Working continuously for the betterment of our society is at the core of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s purpose and caring for our community has long been part of the Club’s DNA.
The Club’s Charities Trust is one of the world’s leading charity donors and last season alone the Club contributed a record HK$40.1 billion in tax and approved charity donations.
We are immensely proud of these achievements along with the Club’s standing as a world leader in horse racing and the entertainment our sport provides on the international stage, which serves as a significant tourist attraction to enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as a destination of choice.
The Club has established a 2000-strong CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team comprising full-time staff, part-time and retired employees who are constantly involved in community activities and I was happy to join them on Thursday (22 May) as part of Volunteer Month “May ‧ We CARE”.
Embracing the spirit of “May‧We CARE”, these committed individuals have joined some 30 services – including sports, youth engagement, animal welfare, support for the underprivileged and elderly and environmental protection – as part of the group’s commitment to the community.
The team puts great emphasis on district-based programmes and is committed to serving each and every district of Hong Kong. To reflect the characteristics of different districts of the city, the volunteer team co-operates with local organisations to organise and design programmes that meet the special needs of local target groups.
To celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, members of our staff – along with individual volunteers – created 1,000 tailored cards with beautiful drawings and blessings to be distributed to the elderly in the Sham Shui Po district during a visit by more than 160 CARE volunteers this weekend.
This is one of the many activities undertaken this month by our staff to volunteer and contribute meaningfully to the community and I congratulate all our teams on their participation.
Passionate supporters of top-class international racing are certainly spoilt for choice this weekend with five elite Group 1 contests spread across three separate racing jurisdictions in just two days.
The breadth and quality of World Pool is captured in the variety of Group 1 races featured this weekend, starting today (Saturday, 24 May) with the Doomben Cup meeting in Brisbane, Australia before the running of the Irish 2000 Guineas meeting at The Curragh in Ireland this evening.
On Sunday (25 May), Hong Kong’s 12th and final Group 1 of the season, the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) will be run at Sha Tin before our attention returns to The Curragh for the Irish 1000 Guineas meeting.
The first of three races from Doomben will be simulcast from 1.17pm with the G1 Doomben Cup carded as S1-2 and run over 2000m at 1.57pm. The speed will be good with PRIDE OF JENNI (Craig Newitt) in her usual pace-making role from an inside draw.
ANTINO was unplaced in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) behind VOYAGE BUBBLE in December when he didn’t have a lot of luck in running and was beaten six lengths. Two weeks ago, he raced away to beat FAWKNER PARK by 3.5L in the Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and, if he runs a strong 2000m, ANTINO is a win and place chance.
PRIDE OF JENNI continues to race well and easily won a Listed Handicap over 1600m at Caulfield on 3 May carrying 135lb. This is a much stronger race but PRIDE OF JENNI is a place chance.
Annabel and Rob Archibald have three runners in the race. BOIS D’ARGENT (Ryan Maloney) won this race last year and he is a place chance, particularly if the ground is rain-affected. FAWKNER PARK (Ethan Brown) looks the best of the three Archibald trained runners and is also a place chance, coming off his second to ANTINO in the Hollindale Stakes.
Of the other runners, LINDERMANN was disappointing last start in the Hollindale, but his previous form in Sydney was consistently good and he is a place chance for trainer Chris Waller.
Matthew Poon rides KLONDIKE, who made his Australian debut with a moderate run in the JRA Plate over 2000m at Randwick on 19 April. KLONDIKE can improve on his first-up effort and Matthew will ride at Doomben for the first time. He has sought advice from James Orman and Ben Thompson on how best to ride at Doomben and I wish him good luck in the race.
Nine races will be simulcast from The Curragh from 8.20pm. The Irish 2000 Guineas is carded S2-5 and will be run over 1600m at 10.40pm.
FIELD OF GOLD (Colin Keane) won the Craven Stakes brilliantly in April and then ran favourite and looked a little unlucky when second to RULING COURT in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on 3 May. FIELD OF GOLD is my win and place selection.
Aidan O’Brien has won this race 12 times, but only once in the last seven years. His main representative is OFFICER (Ryan Moore), a colt by DUBAWI from a multiple G1-winning mare HYDRANGEA. OFFICER was slowly away when resuming and finished third to BIG GOSSEY at Listed level over 1400m on 29 March. He made sharp improvement at his next run when winning over CURRAWOOD over this course and distance on 5 May. OFFICER is a place chance.
COSMIC YEAR (Oisin Murphy) is unbeaten in his three starts. His first two wins were achieved by big margins and then he stepped to Listed level and scored with something in hand at Newmarket on 2 May. This is a tougher assignment but he is highly talented and is a place chance.
Of the other runners, HOTAZHELL (Shane Foley) won G1 Futurity Stakes at Doncaster last season and, after a delayed return to racing this season, is an interesting runner along with RASHABAR (Sean Levey).
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