You might have heard from the TV or newspapers in recent weeks that our former champion miler Fairy King Prawn is being taken to New Zealand in September to enjoy a relaxing and well-earned retirement there. Although he ended his racing career in 2003, this very popular horse has never really "retired" up to now, as he's been stabled at our Tuen Mun Public Riding School, where he has helped young children learn riding and acted as the school's ambassador. His calm and friendly nature has made him the perfect candidate for this job.
Despite he’s now being 15-years-old – which is equivalent to 50 or 60 years for a human – this six-time Group 1 winner remains in very good shape. Like other retirees he's put a bit of weight since his racing days, but our staff at Tuen Mun make sure he gets regular daily exercise in the trotting ring.
We actually organised a special farewell ceremony for Fairy King Prawn on 22 May, but sadly we had to cancel it because of torrential rain that morning. But don't worry, because we are currently arranging another suitable date, so that his many fans inside and outside racing get a final chance to wish him well. We'll make sure the new date is well publicised on our website and in the local media.
Fairy King Prawn earned heroic status among our local fans during his four-year racing career, winning six times under trainer Ricky Yiu and then another six under the late Ivan Allan. He will always best be remembered for his victory in Japan's Yasuda Kinen in 2000, which made him the first Hong Kong-trained horse ever to win a Group 1 race overseas.
This triumph had a pioneering impact on Hong Kong racing, and he followed it up by becoming the first Hong Kong horse to achieve international champion status, being ranked the joint top-rated older sprinter in the world in 2001. These successes helped put Hong Kong on the international racing map, and encouraged more of our local Owners to enter their horses in top races overseas.
In the years since then, with the exception of 2003 when Hong Kong was affected by the SARS outbreak, local runners have participated in the Yasuda Kinen every year. Among the 22 Hong Kong runners in the past 10 editions of the race, Bullish Luck emulated Fairy King Prawn's feat by winning this top Japanese race in 2006, while Silent Witness, Joyful Winner and Armada have all garnered top three finishes.
This year, Beauty Flash and Thumbs Up will fly the SAR flag in this Group 1 event at Tokyo Racecourse. They will be the first two overseas horses to participate in JRA races in Eastern Japan since the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March. This is good news for all concerned, as it demonstrates that life is steadily getting back to normal for Japan and its people.
I’m now in Tokyo and I will not just to watch the Yasuda Kinen live tomorrow, but also for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy race that will be hosted by the Japan Racing Association before the big race. Naturally I'll be cheering on our two Yasuda Kinen runners to see if they can earn more glory for Hong Kong on Japanese turf, though I don't expect them to have an easy task. They will have to see off a very strong home team led by last year’s Japanese filly triple crown winner Apapane, who is still only a four-year-old but already has five Group 1 victories under her belt.
Despite that, our two horses have settled in very well and despite the strong Japanese Milers, I think they should be able to earn some prize money. Apapane is a tremendous filly and she has a very good form. Even she takes on the colts and geldings in the Group 1 for the first time, I think she still has a very good chance to win this race. Strong Return will be the other strong Japanese representative, and I will also be interested to see how three-year-old Real Impact runs.
For Beauty Flash, coming back from the tough Dubai trip, he ran very well in the BMW Champions Mile, especially in light of the fact that Tony Cruz was not too pleased with him before the race. The demanding mile at the Tokyo Race track will stretch his stamina but I am still optimistic for his chance to run for a place. Thumbs Up is a horse with great potential but for whatever reasons he’s not always able to run to his ability. He is working very well in Tokyo and perhaps the different environment will help him producing a good performance.
Although I won't be able to attend the race meeting at Sha Tin tomorrow, I shall be avidly checking the results of our 10 races there through my smart phone. In the Skol Cup, I expect a good to slow pace which should give an advantage for horses racing near the front of the field. Mandarin made a fantastic winning comeback in his last start and being drawn in Gate 3, he should have no issue taking the lead and control the race from the front. He got 12 pounds for the win but he remains to be my favourite runner in this race. With Shining Victory from the John Size yard coming out of Gate 2 and racing in the front too, I see a good chance for a stable quinella there. Supreme Win out of Gate 4 is expected to join the leaders and with fresh graduate Derek Leung as jockey and in my opinion running in his best distance of 1200m, he will have a good chance to run for a place. Pretty One is an upcoming horse. His Gate 8 is not ideal and makes it more difficult to secure a good spot in the early stage, but I’m still of the view that he will be one of the main contenders to challenge the John Size duo and also Supreme Win.
Before then, we will be simulcasting six races from the Epsom Derby meeting for our racing fans tonight. Undoubtedly the main focus, especially among British fans, will be seeing whether Carlton House can bring Queen Elizabeth II, who is a huge fan of the sport, her first Epsom Derby winner. Should that happen, it will be double joy for the monarch and her family following the wedding of Prince William and Kate in April!
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