The tussle between Pierre Ng and Francis Lui for the 2023/24 Hong Kong trainers’ championship has enthralled the city’s racing community over the past few months and, with only three meetings left in the season, their battle continues at Sha Tin today (6 July).
Pierre holds a vital two-win lead – 67-65 – over Francis and has eight runners today, led by last-start winners GREENWICH and CAPTAIN WIN. His team also includes MEDIC ELITE, ROBOT KNIGHT, SEA SAPPHIRE, TRADITION, TURIN STARSPANGLED and MILES AWAY.
Francis’ best hopes appear to be KARATE EXPRESS, KING MILES and MODULECONSTRUCTION, while he is also represented by HIGH RISE POWER, FOXHUNTER WAY, EURO ROCKS, FOXHUNTER KING, HASTEN DELIGHT, SWEET BRIAR, LUCKY GOLD, HIGHLAND RAHY and MIGHTY STEED.
While Pierre and Ng compete for honours in Hong Kong, European sport dominates the international stage at the moment with the Tour de France, Wimbledon and football’s European Championship.
I expected the Germany-Spain Euros quarter-final to be very tight and so it was with the match going to extra time before Mikel Merino’s goal in the 119th minute gave Spain a 2-1 win. Spain will play France in the semi-finals next Tuesday (9 July) after the French beat Portugal 5-3 on penalties.
The other two quarter-finals will be played tonight with Switzerland to face England and the Netherlands against Turkey.
The feature race at Sha Tin today is the Class 3 Philip Chen Trophy (1200m) which is carded as Race 10 and run at 8.45pm for prizemoney of HK$1,860,000 and features a number of promising sprinters.
The pace will be good with FULL CREDIT the likely leader from gate three. LO PAN SPIRIT led last start and will be prominent from gate seven. EIGHTY LIGHT YEARS and IMA SINGLE MAN will land in the leading division. MODULECONSTRUCTION will go forward from gate nine and should settle off the fence, just behind the leaders.
FULL CREDIT was impressive winning in Class 4 three starts back beating RUBYLOT by a big margin and most recently jumped well from an inside draw and led throughout to beat LADY’S CHOICE over this distance on 19 May. FULL CREDIT has spent time in Conghua and was an easy trial winner recently at Sha Tin. FULL CREDIT is a win and place chance for Lyle Hewitson from his good draw.
LO PAN SPIRIT has won twice from three starts and was impressive when he raced away from GLUCK RACER and SUPER INFINITY to win by an extended margin on 8 June. LO PAN SPIRIT steps up in grade but is an emerging talent and is a win and place chance for Harry Bentley.
Both FULL CREDIT and LO PAN SPIRIT are three-year-olds, with LO PAN SPIRIT a great chance for Jimmy Ting to score another win to meet the trainers’ performance criteria of 14 wins for the season.
MODULECONSTRUCTION has had 10 career starts finishing in the top-three every time. He resumed from a six month lay-off from injury with an encouraging third to JAMES TAK over this course and distance on 23 June when he raced three wide throughout the trip. MODULECONSTRUCTION has drawn a little wide again but if Vincent Ho can get him into a good spot early, he is a place chance.
STAR CLUB was impressive in finishing strongly to beat Lifeline Express on 10 March over this course and distance. He then stepped up in class and was last on the home turn before again finishing powerfully when fourth to PHOENIX LIGHT on 28 April. STAR CLUB is a sprinter who, if held up for a late finish and get clear room at the right time from his rails draw, is a place chance for Zac Purton.
Internationally, our simulcast programme continues on Saturday night with three Group 1 races. The G1 Durban July is run under handicap conditions over 2200m. It is carded as S1-1 at 10pm.
The pace will be good, generated by a big field with riders trying to get positions early in the race. ORIENTAL CHARM should lead from his middle draw with PURPLE PITCHER, MERIDIUS and COUSIN CASEY settling in the forward division.
GREEN WITH ENVY is chasing his fifth win on end. He won the Cape Derby three runs back and last start fought on bravely to win the Daily News 2000 over this course and distance on 25 May. His regular rider Craig Zackey should have him in a good position from gate five and he is a win and place chance.
SEE IT AGAIN was narrowly beaten into second in this race last year and comes into the race in good form. He resumed from a five-month break when third to DAVE THE KING in the Gold Challenge (1600m) here on 8 June and will be improved by that run. SEE IT AGAIN has to give weight to all his rivals but is a place chance for Piere Strydom.
WINCHESTER MANSION won this race last year, beating SEE IT AGAIN and meets that horse on roughly the same weight terms this year. WINCHESTER MANSION has raced only once this year and was second to ROYAL VICTORY over 2000m at Turffontein on 6 April. Kabelo Matsunyane takes the ride again and WINCHESTER MANSION is a place chance.
ROYAL VICTORY, who has won Group 1 races at his last four starts, has strong claims while PURPLE PITCHER, BARBARESCO and FLAG MAN are also sure to run well.
The G1 Garden Province Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares is carded as S1-2 and run at 11pm.
There should be good speed with RED PALACE the likely leader and MRS BROWNING on the pace from gate two. BAVARIAN BEAUTY and HUMDINGER should also ensure a good tempo.
RASCOVA comes into the race with a strong win over DOUBLE GRAND SLAM in the Fillies Guineas last start. Craig Zackey rides RASCOVA and she is a place chance.
DOUBLE GRAND SLAM followed that run with an impressive win in the Tibouchina Stakes (1400m) on 8 June and Richard Fourie should be able to give her a soft run from gate three. DOUBLE GRAND SLAM is a win and place chance.
SILVER SANCTUARY was ridden by Richard Fourie last start when beating older mares over 2000m at Group 1 level in the Woolavington Stakes on 25 May. Trainer Mike de Kock will have her fresh coming back in trip here and, with J.P. van de Merwe taking over as her rider, she is also a win and place chance.
RED PALACE was second in the Cape Guineas against the males in December and last start was an impressive winner at Listed level over 1800m. She will run the trip strongly and is another with claims for rider Anthony Andrews.
HOLD MY HAND was second to SILVER SANCTUARY in the WOOLAVINGTON 2000 and should run well.
The G1 Eclipse Stakes (1990m) and is carded as S2-1 at 10.35pm and is run at Sandown Racecourse in London.
The speed should be good and will be set by CITY OF TROY’s stablemate HANS ANDERSEN with JAYAREBE also racing on the pace.
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore combine with the overwhelming favourite CITY OF TROY. The American-bred colt overcame a disappointing return to racing in the 2000 Guineas to storm to a comfortable win in the Derby at Epsom on 1 June, winning easily from AMBIENTE FRIENTLY and subsequent Irish Derby winner LOS ANGLESES. CITY OF TROY is my win selection.
DANCING GEMINI was having his first run beyond a mile when sixth at Epsom to CITY OF TROY, tiring in the last 200m after making a challenge in the straight. At his previous run, DANCING GEMINI was second to METROPOLITAN in the French 2000 Guineas (1600m). DANCING GEMINI is a place chance for Kieran Shoemark, who rides him for the first time.
GHOSTWRITER, who has run well this season without winning for trainer Clive Cox, is also a place chance, along with JAYAREBE and AL RIFFA.
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