It was a privilege to return to Tokyo Racecourse at the weekend for the running of the 2025 G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) on Sunday (8 June) and to also celebrate the first anniversary of ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s amazing win in the race last year.
Japanese horse racing followers are incredibly passionate and knowledgeable and the atmosphere leading up to the Yasuda Kinen on Sunday (8 June) and also during the aftermath was incredible.
The Yasuda Kinen remains one of the pre-eminent mile races in the world and I was delighted that three horses who have competed previously in Hong Kong – JANTAR MANTAR, GAIA FORCE and SOUL RUSH – fought out the finish.
SOUL RUSH, having beaten ROMANTIC WARRIOR by a nose in the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) in April, ran an excellent race but did not have the benefit of being ridden by Cristian Demuro, who was a key for the success in Dubai.
He finished strongly but could not beat JANTAR MANTAR, who was disappointing when running the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile in December. JANTAR MANTAR showed his true class and is one of the best milers in the world, not only in Japan.
As some of you may know, I am passionate about breeding and racing horses myself, which is my number one hobby outside of my work as Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
While I was disappointed that one of my home-bred colts NOW THE EAGLE, which is the last progeny of the successful sire ADLERFLUG, ran disappointingly at Lyon Parilly on Saturday (7 June), I was pleased to see my filly BALTIC EMPRESS – which is by the highly-successfully sire KINGMAN – finish second on her second run this season against the highly-rated filly QUISISANA at Compiegne on Monday (9 June).
BALTIC EMPRESS is now being prepared for a Listed race at Chantilly over 2100m on 20 July and hopefully she can get further black type to enhance her breeding value.
At Happy Valley tonight (Wednesday, 11 June), the world-famous Beer Garden will come alive to the sounds of acclaimed ABBA tribute band with the appearance of BABBA.
BABBA has proved immensely popular in the past with our customers, who will tonight have the opportunity to step back in time musically while enjoying fabulous food and beverages while also watching nine world-class races from close quarters.
On the track, one of the competitive highlights at Happy Valley is the Class 2 Cheung Sha Handicap, which is carded as Race 6 at 9.10pm and will be run over 1650m with prizemoney of HK$3.12 million.
The pace will be good with TELECOM FIGHTERS (James Orman) leading from gate five, with VOYAGE SAMURAI (Derek Leung) also prominent from gate seven. SOLEIL FIGHTER (Zac Purton), HONG LOK GOLF (Harry Bentley) and STEPS AHEAD (Andrea Atzeni) should also be in the front half of the field.
HONG LOK GOLF has had an outstanding first season, winning five of six starts. Last start, he was too strong for PRAY FOR MIR and STEPS AHEAD over 1600m at Sha Tin on 4 May. The form looks very good after PRAY FOR MIR’s victory G3 Lion Rock Trophy at his next start. This is HONG LOK GOLF’s first start at Happy Valley but he is a win and place chance.
SOLEIL FIGHTER was runner up to CALIFORNIATOTALITY on 14 May when narrowly beaten and then switched to the dirt at Sha Tin and looked the winner before TALENTS AMBITION stormed home to win by a neck on 31 May. SOLEIL FIGHTER should get a perfect run from his inside draw and he is also a win and place chance.
STEPS AHEAD is having his first run at Happy Valley but has been racing consistently well at Sha Tin including an excellent fifth to RUBYLOT in the Hong Kong Classic Cup on 2 March before being unplaced in the BMW Hong Kong Derby. In two runs since, he was runner-up to CALIFORNIATOTALITY over 1800m when narrowly beaten, finishing ahead of subsequent Group winners BUNDLE AWARD and PRAY FOR MIR. Last start, STEPS AHEAD finished third to HONG LOK GOLF and PRAY FOR MIR over 1600m on 4 May. STEPS AHEAD is a place chance from barrier three.
EMBRACES (Angus Chung), TELECOM FIGHTERS, HELENE FEELING (Ellis Wong) and VOYAGE SAMURAI all have claims.
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