The entry for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) has generated a lot of excitement and interest with 193 nominations, including 60 individual Group 1 winners, among the entries received this week and anticipation is building quickly ahead of the 8 December flagship meeting.
Elite horses from 11 different racing jurisdictions feature in the entry for LONGINES HKIR, which offers record prize money of HK$126 million across the four Group 1 features – the HK$40 million LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$36 million LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$26 million LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and HK$24 million LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
With only six weeks now until LONGINES HKIR, the race-track performances of champions such as ROMANTIC WARRIOR, CALIFORNIA SPANGLE, AUGUSTE RODIN, LIBERTY ISLAND, VIA SISTINA, ANTINO, GOLIATH, JANTAR MANTAR, REBEL’S ROMANCE, LUGAL and LAZZAT – as well exciting talents such KA YING RISING and GALAXY PATCH – will be closely monitored.
The G1 W. S. Cox Plate Plate (2040m) was won at Moonee Valley on Saturday (26 October) in record-breaking style by VIA SISTINA, who led home PROGNOSIS (second), MR BRIGHTSIDE (fourth), DOCKLANDS (fifth) and ROYAL PATRONAGE (seventh), who are also entered for LONGINES HKIR.
It was a spectacular performance by VIA SISTINA, who is raced by Mr Zhang’s Yulong Investments, and I hope Chris Waller and his team will strongly consider attempting to emulate the feats of ROMANTIC WARRIOR, who won the W. S. Cox Plate before winning the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.
The focus on LONGINES HKIR will continue this weekend with our simulcast programme and the running of the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn, which is carded as S1-1 and will be run over 2000m at 2.40pm.
This race holds great interest to Hong Kong racing followers with TASTIERA, NORTH BRIDGE, SOL ORIENS, HO O BISCUITS, DANON BELUGA, JUSTIN PALACE and LIBERTY ISLAND all holding entries for either the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup or Vase in December.
The speed in this race will be good throughout and should be set by BELLAGIO OPERA, who has drawn the rails, with NORTH BRIDGE also close to the front from his good draw. HO O BISCUITS is a natural leader and will force the pace with SCHILTHORN going forward from his wide draw.
LIBERTY ISLAND is one of the great fillies in world racing and last year won the three-year-old fillies Triple Crown before beating all but superstar EQUINOX in the Japan Cup. At her only run this year, LIBERTY ISLAND was a creditable third to REBEL’S ROMANCE and SHAHRYAR in the Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) in March. LIBERTY ISLAND has been training well in her preparation for her return to racing and she is my win and place selection to be ridden by Yuga Kawada.
DANON BELUGA has not raced since March when he was third to FACTEUR CHEVAL and NAMUR in the Dubai Turf over 1800m in what was a close tussle between the first three home. DANON BELUGA ran well in this race last year finishing fourth to EQUINOX and with Cristian Demuro aboard for the first time is a place chance.
SOL ORIENS won the Japanese 2000 Guineas last year and was second to TASTIERA in the Japan Derby. He showed he was back to his best form last start when runner-up to BELLAGIO OPERA in the Takarazuka Kinen in June. SOL ORIENS will be suited by the fast pace and will run home strongly under Takeshi Yokoyama and is a place chance.
NORTH BRIDGE (Yasunari Iwata) ran third to Romantic Warrior in the FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin in April. He beat a very strong field including Prognosis in the Sapporo Kinen at his only run since and is a place chance. LEBENSSTIL finished last in the Hong Kong Vase in December but has won his last two starts in Group company and has the big advantage of Christophe Lemaire riding, who has won both times he has ridden the horse.
This is a very strong race with Derby winners DO DEUCE (2022) and TASTIERA (2023) in the mix and BELLAGIO OPERA, who finished third in the Takarazuka Kinen at his last when racing on the pace and will be in contention for a long way.
Happy Valley is one of the most iconic horse racing venues on the global stage with its unique landscape, which helps create an amazing raceday atmosphere for attendees who can watch world-class racing at close quarters in the very heart of the city.
More renowned for hosting Happy Wednesday meetings, Happy Valley today stages a rare Sunday meeting with the promise of oustanding racing. The Class 2 Guangzhou Handicap is carded as Race 10 and will be run over 1200m at 5.50pm for prizemoney of HK$2,840,000.
The speed in the race will be good with TOMODACHI KOKOROE likely to push forward from his outside gate in search of the lead. COPARTNER PRANCE and SUPERB CAPITALIST can take advantage of their inside draws to settle on the speed, with LUCKY ENCOUNTER and SEASONS WIT the next pair in running.
COPARTNER PRANCE has a near perfect record from six starts at the course and distance finishing third at his first attempt last December before winning his next five. He resumed with a promising third to HARMONY N BLESSED at Sha Tin on 22 September before extending to 1400m for the first time and fading late to finish seventh behind DROMBEG BANNER. COPARTNER PRANCE returns to Happy Valley, drops back to 1200m, has drawn perfectly in gate one and has Zac Purton riding. He is my win and place selection.
GORGEOUS WIN was impressive beating GLORY ELITE at Sha Tin at the opening meeting of the season and then stepped up in class and ran creditably for third behind WUNDERBAR and BOTTOMUPTOGETHER in a very strong race on 13 October. This is GORGEOUS WIN’S first run at Happy Valley but he is a talented sprinter and is a place chance for Matthew Poon.
SING DRAGON was fourth to WUNDERBAR two weeks ago and while he was well beaten by the first three home, he has been consistent on turf since winning three races on the bounce on the All Weather earlier in the year. Harry Bentley will have him midfield, one off the fence and he is a place chance.
RAGING BLIZZARD has not raced since he won over the course and distance in March. He has spent a long period at Conghua and has had three trials there in preparation for his return to the track. RAGING BLIZZARD has looked good in those trials and, despite drawing awkwardly in gate 10, is a place chance for Brenton Avdulla, who rides him for the first time.
TOMODACHI KOKOROE has a very good record here winning four races over the course and distance last season. Karis Teetan will ride him for speed from the outside gate and he will be prominent, as will SUPERB CAPITALIST (Hugh Bowman) who can improve sharply on his disappointing effort behind WUNDERBAR last start and is a four-time winner at the course and distance.
SIX PACK makes his Hong Kong debut for Douglas Whyte after winning two races in Australia. Two starts ago, he finished fifth in the G1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) to Mr Brightside and is now on a path to the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
The opening today of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Shenzhen Centre is not only a major milestone for the Club but a significant step towards our objective of taking world-class equestrian sports to the Mainland.
The HKJC Shenzen Centre will deliver equine industry excellence with outstanding facilities but will also provide community thought-leadership regarding the aspirations and lifestyles of our Mainland members, owners and partners.
The Club’s vision for the Greater Bay Area extends beyond constructing facilities. It is about creating a two-and-a-half hour circle, stretching from Hong Kong to Conghua with Shenzhen at the centre of the circle.
The Shenzhen Centre is not a traditional clubhouse, rather it is a collaborative eco-system where events and dialogue cultural exchanges take place while recognising our rich heritage and passion for equine sports.
I would like to thank and congratulate the various Club teams who have made this magnificent facility a reality.
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