Hong Kong is renowned globally as one of the most competitive racing jurisdictions in the world and success in the city is eagerly sought.
Providing opportunities for aspirational youth is one of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s priorities in order to maintain our world-class racing and also as part of the Club’s commitment to continuously serve the community.
The contributions made to Hong Kong racing through the Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School, the Racing Development Board and the Racing Training Talent Centre are measured in the stellar accomplishments of graduates such as Tony Cruz, Vincent Ho, Francis Lui, Ricky Yiu and many others.
Hong Kong racing also plays a significant role in further developing those trainers, jockeys and stable staff – and other professionals – who come to the city from abroad and who improve markedly simply by competing against, and learning from, the best.
Although proudly South African, Luke Ferraris is also very much a product of Hong Kong. Luke first learned how to ride in Hong Kong from the age of three and was almost a permanent fixture at Sha Tin trackwork alongside his father and trainer, David Ferraris, before he returned to South Africa for schooling.
The Club recognised Luke’s world-class ability when, after winning two champion apprentice titles in South Africa and a string of major races, he was recruited to join Hong Kong’s jockey roster at the age of 19 in 2021/22.
On Wednesday night (18 December), Luke became one of the youngest jockeys – at only 22 – to reach 100 winners in Hong Kong. With 17 wins for the season, Luke is fourth in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship behind Zac Purton (51), Hugh Bowman (25) and Vincent Ho (21).
It was clear from a young age how much passion Luke has for racing, and especially Hong Kong racing, and I congratulate Luke on his latest accomplishment and wish him continued good fortune for the future.
The G1 Arima Kinen is one of Japan’s most popular races with the field selected by fan vote. It is run at 2.40pm on Sunday (22 December) and is carded as S1-1.
The speed will be good to moderate with horses such as BELLAGIO OPERA, DEEP BOND, STARS ON EARTH and STUNNING ROSE racing in the forward division.
Three-year-old URBAN CHIC is racing in top form, as evidenced by his brilliant Japanese St Leger victory. To be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, who has won the race the race three times previously, URBAN came away in the St Leger to win impressively from REDENTOR and ADMIRE TERRA. URBAN CHIC has drawn well in gate three and is a win and place chance.
JUSTIN PALACE was fourth last year in this race to DO DEUCE, who is unfortunately scratched, and has raced well in his four runs this year without finishing in the top three. He was fourth in the Tenno Sho Autumn and then fifth in the Japan Cup and is a place chance under Ryusei Sakai.
ROUSHAM PARK was unplaced in the 2023 Hong Kong Cup behind ROMANTIC WARRIOR and at his latest run finished strongly when runner-up to REBEL’S ROMANCE in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar, with SHAHRYAR third, in early November. ROUSHAM PARK is a place chance with Tom Marquand taking the ride.
PROGNOSIS is another horse well known to Hong Kong fans with his three runs at Sha Tin finishing in two seconds and a fifth behind ROMANTIC WARRIOR over 2000m. He travelled to Australia in October and was runner-up to VIA SISTINA in the G1 W. S. Cox Plate and he is a place chance for Kosei Miura as he extends to 2500m for the first time.
Other runners of note include last year’s runner-up STARS ON EARTH, this year’s Derby winner DANON DOCILE, as well as top class stayers DANON BELUGA and SHAHRYAR.
At Sha Tin, the Class 2 Poinsettia Handicap is carded as Race 10 and will be run over 1200m at 5.50pm for prizemoney of HK$2.84 million.
The pace will be fast with several runners settling on the speed with their natural race pattern. I GIVE (Andrea Atzeni) will be prominent from his middle gate with HARMONY N BLESSED (Hugh Bowman) and GLORY ELITE (Derek Leung) also in the leading division. CALL ME GLORIOUS (Alexis Pouchin) has drawn wide but will go forward and MAJESTIC KNIGHT (Britney Wong) should also settle on-speed from his inside draw.
WUNDERBAR has won six of eight race starts and is the only horse to have beaten KA YING RISING under race conditions, having done so twice. At his most recent run, WUNDERBAR switched back to 1000m and was unable to run down MAGIC CONTROL, when beaten narrowly on 9 November. WUNDERBAR is back to his best distance of 1200m, even though he performed well last time over 1000m. WUNDERBAR is working well but faces the risk of being caught wide from gate 11, especially with a lot of speed on his inside but he is still my first choice under Zac Purton to win this competitive Class 2.
BOTTOMUPTOGETHER is well drawn in gate one and will be in a good position for Matthew Chadwick and he is, in my view, the main opponent for WUNDERBAR and my second choice. In his last start, he stepped up to 1400m, finish sixth, but was found to have blood in his trachea.
GLORY ELITE has a very good record over this course and distance. He stepped up in grade when, after being used early and sitting outside the leader from a wide gate, he faded to run eighth to BEAUTY CHARGE at Happy Valley on 20 November. GLORY ELITE has a middle gate and, back to Sha Tin, is a place chance for Derek Leung.
GORGEOUS WIN has been a little disappointing in his last two runs, both at Happy Valley. His previous form over this course and distance was excellent including a good third to WUNDERBAR and BOTTOMUPTOGETHER in October. James McDonald takes the ride and GORGEOUS WIN is a place chance.
There are a number of other runners that have claims including FAST NETWORK, who steps to the 1200m for the first time, last-start winner BEAUTY CHARGE and horses such as SING DRAGON, I GIVE, WONDER KIT and RAGING BLIZZARD, who are all racing well.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes for Christmas to all Hong Kong racing fans and readers of my Blog. I hope the Festive Season and 2025 brings you good health, peace and prosperity and I look forward to seeing you at the races soon.
Comment
