I am deeply saddened by the passing of Mr Louis Romanet, whose immense lifelong contribution to the advancement of international horse racing and global cooperation forms the basis of an enduring and inspiring legacy.
As the most respected and globally recognised administrator in international racing, Louis was a friend and mentor to me for more than 40 years. His passion, care and intelligence were the foundation stones of his vision, leadership and unwavering dedication for the betterment of our sport.
Louis was the first chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities upon its creation in 1994, holding the position for more than 25 years and it has been an honour to follow in his footsteps.
Louis will be missed dearly, and his loss will be keenly felt throughout the worldwide racing community he worked so tirelessly to unite.
The welfare of the Club’s staff, trainers, jockeys and owners is always of paramount importance, and it is with a tremendous sense of relief that all of the connections and staff who travelled to Dubai to watch SING DRAGON race at Meydan last week have now safely returned to Hong Kong.
The closure of airspace in the Middle East because of the broadening military conflict meant the group of 26 people from Hong Kong was initially stranded in Dubai.
But, due to the tireless efforts of Club staff in Hong Kong and the cooperation of Emirates Racing Authority personnel, arrangements were put into place to safely repatriate our people, including trainer Chris So and jockey Karis Teetan and their families, as quickly as possible.
I wish to thank everyone involved for their incredible dedication and teamwork in tirelessly managing travel and accommodation logistics in challenging circumstances.
Apart from Sing Dragon’s ownership group, stable staff and Club broadcasting personnel, several prominent racing figures, including Ryan Moore, Oisin Murphy, Colin Keane and Johnny Murtagh, were also affected by flight suspensions.
I hope everyone impacted can soon return safely to their respective homes.
The Club’s World Pool operation showcases four feature meetings today (Saturday, 7 March) as we highlight the cream of international racing to the world with a variety of outstanding contests from 1200m to 3200m on four different tracks.
The first of five races on New Zealand Derby Day from Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand will be simulcast from 10.29am, with the G1 HKJC World Pool New Zealand Derby carded as S1-4 and run over 2400m at 12.13pm.
The pace will be good with G2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) winner THAT’S GOLD (Samantha Collett) likely to set the pace with GENEVA (Ben Thompson).
AUTUMN GLORY has been impressive this season with victory in the G2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on 7 February and was unlucky when second in the G1 New Zealand Oaks over this course and distance last start. She is my choice as a win and place chance for Wiremu Pinn.
THAT’S GOLD is racing in brilliant form and is the hardest to beat, while ROAD TO PARIS (George Rooke), LUNAMAN (Craig Grylls), AKSIL (Michael Dee) and ARIADNE (Masa Hashizume) all have strong credentials.
The first of two races on Newmarket Handicap Day from Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia will be simulcast from 1.15pm, with the G1 Newmarket Handicap carded as S2-2 and run over 1200m at 1.55pm.
The pace will be good with CABALLUS expected to lead SEPALS and PALLATON. G1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) winner TENTYRIS is likely to be at the tail of the field on settling under Mark Zahra.
Star colt TENTYRIS has quickly emerged as an elite sprinter with his ability to unleash devastating acceleration and he is chasing his third Group 1 victory here. From gate 12 down the straight course, he is a win and place chance.
MY GLADIOLA, who will be ridden by Craig Williams, finished powerfully behind TENTYRIS and will be suited by the extra 200m and is a place chance along with WAR MACHINE (Jamie Mott), ANGEL CAPITAL (Ben Melham), SEPALS (Daniel Stackhouse), CABALLUS (Craig Newitt), BENEDETTA (Jamie Melham) and WODETON, who will be partnered by visiting Irish jockey Wayne Lordan.
The first of two races on Canterbury Stakes Day from Sydney, Australia will be simulcast from 1.35pm, with the G1 Canterbury Stakes carded as S3-2 and run over 1300m at 2.15pm.
The pace will be good with BEIWACHT expected to lead HEADLEY GRANGE and YORKSHIRE. The main chances, including JOLIESTAR, LADY SHENANDOAH, GRINGOTTS and NEPOTISM will be either in the midfield or further back.
JOLIESTAR, who is partnered by James McDonald, resumed with an impressive win in the G2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) and, from gate four, should get the run of the race as she bids for a fourth Group 1 victory. She is my first choice for a win and place.
Stablemate LADY SHENANDOAH, who will be ridden by Nash Rawiller, finished solidly for third in the Expressway Stakes and should be improved for the run as a place chance, while GRINGOTTS (Tommy Berry), BEIWACHT (Adam Hyeronimus) and NAPOLEONIC (Zac Lloyd) also have place chances.
On Saturday night, our focus turns to South Africa for H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes Day in Johannesburg where the first of three races will be simulcast from 8.25pm. The G1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes is carded as S4-3 and will be run over 1600m at 9.35pm.
The pace will be good to slow with PRESSONREGARDLESS likely to lead from MAIN DEFENDER and TEXAS RED.
Turffontein Racecourse presents a unique challenge in world racing because of Johannesburg’s high altitude and while SEE IT AGAIN and THE REAL PRINCE have the form to suggest they are South Africa’s premier horses, the conditions can be decisive for horses unaccustomed to the thinner air.
The local quartet of FIRE ATTACK (Calvin Habib), ATTICUS FINCH (Serino Moodley), COSMIC SPEED (Ryan Munger) and MAIN DEFENDER (Gavin Lerena) are all in good form, with the latter pair winning this race over the past two years.
SEE IT AGAIN, who will be ridden by Richard Fourie, showed his class with victory in the G1 Cape Town Met (2000m) and, provided he can handle the conditions in Johannesburg, he is a win and place chance.
THE REAL PRINCE, who will be partnered by Craig Zachey, finished third to SEE IT AGAIN in the Cape Town Met, and is the hardest to beat from COSMIC SPEED and MAIN DEFENDER.
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