Hong Kong’s New Year’s Day meeting is traditionally one of the most auspicious occasions on our racing calendar and Wednesday’s (1 January) fixture was no exception with several significant performances, including the first Group-level wins by HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE and PATCH OF THETA.
HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE’s victory in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m) for John Size and Zac Purton was deserved recognition for a quality sprinter who has always run well at the highest level without winning.
His performance to beat 1000m specialist MAGIC CONTROL (125lb) despite carrying topweight of 135lb was impressive, especially considering this was his first race over 1000m on Sha Tin’s straight course.
Similarly, PATCH OF THETA impressed with his strong win in the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) for Francis Lui and Karis Teetan. Although carrying only 115lb, PATCH OF THETA coped with dropping back from 1600m with aplomb and ultimately ran away from his rivals.
The magnitude of the win left Francis, Hong Kong’s reigning champion trainer, considering a start in the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on 19 January and it will be interesting to see how PATCH OF THETA – who was purchased at the 2023 Hong Kong International Sale – measures up against proven Group 1 performers including VOYAGE BUBBLE and BEAUTY ETERNAL.
Apart from the sporting highlights, the atmosphere at Sha Tin and Happy Valley on Wednesday was very good with attendance of almost 43,000, which is the largest crowd since 2019. Included in the attendance were 4,120 Mainland tourists, almost double the number recorded at the corresponding race day in 2024.
I am encouraged by not only the growing tourist attendance, but also the positive feedback from our Mainland guests, who enjoyed Sha Tin’s excellent facilities and our world-class racing, which continues to draw tourists from around the world.
As has been shown with our flagship meetings, LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) and FWD Champions Day, elite horse racing is an effective way to attract tourists to Hong Kong, boosting the city’s economy, while introducing new customers to our champion horses, jockeys and trainers.
In addition to feature meeting attendance, more Mainland visitors are attending our meetings on a regular basis, often on day trips, which again demonstrates the role the Club is playing in developing equine tourism – and this is a trend I am optimistic will continue to grow.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (5 January), when the Class 2 the Tai Tong Handicap is carded as Race 7 and run over 1200m at 4.05pm for prizemoney of HK$2.84 million.
The pace will be good with WUNDERBAR and FULL CREDIT likely to share the lead. COPARTNER PRANCE and JAMES TAK should also go forward from their middle draw and settle on speed.
WUNDERBAR was a beaten favourite last start when he drew wide and was unable to cross to a forward position early and as a consequence was taken back to midfield in running when fifth to stablemate RAGING BLIZZARD over this course and distance on 22 December. WUNDERBAR was trapped wide and had a tough trip last start but his previous form was outstanding and, with a perfect draw in gate two here, he is my win and place selection for Zac Purton.
SWIFT ASCEND has shown dramatic improvement this season, winning three of his four runs all over this distance, including his latest run when he stalked the speed and ran home well to beat MEOWTH on 15 December. Andrea Atzeni goes back aboard here and with his light weight and, with his good draw, SWIFT ASCEND is my second choice for a win and place despite rising in class.
RAGING BLIZZARD won impressively last start and received a 10lb increase in the ratings. He has been kept up to the mark since that win and is a place chance for new rider Hugh Bowman. GORGEOUS WIN ran home strongly to finish second to RAGING BLIZZARD last start and with an inside draw here is also a place chance with Brenton Avdulla taking the ride for the first time.
FULL CREDIT (Lyle Hewitson) backs up after winning impressively on the All Weather on 29 December but is equally effective on turf and COPARTER PRANCE (Alexis Pouchin) and JAMES TAK (Matthew Chadwick) are both capable of being in the finish on their best form.
With the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series fast approaching, there are several runners engaged on Sunday, including CALL ME GLORIOUS in the Class 2 Pak Tam Chung Handicap (1650m, dirt), who might feature in the Classic Series, starting with the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 31 January.
The Class 3 Broadwood Handicap (1400m) also features potential Four-Year-Old Classic Series candidates including SILO, BUNDLE AWARD, KING OF FIGHTERS, NEW FUTURE FOLKS, STELLAR SWIFT, BUCEPHALAS, LIGHT YEARS CHARM, PACKING ANGEL and CHARMING BABE.
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