At Sha Tin today, we celebrate the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with the running of the Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1400m).
Evoking the spirit of ‘Ma Zhao Pao’ (racing goes on), the Hong Kong Reunification Cup marks the on-going achievements of Hong Kong’s most popular sport and the integral role horse racing plays as part of Hong Kong’s image as a world-class city. Hong Kong horse racing has not only continued but has strived and become world-class.
The Club is a global leader in horse racing and, through its unique integrated business model and strong operational performance, acts continuously for the betterment of society with substantial charitable and community contributions.
We also acknowledge Hong Kong’s collaboration with Guangdong with the staging of the Class 4 Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup Handicap (1200m).
Guangdong has long been at the forefront of Mainland-Hong Kong collaboration and, through the concerted efforts of both sides, collaboration between Guangdong and Hong Kong has proved fruitful across a wide range of areas, notably sport and development of the equine industry.
The Club has a longstanding association with Guangdong, especially since 2010 as their strategic partner in holding the Asian Games and the establishment of the first equine disease-free zone, which was essential to build the Club’s Conghua Training Centre, which has been a tremendous success.
Under the National Policy of the Greater Bay Area, our strategic partnership will pave the way for regular racing in Conghua in 2026.
I would also like to congratulate the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong (CMA) on its 90th anniversary. Established in 1934, CMA has a long and distinguished history as a not-for-profit business organisation dedicated to promoting Hong Kong’s trade and industrial development.
To mark the occasion, the CMA 90th Anniversary Cup Handicap (1000m) will be run at Sha Tin today, featuring some emerging young horses including KA YING VICTORY and three interesting first-starters – ALPHA ONE, SOVEREIGN FUND and MOTOMAN.
The Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup is carded as Race 6 at 6.35pm and will be run over 1400m for prizemoney of HK$2.84 million.
With the uncertain weather patterns influencing our tracks, I would advise monitoring the latest weather conditions and, based on the forecasts, we currently expect a good to yielding track today.
The pace will be good with FLAMING RABBIT, drawn barrier one, using his good early gate speed to lead. KEEFY has an inside gate and should settle behind the leader, with SUPERB BOY also prominent. TOMODACHI KOKOROE and WONDER KIT will be handy to the leading group.
WONDER KIT has raced 13 times this season for Francis Lui and has finished in the top five every time. His last three runs have been over this course and distance and he has been placed in each, finishing within a length of the winner. He and SUPREME LUCKY were both closing quickly on KEEFY and SUPERB BOY in the last 100m last start. WONDER KIT is my first choice for a win and place for Vincent Ho, especially because he is working very well and won in Australia on heavy ground and he also handles a yielding track in Kong Kong.
SUPERB BOY was ridden along early to lead at his last start when he fought hard when finishing second to KEEFY. Francis Lui has had SUPERB BOY at Conghua since that race and has engaged Zac Purton to ride today. Zac should have SUPERB BOY in a perfect position, stalking the speed from gate five but I am not sure he handles a potentially softer tracks and make him a place chance.
SUPREME LUCKY is working very well and can also handle a yielding track and I see him as a place chance for Matthew Poon.
KEEFY staged a welcome return to his best form when he sat outside SUPERB BOY in running and challenged early in the straight and the two horses staged a magnificent battle all the way to the finish. KEEFY will also have benefitted from time in Conghua since and should get a good run behind the leader here for Karis Teetan. He is a place chance.
ATULLIBIGEAL was a winner in this class and distance beating SUPERB BOY in February and has been racing well since. He stepped out to 1600m at his last start in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap and stayed on well in the straight to be fifth behind GALAXY PATCH. ATULLIBIGEAL comes back to his favourite distance here and is a place chance for Hugh Bowman despite giving weight to all his rivals.
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