The Four-Year-Old Classic Series is one of the most exciting chapters in the Hong Kong season and, with just over six weeks until the running of the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 31 January, anticipation is already building.
In its relatively short history, the Four-Year-Old Classic Series has produced not only spectacular racing but has also served as a launching pad for some of Hong Kong’s brightest equine stars with horses the calibre of ROMANTIC WARRIOR, GOLDEN SIXTY, VOYAGE BUBBLE, CALIFORNIA SPANGLE and WERTHER triumphing in the series before advancing to Group 1 victories.
Comprised of three of Hong Kong’s oldest and most prestigious races – the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) – the Four-Year-Old Classic series was inaugurated in the 2016/17 season and now carries a record HK$52 million in prizemoney.
This prizemoney, along with the Club’s Bonus scheme, is an incentive for Hong Kong owners to invest in the best available equine talent to further enhance Hong Kong’s world-class racing while chasing Four-Year-Old Classic Series glory.
Last Sunday (15 December), the performances of MICKLEY and NEW FUTURE FOLKS suggested the pair might contend strongly in the 2025 series with promising wins at Sha Tin.
MICKLEY was particularly impressive under Hugh Bowman for John Size in running home strongly to win over 1600m in Class 3 to earn prizemoney of HK$1,148,000 and a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million. Imported on a rating of 76 after three successive wins in England, MICKLEY has now risen to 83.
Owned by Mr Edmond Siu, MICKLEY won the Britannia Stakes – defeating 28 rivals – at Royal Ascot in June and, as still only a three-year-old, shapes as an ideal contender from 1600m and beyond.
NEW FUTURE FOLKS was bought at the Hong Kong International Sale and, after three placings from four starts, won easily over 1400m in Class 4 for Michael Chang and Ben Thompson. As a result of the win, he rose nine points to 65 and shapes as a likely improver over coming weeks.
The four-year-old ratings are headed by Group 1-winning sprinter KA YING RISING at 128 from WUNDERBAR (98) and MAGIC CONTROL (97), but it will be fascinating to monitor the progress of PACKING HERMOD (93), STUNNING PEACH (86), CAP FERRAT (83), ROMANTIC THOR (82) and JOHANNES BRAHMS (76), among many others.
John Size delivered a timely reminder of his timeless skill and expertise with a quartet at Sha Tin at the weekend with MICKLEY, STELLAR EXPRESS, BEAUTY ALLIANCE and GRAND NOVA.
Following on from his Happy Valley double on 11 December with BEAUTY LIGHT and COUNTRY DANCER, John’s method of making deliberately conservative starts to the season before impacting strongly has proved incredibly successful.
With 11 wins for the campaign, John has also saddled 19 seconds and eight thirds from his 150 runners and, based on what unfolded last week, the 12-time Hong Kong champion trainer appears set for another strong season.
Hong Kong racing continues on Wednesday night at Sha Tin where the Class 3 Yuen Chau Kok Handicap carded as Race 8 at 10.50pm and run over 1650m with prizemoney of HK$2,050,000.
The pace will be good with YELLOWFIN (Jerry Chau), YOUNG BRILLIANT (Matthew Poon) and JOLLY RULER (Harry Bentley) going forward to contest the lead. LUCK IS BACK can settle close along with PERFECT TEAM also in a forward position from his middle draw.
TALENTS AMBITION has recorded both his wins over this distance and surface and finished powerfully to beat FIGHTING MACHINE on 1 December. Hugh Bowman takes the ride again and barrier 10 should not be an issue with his racing pattern. TALENTS AMBITION is my win and place selection.
FIGHTING MACHINE won over 1400m on 28 September on turf and his last two runs have both been on this surface and distance, finishing second to TURIN MASCOT and then TALENTS AMBITION, when he ran home well from midfield. Keagan De Melo rides FIGHTING MACHINE tonight and if he can get clear running from his inside draw early in the straight, he is a place chance.
TOP GUN should go forward from gate 14 under Matthew Chadwick and is a place chance. He ran on for fourth behind PATCH OF THETA and VOYAGE SAMURAI over 1600m on turf on 24 November and is running on this surface for the first time under race conditions but is going well and will run well.
PERFECT TEAM has been consistent under these conditions and while he has only won once, he has finished in the top five at all 10 runs on this surface. He drew wide and went back at his last run when third to TALENTS AMBITION, making ground late and, from a better draw, is a place chance for Vincent Ho.
LUCK IS BACK was a dual Group 1 winner in Brazil and is on a path aimed at the BMW Hong Kong Derby. He made his local debut and ran home well for fifth to SELF IMPROVEMENT on 24 November. LUCK IS BACK should settle closer to the front here from his barrier 3 draw under Derek Leung and will be better suited over this distance and is a place chance.
This is an interesting race to close the card and YELLOWFIN races well under these conditions, as does APACHE PASS, while CAPITAL LEGEND switches to the surface for the first time after winning impressively at Happy Valley last start.
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