Exciting times ahead for Hong Kong racing in 2025

After a truly momentous 2024, we stage the first race meeting of 2025 at Sha Tin on Wednesday (1 January) as we reflect on the feats of Hong Kong’s global racing stars over the past year while, at the same time, anticipating the exciting emergence of this season’s Classic generation.

The close of 2024 and the arrival of the New Year presents the ideal opportunity to express our gratitude for equine champions such as ROMANTIC WARRIOR who, in my view, is the best middle-distance horse in the world, while CALIFORNIA SPANGLE, VOYAGE BUBBLE and KA YING RISING are among the best in the world.

Hong Kong’s jockey ranks continue to be led by the remarkable Zac Purton, who routinely excels with incredible skill and consistency, having notched nine wins and three minor placings from his past 18 rides to become only the second jockey to ride 1,800 winners in Hong Kong after Douglas Whyte (1,813).

Given his current form, it appears Zac will overtake Douglas’ record sooner than later and I congratulate him on his latest achievement, especially since his competition this season has included jockeys of the highest ilk, including James McDonald, Hugh Bowman, Vincent Ho, Luke Ferraris, Karis Teetan, Matthew Poon, Andrea Atzeni, Matthew Chadwick, Brenton Avdulla and several others.

From a horse development viewpoint, we have seen the emergence of a string of quality Four-Year-Old Classic Series contenders across the past month with the performances of MICKLEY, CAP FERRAT, ROMANTIC THOR and NAVAL FORCE.

The four-year-old ratings are headed by Group 1-winning sprinter KA YING RISING, who has soared to 128 – which is joint-third with VOYAGE BUBBLE in Hong Kong behind ROMANTIC WARRIOR (134) and LUCKY SWEYNESSE (132) – in only 11 starts and his performance in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) on 19 January will determine if he runs in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 31 January.

Beyond that, the staying promise already shown by MICKLEY, CAP FERRAT, ROMANTIC THOR and NAVAL FORCE indicates this promising quartet can contend strongly in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 2 March and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 23 March.

MICKLEY runs in Race 11 tomorrow – the Class 3 Chuk Yuen Handicap (1600m) – and it will be interesting to watch his performance after his strong last-start win. With much to unfold over the next month, this is an exciting time for owners, trainers and jockeys and I have no doubt several other Four-Year-Old Classic Series aspirants will soon emerge.  

The New Year’s Day meeting at Sha Tin is always an auspicious occasion and our “Lucky Start 2025 Raceday” has something for everyone – on and off the track – with admission from 10.30am and the first of 11 races, the Class 4 Lai Chi Chong Handicap (1200m), at 12.30pm.

There will be gifts for Sha Tin attendees, themed culinary delights and a racing quiz challenge to entertain guests before the running of the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap, which is carded as Race 4 at 2pm and run over 1000m for prizemoney of HK$4.2 million.

The pace will be good. MAGIC CONTROL (Matthew Chadwick) has the speed to lead and dictate the tempo, while WHIZZ KID (Harry Bentley) has good gate speed and should settle behind the leader from HARMONY N BLESSED (Karis Teetan), BEAUTY WAVES (Hugh Bowman), AWESOME TREASURE (Keith Yeung) and HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE (Zac Purton).

BEAUTY WAVES won the G3 National Day Cup Handicap over this course and distance on 1 October with only 115lb, defeating MAGIC CONTROL and WHIZZ KID. He will carry 131lb here, but has maintained form with solid performances behind KA YING RISING and was held up in the straight last start when sixth in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint. He is a win and place chance.

MAGIC CONTROL has won twice and finished second from three course and distance attempts and is also a win and place chance, while HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE will try the Sha Tin 1000m straight for the first time and will be finishing powerfully. HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE is a high-quality sprinter and will prove hard to hold out as a place chance.

The G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap is carded as Race 8 at 4.10pm and will be run over 1400m for prizemoney of HK$4.2 million.

The pace will be good. CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (Brenton Avdulla) has the speed to cross from barrier six and lead HEALTHY HAPPY (Matthew Chadwick), while TOMODACHI KOKOROE (Lyle Hewitson) and DROMBEG BANNER (Andrea Atzeni) are likely to go forward. RED LION (Zac Purton) is expected to be prominent, PATCH OF THETA (Karis Teetan) should be midfield, while BEAUTY JOY (Hugh Bowman) likes to settle back in the field.

CALIFORNIA SPANGLE is one of 10 course and distance winners in this field and, despite carrying 135lb and conceding up to 20lb to his rivals, has the class as a three-time Group 1 winner to overcome the handicap if the early stages of the race aren’t run too quickly. He is fitter now after three runs and he is a win and place chance.

PATCH OF THETA is proven at Sha Tin over 1400m with four wins and three placings and is extremely consistent. He comes back in distance from 1600m, which is not ideal even with his tremendous 1400m form. His career-best performance was his last win over 1600m. TAJ DRAGON has won six times over 1400m, including in this race last year and has drawn perfectly in barrier one. He will be ridden by Vincent Ho, who returns from injury. Both PATCH OF THETA and TAJ DRAGON are place chances, along with GREEN N WHITE.

BEAUTY JOY ran well last start and is also a place chance along with RED LION, who runs over his preferred distance of 1400m, while DROMBEG BANNER and CHIU CHOW SPIRIT should run well.

With a wonderful year of racing to look forward to, I take this opportunity to wish my readers, Hong Kong racing participants and followers from all over the world the very best health and fortune in 2025.


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