And so, after months of intricate planning and soaring anticipation, we are on the cusp of celebrating the 2024 HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (24 March).
Hong Kong’s deep affection for the race which delivers a “Once in a lifetime glory” has never been more apparent than over the past two weeks with a fantastic build up which has included the selection announcement of the 14 runners, the official barrier draw ceremony at Sha Tin and the BMW Hong Kong Derby Gala Party.
The common theme among owners, trainers, jockeys and fans is how much the BMW Hong Kong Derby means to the city with a rich history stretching back to 1873. Put simply, it is the race every owner in this city wants to win and that ambition is widely held.
I would like to thank BMW for its wonderful support of the Derby and also wish the very best of luck to all connections, especially the owners who have committed significant resources in securing the best available horses to run in the Derby.
Before the BMW Hong Kong Derby is decided on Sunday, our focus turns to VICTOR THE WINNER’s performance for trainer Danny Shum and jockey Derek Leung in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen over 1200m, which is carded as S1-1 at 2.40pm from Chukyo Racecourse.
VICTOR THE WINNER faces a capacity field with several of Japan’s leading sprinters competing, including five who are entered for the FWD Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on 28 April – MAD COOL, TOSHIN MACAU, LUGAL, CHAMPAGNE COLOR and MATENRO ORION.
The speed in the race will be good, with T M SPADA the likely leader from MAMA COCHA in the leading division with LUGAL, who races close to the speed.
VICTOR THE WINNER has drawn in the middle of the field in gate ten and goes left-handed for the first time under race conditions but Danny has reported VICTOR THE WINNER handles that way of going very well and it holds no concerns for him.
Derek will look to take up a position on the speed and, on the strength of his dominant Centenary Sprint Cup win, beating LUCKY WITH YOU and WELLINGTON, VICTOR THE WINNER is a win and place chance.
Christophe Lemaire rides TOSHIN MACAU, who has won his last two starts, both over 1200m at Group 3 level at Kyoto and Nakayama. TOSHIN MACAU is in sparkling form and is a place chance from gate five.
LUGAL comes into the race off a big margin win in the G3 Silk Road Stakes at Kyoto in fast time on 28 January. LUGAL is also a win and place chance from his good draw.
Of the other runners, WIN MARVEL has drawn wide but has been in fine form winning at Group 2 and 3 level over 1400m at his last two starts at Hanshin and is a place chance.
MAMA COCHA, MAD COOL and NAMURA CLAIR ran 1-2-3 in the G1 Sprinters Stakes in October and warrant respect.
The BMW Hong Kong Derby is carded as Race 7 at 4.15pm over 2000m with prizemoney of HK$26 million, making it one of the richest Derbies in the World.
It is a field of high-quality horses sourced by Hong Kong owners from around the globe, bringing the best of two hemispheres together in perfect symmetry with seven horses from each hemisphere contesting the race.
This year’s race also brings together some of the best international riders with James McDonald, Ryan Moore, William Buick and Blake Shinn flying in to join our world-class riders for this year’s edition.
The pace in the Hong Kong Classic Cup was muddling but expect a stronger gallop in the Derby with riders looking for positions as the field races towards the back straight.
The barrier draw resulted in the top-rated horses GALAXY PATCH (barrier 14), HELIOS EXPRESS (13) and HELENE FEELING (11) drawing wide and, on top of this, horses with proven stamina to stay the distance like ENSUED (12) and MASSIVE SOVEREIGN (10) are drawn wide, too.
The barrier draw has thrown up multiple scenarios as how the race unfolds, but the most likely outcome will be a slow to good pace with CHANCHENG GLORY, with William Buick on board, starting from gate nine and leading with a slow pace and further steadying the pace to accelerate in the last 400m.
Hugh Bowman, HELIOS EXPRESS’ rider, said he will ride the horse conservatively first and aims to find a position with cover in midfield. He may have to accept to be even further back to relax HELIOS EXPRESS and avoid having the horse pulling hard, which he did in slowly-run races.
HELENE FEELING, with James Mc Donald on board, will likely have no option but to go forward to find a position just behind or outside of the leader to avoid being three-wide if he stays in the back of the field. BEAUTY CRESCENT, with Alexis Badel, was ridden positively last-start and should get a good position behind the leader.
ENSUED will be ridden by reigning LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Ryan Moore and will be likely forced to be three-wide in midfield, followed by MASSIVE SOVEREIGN with Zac Purton staying on him after his impressive first start in Hong Kong over this course and distance.
CHILL CHIBI, out of gate three with Jerry Chau on board, should be well positioned in midfield followed STAR MAC with Karis Teetan as his rider.
The BMW Hong Kong Derby in most cases is won by the highest-rated horses and good milers have a chance to win against their four-year-old competitors, especially when the pace is on the slow side.
While HELIOS EXPRESS has not had the ideal preparation and has a challenging draw, he is still my first choice for a win and place if Hugh can relax him. Only very good horses can win from a nearly impossible position, like in his last run, finishing the race in 11.62s in the last 200m.
I believe the 2000m will be difficult for GALAXY PATCH to master, but he is a top-class sprinter and is a place chance.
CHILL CHIBI ran extremely well after a break and is working very well. He was fully tested only in the final 200m of the Hong Kong Classic Cup and finished strongly. He is a win and place chance for me.
CHANGCHENG GLORY was underestimated and is at least a chance for a place, while ENSUED will appreciate the extra distance and I see him as a place chance despite drawing wide and he will enjoy the extra distance.
MASSIVE SOVEREIGN was impressive in his last start and that run has further improved his fitness but this race is a different challenge but have him as a place chance. STAR MAC run well and finished strongly and has a place chance too.
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