As Chair of the Asian Racing Federation (ARF), I am excited to participate in the 41st Asian Racing Conference this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where the conference theme is ‘Honouring Tradition, Shaping the Future.’
The three-day business programme features a distinguished lineup of international speakers from racing and sports, technology, business, media, broadcasting and other areas who will deliver keynote addresses.
Delegates from around the world will participate in insightful sessions, which explore the future of racing and its role in a rapidly evolving landscape, as they hear from business leaders, sports executives, breeders, scientists, broadcasters, innovators and creators.
A string of important topics will be canvassed including fan engagement, marketing, technology, artificial intelligence, customer behaviour, integrity, equine welfare and the future sustainability of racing and breeding as well as the ongoing existential threat posed by illegal wagering operators.
Apart from the business programme, experts from a variety of fields, including integrity, veterinary and handicapping, will meet separately to discuss issues of great importance to the future of racing.
I look forward to working closely with passionate racing colleagues from around the Asian Racing Federation, with more than 650 guests from 45 nations and regions, as we work for the betterment of our great sport.
On a personal note, I am delighted to have been re-elected as Chair of the ARF and I look forward to working closely with my racing peers to shape our sport in a bold and positive way and I thank my colleagues for their ongoing support.
Apart from having the opportunity to examine issues which challenge horse racing’s growth and success, delegates in Riyadh this week will have the opportunity to experience the incredible culture and history of Saudi Arabia.
It is appropriate this year’s Conference is being held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is home to one of the world’s oldest equine cultures. For thousands of years, horses have played a special role in the lives of the people of the Arabian Peninsula.
Under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, Saudi Arabian Racing – with the Saudi Cup being the highlight as a global event – has become a major player in international racing and it has been interesting to see how racing in the Middle East has developed.
The announcement today regarding the construction of a new racetrack in Qiddiya City, which will ultimately become the new home of the Saudi Cup as the heart of Saudi Arabian Racing, is a particularly exciting project. It will feature world-class, state-of-the-art facilities as one of the most significant undertakings in the history of Middle Eastern racing and I wish the Jockey Club Of Saudi Arabia the best of luck with this major project.
I am also excited to attend the Saudi Cup meeting this Saturday (14 February) when FOREVER YOUNG will attempt to win the world’s richest race for a second time.
FOREVER YOUNG is the world’s premier middle distance dirt galloper, and he was incredibly impressive last year in his narrow defeat of Hong Kong’s global champion ROMANTIC WARRIOR, who was having his first start on the surface but was ultimately beaten by only a neck in race record time in a battle which will long be remembered.
I look forward to watching FOREVER YOUNG once more as he attempts to achieve again at the highest level for his remarkable trainer Yoshito Yahagi.
The emergence of our Classic Generation continued on Sunday (8 February) at Sha Tin with the particularly impressive performance of NUMBERS to win the G3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) for Frankie Lor and Derek Leung.
NUMBERS has the rare capacity to maintain strong sectionals as a front-running stayer before accelerating when challenged. He responded gamely on Saturday under his light weight of 117lb when pressured by CHANCHENG GLORY before forging away to a comfortable two-length win over the in-form SPEED DRAGON and ENCOUNTERED.
Frankie has justifiable confidence in NUMBERS as he heads towards the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin on 1 March and the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March and he continues to shape as an exceptional talent and I look forward to his clash with Hong Kong Classic Mile winner LITTLE PARADISE over 1800m.
The wins on Sunday of fellow BMW Hong Kong Derby aspirants EMBLAZON and FLOW WATER FLOW add even more interest to the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
Hong Kong’s world-class racing returns to Happy Valley on Wednesday night (11 February) as we celebrate the Year of the Horse with traditional Chinese New Year festivities in the Beer Garden.
Acclaimed international performer Rechelle Mansour will lead the entertainment, as attendees enjoy outstanding music, dancing, food and beverages while watching top-class competition at our iconic city venue.
The competitive highlight at Happy Valley is the Class 3 Consensus Cup Handicap, which is carded as Race 6 and will be run over 1650m at 9.15pm with prizemoney of HK$2,050,000.
The pace will be good with TELECOM FIGHTERS, a seven-time course and distance winner, likely to lead for Maxime Guyon from gate 1, with OUTGATE (Angus Chung), WITHALLMYFAITH (Keith Yeung) and MISTER DAPPER (Brenton Avdulla) all prominent.
MAX QUE won impressively over this course and distance on 14 January, defeating SILVERY BREEZE. He has drawn gate six here and should get a smooth run behind the good pace for eight-time champion jockey Zac Purton and he is my win and place selection.
A AMERIC TE SPECSO is a three-time course and distance winner and will be ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle for John Size. He won three starts ago with his trademark acceleration and is a place chance from barrier eight.
FANTASTIC FUN won twice over 1650m at Happy Valley last year and drawn gate two for Karis Teetan and is a place chance along with KEMPES, who debuts at Happy Valley under Andrea Atzeni, FLYING FORTRESS for Harry Bentley and BMW Hong Kong Derby nominee FIVEFORTWO, who will be partnered by Luke Ferraris.
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