At Wednesday's Happy Valley meeting we saw Italian maestro Frankie Dettori net a double in the Cathay Pacific International Jockeys' Championship to take this coveted title for the third time, exactly 10 years after his previous success. Frankie's winning rides were a perfect demonstration of his classy all-round riding skills – the first was a dominant run from wire to wire, while in the second he fought his way through from behind, carving a neat gap between horses.
This flamboyant Italian rider has always been a very popular figure among Hong Kong racing fans, as he is almost everywhere in the world he rides. He thrilled the crowd with his trademark flying dismounts, and they cheered him enthusiastically all the way back to the jockeys' room after the presentation ceremony. I know most of our fans love seeing him being race in Hong Kong, and I hope he can return to contest the Jockeys' Championship again next year.
As usual in International Races Week, I attended the barrier draw for the four international races on Thursday and also the trackwork sessions yesterday morning to watch the final preparation of overseas contenders, as well as to meet many old friends and racing journalists from around the world. Though the weather was quite chilly and breezy yesterday morning, it did not seem to dampen the enthusiasm of our media friends, who were all keen to chat with me. To me, it's the chance to renew old friendships as much as the big races themselves that makes this such an enjoyable week every year.
For this year's Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races, we have again attracted a truly star-studded line-up, with 26 horses from eight overseas countries coming to contest our four International Group Ones tomorrow and try to gain a share of the record HK$68 million prize money. No fewer than 16 of these 26 visitors have previously tasted success at top level, and these included some top international runners such as Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden, British Champion Stakes winner Cirrus des Aigles, as well as Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Rocket Man.
This year we've raised the total prize money for Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile from HK$16 million to HK$20 million and I'm pleased to see that it's attracted an especially strong field. Many of the horsemen I've met over the past few days have pinpointed this as being the most open and competitive of all the four G1 races this time.
The Mile was the only one of the four we managed to claim for Hong Kong last year, but I see a good chance that we are able to win the Sprint title back this year with a strong line-up. In this 1200m race, the expected pace should be good to fast, with the two Japanese runners Pas de Trois from Gate 1 going forward, while Curren Chan out of Gate 11 has to use some of her speed to go into a position in the front. Rocket Man from Gate 13 will have to use his speed, as well as Bated Breath from Gate 12. Little Bridge who is working very well should be in a perfect position from Gate 3 as well as Entrapment from Gate 5. Sacred Kingdom has an issue to be kept wide from his draw, as well as Admiration who is working very well. Considering the pace, Lucky Nine should be in a good position behind midfield.
I believe the draw has played in favour of Little Bridge and he is for me the horse to beat, especially I am not as impressed as last year about Rocket Man and his outside draw will not make his task to be easier. Entrapment has a changed work pattern which is unusual but he is still a place chance for me, as well as Curren Chan despite her draw of Gate 11. With his acceleration to go through the field, Lucky Nine is for me an each-way chance, too.
For the other three G1s, the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase should be run at a slow pace which gives some advantages for horses positioned in the front of the field. Mighty High ran best when leading and I assume he will do the same tomorrow, with Vadamar, Trailblazer, as well as Redwood in favourable positions on the pace. It will be difficult for Hong Kong horses competing against those top stayers from around the world. Mighty High is not at his best after returning from his trip to Australia and our best chances for a place seems to be Thumbs Up. Mr Medici is likely to be off the pace and it will not be easy to catch the expected on the pace runners.
I like the improving three-year-old Vadamar with jockey Christophe Lemaire who should run behind the pace, as well as Japanese runner Trailblazer who should be well positioned behind the speed. Redwood ran well last year and I would not be surprised to see him being placed again. In my view, the Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden, as well as runner-up Red Cadeaux will find the distance on the short side, especially with the expected slow pace which could lead to a sprint in the last 400m. Silver Pond is a very nice horse and could be the horse with a strong late run from the back of the field to take the honours.
With the increased prize money we attracted a very competitive field in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile. The expected pace should be slow, with the usual frontrunners such as Beauty Flash and Able One going up front, joining by Cityscape and Flying Blue just off the pace. Both Jimmy Choux and Xtension worked very well, and they should be in some very good positions. Xtension is for me a good chance to win the race, with Jimmy Choux, the ever-consistent Sahpresa, as well as Rajsaman some good place chance. Dubawi Gold impressed me in his work and he is a good each-way selection, too.
Even with only 10 horses in the field, the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup remains to be the highlight of the day. Cirrus des Aigles from Gate 2 with Christophe Soumillion on board is the benchmark as he’s the joint highest-rated 2000m horse in the world. Having said that, we have Ambitious Dragon and California Memory, who both have tremendous ability to run very fast sectional times in the last 400m. The pace should be on the good side with Durban Thunder leading, which as a son of Samum and prefers a softer turf surface than he will find tomorrow. Cirrus des Aigles will be well placed and he is working very well and I think he will not be easy to beat. Byword will be sitting in a good position, too, and was able to beat Cirrus des Aigles when they ran in the Prix Dollar in France. His run in the Breeders’ Cup Mile can be ignored and I think he has a place chance for me. Ambitious Dragon is in top form. With coming with a run from behind midfield, he will test the class of both French challengers and is for me the best chance to beat Cirrus des Aigles. California Memory is a place chance for me and if he is able to get a clear and uninterrupted run likely on the fence, he has a chance to upset the favourites. Irian is working very well and ran second last year and will try to make best of his draw to keep horses on his inside in a pocket to improve his chances for a place.
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