Three days after one of the most significant performances in Hong Kong racing history, ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s stunning G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) triumph continues to reverberate around the world.
The international acclaim which deservedly followed ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s phenomenal display for Danny Shum, James McDonald and owner Mr Peter Lau in Tokyo has echoed through every major racing jurisdiction and reflects tremendously on Hong Kong.
Personally speaking, the spontaneous and generous reception of Japanese horse racing purists at Tokyo Racecourse for ROMANTIC WARRIOR was the ultimate measure of their unreserved appreciation of a global champion – and it set the tone globally.
In the heady aftermath of the Yasuda Kinen, which has had only four internationally-trained winners in its history, including Hong Kong’s FAIRY KING PRAWN (2000) and BULLISH LUCK (2006), the accolades that have flowed for ROMANTIC WARRIOR are quite extraordinary.
On social media alone – notably, X (Twitter), Facebook and YouTube – there were more than 4.6 million impressions in the first 24 hours alone, while there was saturation newspaper and online coverage in Japan, as well as more than 2,400 print and online stories in 12 separate countries, more than 150 separate reports in Hong Kong and 24 reports in the Mainland.
Humbling speaking, no other sport in Hong Kong has generated such numbers from a single event and the extensive global acclaim is due recognition for a truly remarkable horse who created history by becoming the first Hong Kong horse to win five Group 1s in a season, including the top three international Group 1 races over 2000m in Hong Kong, with the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and the FWD QEII Cup (2000m) as well as the overseas wins with the W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) in Australia and the Yasuda Kinen in Japan.
With his tenacity and talent, ROMANTIC WARRIOR epitomises Hong Kong’s resilience and can-do spirit and, after such a gruelling and productive season, I am glad ROMANTIC WARRIOR is now going for a spell for a well-deserved rest.
While ROMANTIC WARRIOR now occupies joint top position in the Hong Kong ratings on 133 with GOLDEN SIXTY, it is always exciting to watch the emergence of talented young horses.
KA YING RISING started the season on a mark of 52 for David Hayes and now, after only seven starts – for five wins and two seconds – he has risen to 111 in the handicaps after his G3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap (1200m) victory at Sha Tin on Sunday (2 June).
Still only a three-year-old, KA YING RISING carried only 115lb under handicap conditions at the weekend in defeating Group 1 winners VICTOR THE WINNER (135lb) and INVINCIBLE SAGE (129lb), but he is still a very promising horse.
Similarly, GALAXY PATCH has made impressive progress in his first Hong Kong season, advancing from a mark of 63 to 113. Still only four, GALAXY PATCH’s season has included second placings in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).
His win in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m) under Vincent Ho on Sunday certainly marks him out as a horse with strong potential – and also delivered a vital victory in Pierre Ng’s tussle with Francis Lui for the 2023/24 Hong Kong trainers’ championship.
With only 11 meetings left in the season, Pierre leads with 61 wins to Francis’ 60 and the stage is set for an exciting finish. Ricky Yiu (51), Tony Cruz (48), John Size (46), David Hayes (45), Danny Shum (45), Caspar Fownes (45) and Frankie Lor (41) are next in the standings.
At Happy Valley tonight, the first section of the Class 3 Violet Hill Handicap is carded as Race 9 at 10.50pm and is run over 1200m for prizemoney of HK$1,860,000.
The speed will be good with noted leader CALIFORNIA TOUCH likely to find the front from gate seven. SUPER FORTUNE and KA YING CHEER will also settle close to the speed. KA YING CHEER likes to race on the pace and will go forward from gate 10.
WINGS OF WAR broke through for a well-deserved win over this course and distance on 8 May. WINGS OF WAR has a good draw in barrier two for Harry Bentley and, if the speed as strong as expected, he is a win and place chance.
A AMERIC TE SPECSO had been racing well before his last start when he was slowly away and crossed to the rail at the back of the field when seventh to COPARTNER PRANCE on 15 May. He was still last at the 400m mark and came widest in the straight making good ground late for seventh. A AMERIC TE SPECSO is a run-on horse and gets back in his races, but from gate three and with Zac Purton riding, he should settle closer than last start and is a win and place chance.
OUR LUCKY GLORY won two races in Class 4 over this course and distance before stepping up in class and finishing fourth to COPARTNER PRANCE on 15 May. Andrea Atzeni rides OUR LUCK GLORY again and he is a place chance.
CALIFORNIA TOUCH jumped well from his rails draw to lead last start and gave a good kick in the straight, before being gunned down in the last few strides by COPARTNER PRANCE over this course and distance on 15 May. CALIFORNIA TOUCH is holding his form and is a place chance for Matthew Chadwick.
This is a competitive race to finish an excellent card of racing with horses such as MEGA BONUS, SUGAR SUGAR, KA YING CHEER and EXUBERANT all having place claims on the best of their recent form.
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