Determination, talent and patience are prerequisites for success in all pursuits in Hong Kong and horse racing is no exception, as Brenton Avdulla can attest after winning the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on CALIFORNIA SPANGLE last Sunday (10 March).
Brenton came to Hong Kong last season as the winner of 13 Group 1 races in Australia and was quickly confronted with the reality of just how intense the competition is here, taking 50 rides to secure his first victory.
At the end of a challenging introduction, Brenton finished the season with three wins and 32 minor placings from 137 rides but he was undaunted by the statistics and even keener to succeed and, with last weekend’s triumph, he has been deservedly rewarded.
So far this season, Brenton has tallied 20 wins and 43 minor placings from 266 rides with his first Hong Kong Group 1 success and also G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) victory on SIGHT SUCCESS.
Significantly, Brenton’s style has drawn the support of Hong Kong’s leading stables, including that of 12-time Hong Kong champion trainer John Size. After 53 meetings this season, Brenton has had more rides – 68 – for the master horseman than any other jockey for seven wins, and he has also built a strong relationship with dual Hong Kong champion trainer Tony Cruz with five wins from only 22 wins.
Brenton rode CALIFORNIA SPANGLE to perfection on Sunday and controlled the race from the front before gradually increasing the tempo from the 800m after covering the first 600m in a sedate 36.26s.
The way the race unfolded made it difficult for those horses back in the field to make ground and CALIFORNIA SPANGLE was able to win comfortably with a final sectional of 22.63s, while GALAXY PATCH (22.15s) was impressive in coming from ninth at the 400m to finish second ahead of RED LION (22.56s), BEAUTY ETERNAL (22.36s) and LUCKY SWEYNESSE (22.41s), who had to go back to last at the 800m.
The decision to contest the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 24 March with GALAXY PATCH, who is now Hong Kong’s top-rated four-year-old at 103, has certainly added another dimension to the race and I look forward to Derby field selection announcement on Thursday (14 March).
The Hong Kong International Sale from 7.45pm at Sha Tin on Friday night (15 March) presents an opportunity for our owners to source impeccably-bred horses who have been expertly selected from both the northern and southern hemispheres.
I was impressed by a number of lots during last Saturday’s (9 March) breeze up at Sha Tin and I am sure some of these horses – especially those bred to run 1800-2000m – will be eagerly sought.
At Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the Class 2 Soko Islands Handicap is carded as Race 9 at 10.50pm over 1200m with prizemoney of HK$2,840,000.
The pace in the race will be good with MAJESTIC KNIGHT going forward from his middle gate to lead for Ellis Wong. WONDER KIT, for Andrea Atzeni, should be able to hold a forward position from his rails draw. TOMODACHI KOKOROE, for Karis Teetan, has good gate speed and will be in the leading pack with GUMMY GUMMY, who will be ridden by Jerry Chau, also going forward from the outside barrier.
BEAUTY CHARGE looked extremely unlucky behind TOMODACHI KOKORE and BUNDLE OF CHARM last start. He was closing quickly but ran out of room at the 100m mark and then came again to be narrowly beaten into third place. Brenton Avdulla takes the ride for the first time on BEAUTY CHARGE and he is a win and place chance.
BUNDLE OF CHARM settled fifth, one off the fence behind a hot tempo, before finishing strongly to just go down to TOMODACHI KOKOROE in a driving finish over this trip on 21 February. BUNDLE OF CHARM, for Antoine Hamelin, is yet to win in seven starts at Happy Valley but, on his last start effort, can break through and is also a win and place chance for John Size.
TOMODACHI KOKOROE has won four races over the course and distance this season. He has been able to work hard in the early stages of his past two races and fight on strongly to win on both occasions, the latest beating BUNDLE OF CHARM. TOMODACHI KOKOROE has drawn well in gate five and is a place chance.
COPARTNER AMBITION has been in brilliant form over this course and distance, winning four of his past six runs. He didn’t have a lot of luck at his last run when over-racing early and then charging down the centre of the track to finish second to BON’S A PEARLA on 21 February. COPARTNER AMBITION will settle midfield from his wide gate and with the good speed expected is a place chance for Harry Bentley, who rides him for the first time.
BON’S A PEARLA, for Alexis Badel, saved ground along the rails coming to the home corner before angling to the centre of the track and coming with her trademark strong finish to beat COPARTNER AMBITION and WINNING ICEY last start. BON’S A PEARLA was suited by the strong pace in that race, gets similar conditions here and is a place chance.
This is a highly competitive contest with many chances to conclude an excellent card of racing and horses such as MAJESTIC KNIGHT, GUMMY GUMMY and WONDER KIT all have claims in the race.
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