After months of careful planning and building anticipation, the stage is set for the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley tonight (4 December) when – with an outstanding cast of world-class riders competing in the four-race series – Hong Kong will host one of the most prestigious events on the horseracing calendar.
The quality of the 12 jockeys involved is exceptional and the IJC stands as a magnificent prelude to the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) on Sunday (8 December). It was a privilege to attend the JC Cube at Tai Kwun on Tuesday (3 December) for the official media conference with these amazing athletes in a setting which does justice to the LONGINES IJC.
There was an incredible buzz at trackwork at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning (3 December) with the presence of many overseas connections and racing journalists from all over the world, who are here to cover both the LONGINES IJC and LONGINES HKIR.
I was impressed with the visiting horses including Group 1 winners IRESINE, STELLENBOSCH, WITHOUT A FIGHT and CONTINUOUS, who will all run in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), LUGAL in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), SOUL RUSH, ANTINO, JANTAR MANTAR and LAZZAT in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and LIBERTY ISLAND, CALIF, CONTENT and CALIF in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).
Aidan O’Brien’s team of LUXEMBOURG, WINGSPAN, CONTINUOUS and CONTENT all looked to have settled in well.
The overseas horses look particularly strong and I look forward to watching the world-class racing unfold on Sunday, when ROMANTIC WARRIOR, VOYAGE BUBBLE, GALAXY PATCH, CALIFORNIA SPANGLE and KA YING RISING, among others, carry the hopes of the home team.
Five previous LONGINES IJC winners return to Happy Valley tonight – Vincent Ho, Ryan Moore, Zac Purton, Karis Teetan and Hugh Bowman – while Ryan, Hugh and James McDonald have also been acclaimed as the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey based on Group 1 results across a single season.
Completing a stellar line-up are Japan’s Yuga Kawada, France’s Mickael Barzalona, Great Britain’s Hollie Doyle and William Buick, Ireland’s Colin Keane and Australia’s Rachel King.
The first leg of the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship is carded as Race 4 at 8.10pm for Class 4 horses over 1000m. The pace will be good with SPICY SPANGLE going forward under Yuga Kawada from barrier 11, along with PARENTS’ LOVE (Vincent Ho), who also likes to lead.
CHAMPION METHOD came with a storming run to beat LEAN MASTER here over 1000m on 13 November and he is a win and place chance for Karis Teetan.
William Buick takes the ride on LEAN MASTER who ran well for second behind CHAMPION METHOD. LEAN MASTER is drawn to get a perfect run from gate four and he is a place chance, while GRAND NOVA is lightly-raced and has the talent to be placed here for Ryan Moore, although his task is made difficult by the wide draw.
SPICY SPANGLE will lead for a long way and is a place chance, while CIRCUS REEL (Hollie Doyle), CIRCUIT SEVEN (Colin Keane), SIGHT HAPPY (Zac Purton) and last start winner PARENTS’ LOVE all have claims in an open race.
The second leg of the of the LONGINES IJC is carded as Race 5 at 8.40pm for Class 4 Horses over 1650m.
The speed should be good with SUPER BABY (Rachel King) holding the front from barrier one and LUCKY BANNER (Vincent Ho) also going forward in search of the lead.
SURE JOYFUL has a good record at the course and distance and followed a win over FOREMOST TEDDY and CAN’T GO WONG here two starts ago with a last start second to PRINCE ALEX on 6 November. Colin Keane takes the ride on SURE JOYFUL and he is a win and place chance.
LUCKY BANNER should settle on the speed from gate 10 and comes into this race off a good second to HAPPY DAILY over the course and distance on 13 November. He is a place chance if he doesn’t have to work too hard from his wide draw.
JUMBO FORTUNE has consistent in five runs this season for David Eustace and finished strongly when third to MATSU VICTOR at Sha Tin over 1600m last start. JUMBO FORTUNE has a better draw here and is a place chance for Hugh Bowman.
PRINCE ALEX fought on strongly to beat SURE JOYFUL last start and is a place chance for James McDonald and there are a number of other chances in the race including CAN’T GO WONG (William Buick), SUPER BABY and CHARMING STEED (Zac Purton), who has an excellent record at the course and distance.
The third leg of the LONGINES IJC is carded as Race 7 at 9.40pm for Class 3 Horses over 1650m.
The pace should be good with LOVERO (Hugh Bowman) going forward from barrier 11 and SAMARKAND (Rachel King) and SOLEIL FIGHTER (Hollie Doyle) settling on the speed.
DARING PURSUIT resumed over this course and distance on 30 October, beating SOLEIL FIGHTER and SUPER UNICORN. He has been saved for this race and has had time at Conghua since his first-up win. He has drawn well and is a win and place chance for Ryan Moore.
SUPER UNICORN followed his good third behind DARING PURSUIT with a last-start second to LOVERO when he lost the race on objection. Mickael Barzalona rides SUPER UNICORN and he is a place chance from his rails draw.
SILO is racing well and is a place chance for Karis Teetan, LOVERO and SAMARKAND are both place chances despite their wide draws and ROMANTIC LAOS (Colin Keane) is also racing well.
The final leg of the LONGINES IJC is carded as Race 8 at 10.10pm and is for Class 3 horses over 1200m. The pace should be good with six last-start winners engaged.
GUSTOSISIMO showed good gate speed when winning over the course and distance on 20 November. Hugh Bowman should be able to find the front from gate three and GUSTOSISIMO is a win and place chance.
He should ensure there is a good pace set with CHATEAUNEUF (James McDonald), AURORA LADY (Mickael Barzalona) and GIANT LEAP (Zac Purton) all prominent.
SUGAR SUGAR returned to winning form last start when he beat SWIFT ASCEND and DIVANO on 30 October. SUGAR SUGAR has been to Conghua since and he is a place chance for Karis Teetan.
KYRUS DRAGON gets back in his races and will be suited by a strong pace. He resumed on 16 October with a win over this course and distance, beating GUSTOSISMO. KYRUS DRAGON spent time at Conghua since and comes into this race fresh. He is a place chance for Colin Keane.
DENFIELD has been in good form this season and followed an easy win over YOUNG HORIZON on 27 October with a good third to GUSTOSISIMO and EASON last starl t. DENFIELD will be another running on at the end and is a place chance for William Buick.
The odds for the LONGINES IJC reflect how competitive this jockey challenge is and while Ryan Moore was the opening odds favourite at 5.50 with Hugh Bowman at 7.50, the market has now adjusted with Zac Purton and Vincent Ho sharing favouritism at 5.50 and Ryan and Hugh next at 6.50.
I like Colin Keane as a surprise winner at attractive odds. He opened at 14.00 but those odds have gone down to 10.00 at the time of writing this blog.
Last Sunday, I visited Tai Kwun to enjoy the venue in a different way for an annual Hong Kong tradition, the HKJC x Tai Kwun – Simple Gifts of Joy, which brings to life three core aspects of the Christmas season: joy, giving, and togetherness.
A 12-metre Christmas Tree is a wonderful symbol of peace and hope and, as this year marks the 140th anniversary of Hong Kong Jockey Club, the event also celebrates the city’s community and the people of Hong Kong who have truly made good possible throughout the 140-year journey with the Club.
Tai Kwun, which has been reimagined from its former life as the Central Police Station Compound, Magistracy and Prison, to a creative, artistic and social hub is a fantastic destination for an increasing number of visitors and a celebration of Hong Kong’s past, present and future.
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