For the older generations in Hong Kong, winter solstice has always enjoyed a status similar to Christmas among most foreigners – in fact, many would view this date as being more important than Lunar New Year as a time for families to gather and enjoy a festive meal together.
For this reason, during the planning of the 2010/11 racing fixtures, we were careful to reschedule our pre-Christmas meeting to avoid a clash with winter solstice. By moving our regular Wednesday night meeting to Thursday this week, we hope that our racing fans as well as Club staff at our offices, stables and off-course betting branches can take a break and spend time with their families for this important festivity.
Apart from the change of day, tonight's meeting will be extra special in other ways, as it will feature one of the Class 1 races to be staged at our city track. We will have the chance to see some of our top Happy Valley sprinters, including Our Lucky Baby, Tai Sing Yeh and Perfect Style, going head-to-head in the Class 1 Happy Valley Trophy. It looks set to be a thrilling battle.
From my observation, racing fans have been getting more familiar with the track characteristics at Happy Valley in recent seasons. Those who make a study of these things will tend to adjust their horse selections and betting strategies to match the different course selections at these meetings.
This and the continued revival in the economy are probably significant factors in the strong increase in betting turnover at Happy Valley meetings so far this season. In the first four months of last season, only two Happy Valley night meetings recorded turnover above HK$800 million – yet in the same period this season, with tonight’s programme still to come, we have already had nine Happy Valley night race meetings where this has occurred.
As we had no Six-Win Bonus winners in the previous two night race meetings, that’s why we have a Six-Up jackpot of over HK$5 million, and an estimated payout of HK$9 million up for grab this evening. I’m sure it will make tonight’s meeting even more interesting and I hope tonight’s turnover will be as vibrant as it did over the past few weeks.
After tonight’s racing, I will fly to Japan tomorrow for a short Christmas vacation. While there, I hope I can spare a few hours to go to Nakayama Racecourse on Sunday and watch Japan's year-end grand prix race – the Group 1 Arima Kinen. I shall be paying particular interest to top Japanese filly Buena Vista, to see whether she can redeem herself with a Group One victory following her unfortunate demotion in the Japan Cup a month ago. But it will be only be a short break as I will head quickly back to Hong Kong on Monday for our traditional post-Christmas meeting at Sha Tin that afternoon.
Tonight at Happy Valley you will have the chance to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere in advance, as we will again host our Christmas Vibe programme in the Beer Garden. Apart from offering Christmas food treats at special prices, we have set up a 10-foot Christmas tree there where you can have free Polaroid photos taken. So do be sure to come along with your friends and have a great time there this evening.
In the Happy Valley Trophy, with the expected fast pace, I think there will be a heated contest among the runners. Norman Invader and Our Lucky Baby will likely be competing for the lead and both of them should be in the finish. But my pick is Tai Sing Yeh who should be nicely positioned on the rail and is in great form with Douglas Whyte on board. I will not be too surprised if prolific mare Sweet Sanette to run for a place.
In the Sing Woo Handicap (2nd section), the expected pace should be good to slow and with the C+3 course, horses being positioned on the rail and not worse than midfield should enjoy an advantage. My Whisky should lead with Amityship likely pushing forward. This would give him an outside chance under rising star Maxime Guyon. But I will be most interested to see how The Untouchablelad from gate 1, Floral Picasso who is a distance specialist and coming back to form, and another in-form Nordic Star perform from Gate 6. Among other contenders, Cheer will need luck to come from the back and being drawn in 10.
May I wish you all a wonderful Christmas holiday with your families and loved ones, Merry Christmas! 
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