The relentless pursuit of excellence has long been a trait of Hong Kong’s world-class racing and, such is the intensely competitive nature of our jurisdiction, all victories are precious – especially those at Group level.
It speaks to the quality of Hong Kong racing that HELIOS EXPRESS, an undeniably talented horse, had to wait until his 17th start to breakthrough at Group level with success in the G3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap (1200m) for John Size and Hugh Bowman at Sha Tin on Saturday (31 May).
As is well-documented, HELIOS EXPRESS has been repeatedly denied this season by KA YING RISING, finishing either second or third to the world’s highest-rated sprinter on seven occasions this season, placing in the top three at Group 1 level four times.
In the absence of his nemesis on Saturday, HELIOS EXPRESS managed to beat three Group 1 winners – INVINCIBLE SAGE, LUCKY SWEYNESSE and VICTOR THE WINNER – and vindicate the faith of John, Hugh and owner Mr Andy Yung.
Perseverance and resilience are characteristics also necessary to succeed in Hong Kong and HELIOS EXPRESS and his team displayed both yesterday, while the performances of INVINCIBLE SAGE, PATCH OF THETA and LUCKY SWEYNESSE were also very good.
Pray For Mir’s victory in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m) represented another significant success for Hong Kong’s quality band of four-year-old talents.
Our four-year-old crop is led by the amazing KA YING RISING, BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner CAP FERRAT, G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) runner-up RUBYLOT, Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) winner MY WISH and BUNDLE AWARD, who won the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m), among others.
Carrying only 115lb, PRAY FOR MIR delivered on his potential for Cody Mo and Matthew Chadwick, who both spent time working under Tony Cruz during their formative careers and yesterday combined triumphantly at Group 3 level.
PRAY FOR MIR’s success continues the Lion Rock Trophy’s trend of launching talented four-year-olds as successful Group horses, following the pathways of previous winners Beauty Eternal (2023), who is now a Group 1 victor, and Galaxy Patch (2024), who is a Group 2 winner.
Our simulcast operation continues on Sunday (1 June) with the Japanese and French Derbies.
Seven races will be simulcast from Tokyo Racecourse from 11.10am with the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) carded as S1-7 and run over 2400m at 2.40pm.
The speed in the Tokyo Yushun will be good with a field of 18 runners. M’S and SHOHEI set the pace in the Kyoto Shimbun and are likely to provide the early speed again. SATONO SHINING should settle forward and HO O ATMAN and FAUST RAUSEN are expected to make forward moves early in the race.
The traditional lead up to the race is the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) which was fought out by MUSEUM MILE and CROIX DU NORD.
MUSEUM MILE (Damian Lane) settled midfield and came with a sustained run down the centre of the track to sweep past CROIX DU NORD to record a dominating win and he is my win and place selection.
The G2 Koyoto Shimbun (2200m) at Kyoto on 10 May was won in dominant fashion by SHOHEI (Christophe Lemaire). SHOHEI is named after superstar Japanese baseballer SHOHEI OHTANI, who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the United States and is one of the most prolific home-run hitters in the league. SHOHEI the racehorse has quickly developed a cult following. In the Kyoto Shimbun, he trailed M’S and powered away for an easy wint. SHOHEI’s trainer Yasuo Tomomichi has won this race three times in the past ten years and SHOHEI is a winning chance from gate two.
CROIX DU NORD (Yuichi Kitamura) resumed in the Satsuki Sho but was no match for MUSEUM MILE, who swept past him in the last 100m to win impressively. CROIX DU NORD will take improvement from the run and is a place chance.
MASQUERADE BALL (Ryusei Sakai) settled in the back half of the field in that race and finished strongly in the last 200m to take third and is a place chance again.
Five races will be simulcast from Chantilly in France from 8.40pm with the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) carded as S2-3 and run over 2100m at 10.05pm.
Master trainer Andre Fabre has won this race five times and this year has three runners in the race, all with claims. CAULIFICAR (William Buick) is unbeaten in three starts this year, winning the Prix de Guiche (1800m) at Chantilly on 6 May, when he beat AL AALI and CURRAGH CHAMP. CAULIFICAR is a win and place chance.
Andre’s other runners are SINILEO (Maxime Guyon), who was impressive in winning his Maiden at Chantilly over 1600m and NITOI (Alexis Pouchin) who won a Listed race over 2000m on 2 May beating LEFFARD. Both are emerging talents and have place claims.
Aidan O’Brien has CAMILLE PISSARRO (Ryan Moore) and TRINITY COLLEGE (Wayne Lordan) engaged. CAMILLE PISSARRO finished nicely in the French 2000 Guineas when third to stablemate HENRI MATISSE, beaten just over a length. CAMILLE PISSARRO came from a long way back and the extra trip looks as though it will suit and he is a place chance.
RIDARI (Mickael Barzalona) also ran home well in the French 2000 Guineas to finish fifth and is a place chance along with LUTHER (Kieran Shoemark) who was fourth in the Guineas, finishing alongside CAMILLE PISSARRO and RIDARI, and also has claims.
DETAIN (Christophe Soumillon) caught the eye in the same race settling well back in the field and really storming home over the last 200m to finish sixth, just behind the placegetters. DETAIN is a win and place chance.
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