The ability to attract the best horses, jockeys and trainers to Hong Kong is one of Hong Kong racing’s enduring hallmarks and last Sunday (26 May) REBEL’S ROMANCE delivered the perfect closing chapter to our select Group 1 season with a commanding performance in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin.
In becoming the first overseas-trained horse to win the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, REBEL’S ROMANCE showed why he is the second highest-rated horse in the world in 2024, enhancing his already incredible record on the global stage.
His presence at Sha Tin showed once again that Hong Kong remains a destination of choice for owners and trainers with champion horses and with five Group 1s in Germany (two), the United States, Dubai and now Hong Kong, as well as other victories in Qatar and Great Britain, REBEL’S ROMANCE is a fantastic globe-trotter for Charlie Appleby, William Buick and Sheikh Mohammed.
This season alone, we have hosted the legendary French trainer Andre Fabre who won the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) with JUNKO as well as Ireland’s Aidan O’Brien and Japan’s finest trainers along with the very best of international jockeys, including James McDonald, Ryan Moore and Maxime Guyon who ventured to Hong Kong to compete with our world-class participants.
It is well established international racing’s greatest challenge is successfully travelling horses from one destination to another before competing at Group 1 level. REBEL’S ROMANCE record – now 13 wins from 19 starts and approximately HK$70 million in prizemoney – speaks for itself.
The Club is grateful for Godolphin’s support in sending one of their most accomplished equine athletes to race in Hong Kong and I would like to congratulate Charlie on his first win in the city and I wish him all the best with his future endeavours.
There were discussions immediately after Sunday’s victory about REBEL’S ROMANCE possibly returning for the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in December, which is potentially wonderful news for the 2024 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.
While we have staged the last Group 1 of the Hong Kong season, I look forward to Sunday (2 June) when two of our top-class horses in ROMANTIC WARRIOR and VOYAGE BUBBLE take on the best Japanese milers in the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) at Tokyo Racecourse.
Another familiar trait of Hong Kong racing is the incessantly competitive nature of our sport and, with only 13 meetings left in the season, the battle for the 2023/24 trainers’ championship has intensified.
Pierre Ng led by 16 wins on 1 January but his former mentor Francis Lui has steadily whittled away the deficit and, after Francis’ double at Sha Tin on Sunday with DIVANO and CALL ME GLORIOUS, the ledger for the most wins is now squared at 59 wins each.
Pierre continues to lead by virtue of more second placings – 45 to 40 – and those minor placings could prove crucial if his tussle with Francis goes to the wire.
The competition for a top-three place is similarly tight with Ricky Yiu (49), Tony Cruz (46), John Size (45), Danny Shum (45), David Hayes (44) and Caspar Fownes (44) all having strong seasons.
At Sha Tin tonight, the Class 3 Fung Wo Handicap is carded as Race 8 at 10.50pm. The pace will be good with MASSIVE ACTION likely to lead. RED MAJESTY likes to race on the pace and will be prominent from his rails draw, with WOODFIRE BRO also in the forward group with SUPER WINNER. AMAZING DUCK will press on from his wide gate to be prominent.
MASSIVE ACTION drew the rails and jumped quickly to hold the lead over this course and distance on 11 May before holding off WOODFIRE BRO and BERLIN TANGO under a strong ride from Dylan Mo. MASSIVE ACTION may have to work a little harder to find the lead from his draw here but he is place chance.
In that race, WOODFIRE BRO was caught three-wide throughout, fighting on strongly to be narrowly beaten by MASSIVE ACTION. Derek Leung should be able to find a good spot here from gate five and WOODFIRE BRO is a win and place chance.
BERLIN TANGO has raced consistently without winning this season. He went back to last at his most recent run and finished strongly to finish a close third. BERLIN TANGO really flew in the last 100m and he is a place chance for Brenton Avdulla.
PERFECT TEAM was a winner over this course and distance earlier in the season and his last run was back on 24 January when he was a good fourth to SO WE JOY, beaten just over two lengths. PERFECT TEAM was subsequently on the injury list and has spent time at Conghua recovering. He looked good in a trial on 16 May and is a place chance resuming from his good draw for Alexis Badel.
AESTHETICISM is a last start winner over 1600m on turf here on 5 May when he finished strongly from the back of the field to beat Mister Dapper. AESTHETICISM is stepping up in class and goes to the All Weather for the first time under race conditions and it will be interesting to see how he performs for Lyle Hewitson from his good draw.
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