With only four days until the running of the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (25 May), excitement and anticipation are quickly building ahead of the final Group 1 race of the 2024/25 Hong Kong season.
We have been privileged this season to repeatedly witness the herculean performances of our equine heroes with the efforts of ROMANTIC WARRIOR, KA YING RISING and VOYAGE BUBBLE as well as the feats of GIAVELLOTTO, RED LION and TASTIERA and this weekend we have the chance to experience more elite competition at Sha Tin.
The return to Hong Kong of DUBAI HONOUR for the fifth time is remarkable and reflects the expert management of trainer William Haggas and his team with this wonderful globetrotting stayer, who first raced in Hong Kong in December, 2021.
His clash under Tom Marquand with VOYAGE BUBBLE and James McDonald certainly shapes as a highlight with DUBAI HONOUR chasing a first Hong Kong Group 1 as VOYAGE BUBBLE bids to become the first horse since RIVER VERDON in 1994 to complete the Triple Crown by winning the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup Cup (2000m) and Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup in the same season.
Challenging the pair is a cluster of talented four-year-olds including BMW Hong Kong Derby winner CAP FERRAT, BUNDLE AWARD and RUBYLOT along with established stayers ENSUED, LA CITY BLANCHE, FIVE G PATCH, MOMENTS IN TIME and WINNING DRAGON along with SWORD POINT.
Standard Chartered Day marks the close of Hong Kong’s Group 1 season and this weekend also serves as a fitting platform to celebrate the towering accomplishments of our global champion, ROMANTIC WARRIOR.
To mark ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s return to Sha Tin from the Middle East, the Club will honour this amazing horse during a special ceremony in the Parade Ring after Race 6 at Sha Tin this Sunday, when our passionate racing fans can join the celebrations along with owner Mr Peter Lau, trainer Danny Shum and jockey James McDonald.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s efforts to win the G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) in track record time in Dubai in January before finishing second in both the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) and G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) were simply amazing and underscored the quality of Hong Kong’s top horses.
The dedication and skill of Danny and his team in their handling of ROMANTIC WARRIOR in unfamiliar environments while taking on the best horses in the world is something Hong Kong can feel very proud about.
Sunday’s tribute is an opportunity for the Hong Kong racing community to show its appreciation to an incredible horse and the team behind his success and I look forward to participating in the ceremony.
The Happy French Wednesday theme continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (21 May) when attendees will not only be able to enjoy nine races of world-class competition, but also fine French food and beverages in one of the most iconic racing settings in the world.
In collaboration with the French May Arts Festival and the French GourMay Food and Wine Festival, Happy Valley’s Beer Garden will offer tailored French cuisine, beer and wine as well as lively music and dancing.
One of the competitive features tonight is the Class 3 Wyndham Handicap, which is carded as Race 9 and will be run over 1200m at 10.50pm with prizemoney of HK$1,860,000.
The pace will be good to fast with HAPPY FAT CAT (Antoine Hamelin) likely to lead from barrier two. SUPERB CAPITALIST (Angus Chung) will press forward from gate 11. SUPERB BOY (Hugh Bowman), NUCLEOZOR (James Orman) and POWER KOEPP (Alexis Badel) are all likely to be prominent.
DRAGON FOUR SEAS (Zac Purton) won twice over this course and distance in Class 4 and then stepped up in grade finishing a close sixth to KAHOLO ANGEL on 30 April. DRAGON FOUR SEAS had a short break in Conghua since and from barrier five is a win and place chance.
SUPERB BOY ran well behind KAHOLO ANGEL, finishing a close fourth. SUPERB BOY also went to Conghua after that run and he is a place chance from barrier one.
POWER KOEPP has been in tremendous form since joining Mark Newnham’s stable with two wins and a second from three starts. POWER KOEPP has enjoyed three weeks in Conghua since winning on 23 April and is a place chance.
HAPPY FAT CAT is another last start winner racing in great form and held off STORMY RIDER and SPICY GOLD over this course and distance on 30 April. HAPPY FAT CAT is a place chance.
ROMANTIC SON (Luke Ferraris), EVERSTAR (Matthew Poon) and SOVEREIGN FUND (Karis Teetan) have been in good form and are all place chances along with GOLDEN RISE (Ben Thompson).
Newcomer THE RED HARE (Derek Leung) is an interesting runner. He won two of three starts in Australia and has been given plenty of time to settle to his new environment by Frankie Lor, having trialled five times leading to his debut run tonight.
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