After months of anticipation and diligent planning, the moment of destiny has finally arrived for the 12 world-class riders competing in the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley tonight (10 December).
With seven LONGINES IJC winners in an extraordinary assembly of jockeys, the quality of the group is amazing and sets the tone ahead of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) on Sunday (14 December).
It was an honour to join these incredible athletes at the JC Cube at Tai Kwun on Tuesday (9 December) for the official media conference as we draw closer to one of the highlights of the international racing calendar at Happy Valley, which is one of the most iconic racing venues in the world.
Mickael Barzalona, Vincent Ho, Ryan Moore, Zac Purton, Hugh Bowman, Christophe Lemaire and Joao Moreira have already triumphed in the LONGINES IJC, while Ryan, Hugh and James McDonald have also been acclaimed as the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey based on Group 1 results across a single season, with James winning the award for the third time this season.
These incredible jockeys will compete tonight across the lucrative four-race LONGINES IJC along with Hollie Doyle, Rachel King, Umberto Rispoli and William Buick in what shapes as a wonderful competition and I wish each of them the best of luck.
The first leg of the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship is carded as Race 4 at 8.10pm for Class 4 horses over 1000m. The speed will be good with ZETA HEDGE (Hugh Bowman) the likely leader, with LEAN MASTER (Vincent Ho) also prominent from gate one. STAR PERFORMER (Hollie Doyle) and HARMONY FIRE (Umberto Rispoli) will also be in the leading division.
ZETA HEDGE made his debut here on 22 October when he showed good gate speed to lead and fight on well for second behind BEAUTY THUNDER. ZETA HEDGE will improve with race experience and is a win and place chance.
BEAUTY THUNDER (Zac Purton) looked good winning over this course and distance when he finished strongly in to beat ZETA HEDGE. At his next run, BEAUTY THUNDER worked hard early to go forward from a wide gate to lead and tired late on the All Weather over 1200m on 30 October. Back to a short course trip here, BEAUTY THUNDER is a win and place chance.
BUNTA BABY (William Buick) has been placed at his last two starts, running home well for second to MR DESIRA on 19 November. He has been at Conghua since and, from gate five, is a place chance.
CAP LINER (Mickael Barzalona), HEALTHY HEALTHY (James McDonald) and HARMONY FIRE all have claims.
The second leg of the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship is Race 5 at 8.40pm for Class 4 horses over 1650m. The speed should be good with YOUTH POWER (Zac Purton) setting the pace with TAKE ACTION (Christophe Lemaire) and CORLEONE (Ryan Moore) also prominent.
CORLEONE (Ryan Moore) was rewarded for his consistency when he easily beat STORMI over this course and distance on 5 November. CORLEONE was sent back to Conghua after that run and looked good in a recent trial. He will have every chance from gate two and he is a win and place selection.
FORTUNATE SON (Vincent Ho) won impressively over SUNDAY’S SERENADE on 5 November and then and battled on well for seventh to ALLCASH on 26 November. FORTUNATE SON is a place chance.
TAKE ACTION (Christophe Lemaire) and YOUTH POWER are racing well and have place claims.
The third leg of the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship is Race 7 at 9.40pm for Class 3 Horses over 1650m.
The pace should be good to fast with SAMARKAND (Rachel King) and THRIVING BROTHERS (Hollie Doyle) both on-pace runners with inside draws. HIGHLAND RAHY (Umberto Rispoli) will go forward from gate 12. VIVA GRACIOUSNESS (William Buick) and BEAUTY GLORY (Joao Moreira) will settle in the front half of the field.
FLYING FORTRESS (Zac Purton) caught the eye last start when he was hampered and then made a late charge to finish a close second to SUPER UNICORN this class and distance on 19 November. He has drawn well in gate five and is my win and place chance.
MAX QUE (Vincent Ho) has been in great form at Sha Tin and last start ran home late for third to BEAUTY BOLT in a very strong race over 1600m on 15 November. This is MAX QUE’s first time at Happy Valley but he is also a win and place chance for Vincent Ho.
Rachel rode SAMARKAND in this race last year and they went forward from the outside gate and fought on gamely to finish a close fifth. They reunite a year later, this time with gate two and SAMARKAND is a place chance.
SILVERY BREEZE (Hugh Bowman) is also a place chance.
The final leg of the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship is Race 8 at 10.10pm for Class 3 horses over 1200m.
The pace will be good to fast with MR DESIRA (Hollie Doyle) leading from gate one. TOURBILLON GOLFER (Umberto Rispoli) will be close to the lead and AKASHVANI (James McDonald) and WONDERSTAR (Vincent Ho) will be prominent.
MR DESIRA easily beat BUNTA BABY last start and rises in class but has drawn well and is my win and place selection.
AKASHVANI shared the lead and fought on well to beat TRIUMPHANT MORE on 22 October. Last start, AKASHVANI was held up for a run in the straight and dashed late for fourth to KING MILES in a on 26 November. AKASHVANI is also a win and place chance.
ROMANTIC SON (Rachel King) is a place chance along with TOURBILLON GOLFER in an incredibly open race with virtually every runner having claims.
The odds for the LONGINES IJC indicate how competitive this series is with Hugh Bowman and Joao Moreira sharing favouritism at 6.5 from Zac Purton at 7.5.
At the time of publishing my blog, Vincent Ho was next at 9 along with Ryan Moore, Mickael Barzalona and James McDonald with William Buick at 10.
James is desperate to win this series after finishing second three times and third from nine attempts and I think he has a good chance to add the LONGINES IJC to his list of stellar achievements.
I attended trackwork yesterday morning along with many visiting owners and racing journalists from all over the world, who are here to cover both the LONGINES IJC and LONGINES HKIR, and there is a perceptible sense of excitement ahead of Sunday’s flagship meeting.
Following the early-morning gallops of ROMANTIC WARRIOR and KA YING RISING, I was impressed with several of the visitors including SOSIE, GOLIATH and AL RIFFA who will run in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), WIN CARNELIAN in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), EMBROIDERY and DOCKLANDS in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and ROUSHAM PARK in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).
With 14 individual Group 1 winners now settled into Sha Tin, the visiting contingent looks strong, especially in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and LONGINES Hong Kong Vase and I look forward to their clashes this weekend with our local contenders.
As the sole Partner Sponsor of the Hong Kong Competition Region of this year’s National Games, the Club is delighted with the performance of Hong Kong, China athletes at the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities.
On Tuesday (9 December), our athletes collected an amazing 13 medals – two gold, six silver and five bronze in Para athletics, table tennis, swimming and fencing with Wong Hon Lam and Pang Wing Ka combining to win the Mixed Doubles XD14 table tennis gold medal and Lau Chiu Yee triumphing in swimming’s Women’s 200m Freestyle S14 category.
I offer my congratulations to all our athletes on their performances.
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