENCOUNTER and last start winners in MAJESTIC KNIGHT and BUNDLE OF CHARM should not be underestimated.
In closing, all that remains is to wish all our friends, colleagues and customers a peaceful family holiday and every success and good fortune throughout the Year of the Dragon – Kung Hei Fat Choi!
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