While Hong Kong racing has much to celebrate with the extraordinary achievements of our world-class horses, jockeys and trainers, I would like to extend my best wishes to all those involved in the two unfortunate racing incidents at Sha Tin on Sunday (9 February).
My thoughts are with Vincent Ho, Zac Purton, Angus Chung and Keith Yeung, who were unfortunately injured and I wish them the very best for a speedy recovery. I would like to thank the various medical teams who expertly delivered world-class human and equine care immediately after the two incidents.
It is unfortunate that these two events overshadowed what had been another successful meeting. The safety of our jockeys, horses and staff is of paramount importance to the Club at all times and every measure is taken to protect the welfare of all involved.
Our team has reacted quickly to fill vacancies in the jockeys’ ranks due to the absence of our injured riders and to assemble quality short-term replacements at short notice. I look forward to welcoming Hollie Doyle, Tom Marquand, Ryan Moore, Declan McDonogh, Richard Kingscote and James Orman to Hong Kong over the coming weeks.
Group 1 competition is the pinnacle of Hong Kong racing and excitement and anticipation are already building ahead of the appearances of VOYAGE BUBBLE in the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and KA YING RISING in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on 23 February.
Having already won the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), VOYAGE BUBBLE is looking to snare the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, which is the second leg of the Triple Crown Series, which culminates in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater (2400m) on 25 May with a bonus of HK$10 million.
KA YING RISING is following a similar trajectory, having already won the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) in record-breaking time. If KA YING RISING continues his current form with success in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, victory in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on 27 April would deliver a clean sweep in the Hong Kong Speed Series and a HK$5 million bonus.
Next weekend also marks the appearance of Hong Kong champion ROMANTIC WARRIOR in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in Riyadh on 22 February. Early reports suggest ROMANTIC WARRIOR has thrived since his transfer to Saudi Arabia from Dubai, where he so brilliantly won the G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m).
The transition to racing on dirt for the first time in his career against international Group 1 winners proven on the surface is an enormous challenge for ROMANTIC WARRIOR and I wish Danny Shum and his team, owner Mr Peter Lau and jockey James McDonald the best of luck.
Collectively, ROMANTIC WARRIOR, VOYAGE BUBBLE and KA YING RISING have been responsible for providing a string of stunning highlights this season with elite performances at Group 1 level, both in Hong Kong and abroad, most memorably during our successful LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.
Domestically, the Four-Year-Old Classic Series continues to take shape and the wins of LIGHT YEARS CHARM for David Eustace and Zac and CALIFORNIATOTALITY for Tony Cruz and Brenton Avdulla at Sha Tin on Sunday added further intrigue ahead of the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 2 March.
After 417 races across 44 meetings, the trainers’ championship captures the essence of Hong Kong racing’s renowned competitiveness with only 10 wins separating the top 12 trainers – Danny Shum (29), Pierre Ng (29), David Hayes (28), John Size (26), Ricky Yiu (26), Mark Newnham (26), Francis Lui (25), Frankie Lor (23), Cody Mo (23), Caspar Fownes (21), Tony Cruz (21) and Chris So (19).
At Sha Tin on Wednesday night, the Class 2 Tin Chak Handicap is carded as Race 7 at 9.45pm and run over 1200m for prizemoney of HK$2.84 million.
The pace will be good with LADY’S CHOICE (Britney Wong) likely to lead from barrier one. TOMODACHI KOKOROE (Karis Teetan) will settle on the speed from gate two with FULL CREDIT (Luke Ferraris) also in the leading group. SUPERB CAPITALIST (Alexis Badel) will go forward from barrier nine.
FULL CREDIT has shown his liking for this surface with a win and a second from only two runs on the dirt. FULL CREDIT has run twice since on turf and last start was a close third to GORGEOUS WIN and BABY CRYSTAL. FULL CREDIT has a perfect draw in gate three and Mark Newnham and Luke are enjoying a great run at the moment. He is a win and place chance.
SING DRAGON (Matthew Chadwick) has an outstanding record over this distance and surface, having won four of his five starts. At his only run under these conditions this season, he held off FULL CREDIT in the final stages to win. SING DRAGON returns to his favoured surface and is also win and place chance after an impressive trial last week.
LADY’S CHOICE has been in good form this season and followed a comfortable victory over GOKO WIN on 22 December with a narrow second to PRINCE OF PORTY. LADY’S CHOICE switches to the All Weather just for the second time under race conditions but should get an easy lead from his rails draw and is a place chance.
CAPITAL DELIGHT (Brenton Avdulla) is a course and distance specialist, having won three times and will be running on strongly, while BUNDLE OF CHARM (Ben Thompson), TOMODACHI KOKOROE and FLYING ACE (Matthew Poon) all have place claims in a competitive race.
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