In Sunday’s Chairman’s Sprint Prize we saw a new Group 1 winner emerge, with veteran runner Joy And Fun claiming the first top-level title of his career at the ripe old age of eight. His jockey Brett Doyle, who left Hong Kong after Sunday’s meeting, delivered an equally superb riding performance to earn his first Group 1 success in Hong Kong.
Now trainer Derek Cruz will target his ageless warrior at the Dubai World Cup meeting in late March, most likely for the Al Quoz Sprint that the same horse-trainer-jockey partnership won in 2010, when it was still an International Group 3 race. It has since been upgraded to G2 and now this year G1, so let’s see if they can break further new ground with a successful return to Meydan.
In contrast, Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint winner Lucky Nine had to settle for second in this 1200m event. Even though he did not win the race, I think it remains to be a good performance. In my opinion, Lucky Nine did not enjoy to race between horses. But as soon as his jockey Brett Prebble got him to the outside, the horse then accelerated very well and made up quite a lot of ground in the final stages of the race. I thought it was an exciting battle to watch nonetheless, and I think it will not be an issue for Lucky Nine when stepping up in the distance to 1400m in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup early next month.
Turning to other recent news, I'm sure many of you will have seen pictures on the news of the severe cold weather and snowstorms affecting many parts of Europe these past few days. Some of you may even have been travelling in Europe and found yourselves caught up in it. The cold snap has caused numerous disruptions to transport and other services, with several flights from Hong Kong to Europe cancelled or diverted.
The heavy snow has put widespread areas of the continent under a white blanket, with temperatures in parts of Finland and Ukraine plummeting to minus 30 or even minus 40 degrees Celsius. My home country Germany hasn’t been much better off with temperatures dropping to minus 20 in some cities. It’s even more stunning to learn that the snowstorms have even spread to North Africa, with Algeria seeing snowfalls of over 20 centimetres.
With the global climate becoming more volatile and unpredictable every year, it reminds us the severity of climatic changes and the importance of showing care for our environment and living green in our daily lives.
Not surprisingly, sporting activities across Europe have been badly affected, too. If you're a football fan, you'll have noticed that most matches outside the top divisions were called off last weekend due to frozen pitches. And likewise it has had a severe impact on horse racing, this being the peak period of the hurdle and steeplechase racing season in several European countries.
However, there's one racetrack in Europe that never has such worries, and in fact the racing organisers there positively welcome more snowfall. This is the popular Swiss ski resort of St. Moritz, close to the Italian border, which in February each year hosts the White Turf race meetings at a racetrack set up on a frozen lake. The meeting has been held since 1907 and in recent years has attracted strong overseas participation from horses and jockeys from Germany, England and elsewhere.
When I lived in Europe, I enjoyed going to this event as well, especially the Skijoring races where persons on skis are pulled by horses. It’s very exciting but regarding to the high speed of all horses, this sport is very dangerous as well! Having said that, the Skijoring Trophy at St Moritz now remains as a very prestigious and highly-coveted event. Even former German jockey Peter Schiergen, who once rode in Hong Kong and now the trainer who prepped last year’s Arc winner Danedream, also won this race on skis when he partnered with horses provided by Baron G. von Ullmann – the famous German Owner who owned top horses such as Manduro, Shirocco and Tiger Hill.
Race meetings are being staged on three consecutive Sundays at St Moritz this year, with the first of them held last Sunday. Horsemen taking part included British jockey Steve Drowne – who you may recall steered Cityscape to a runner-up finish in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile in December – German champion jockey Eduardo Pedroza and British trainer Mark Johnston. So it beckons to attract some attention among racing media in Britain and Germany.
It’s fortunate that the Hong Kong weather is far more moderate than that of Europe, which lets us enjoy our racing in comfortable temperatures most of the year round. But we do have a heated contest for our 1O1O Million Challenge series at Happy Valley, with only 13 points separating current leader Mr Bond with Hawthorne in 5th. Among them, currently second-placed Happy Yeah Yeah will contest in the Kennedy Handicap in Race 8 tonight. As Mr Bond just finished fourth in his latest appearance at the Valley last Wednesday, this Almond-Lee trained runner will surpass Mr Bond to top the leaderboard if he wins or finishes second in this race. That’s why I will be watching how he performs this evening.
But Happy Yeah Yeah should face a stiff challenge tonight, as this is an ultra competitive Class 1 race over 1000m, and for me it’s difficult to cross out any horse who has no realistic chance to win. The expected pace will be fast which should give horses from the back a better chance than usual to win or be placed, at a course and distance which favours horses who are in front of the field after the first 300m. Romantic City should lead from his good draw and contesting the lead with Oriental Prosper from Gate 6 which will not enhance the chance of both horses, even Romantic City seems to find form again judging from his last good run to Pizzazz at 1200m. Horse Galore is drawn in Gate 5 and should get a nice position behind the leaders. This consistent runner has worked well recently. Having won in the same course and distance, he’s my top pick in this race. El Zonda is a Valley specialist and coming from Gate 2, he has at least a place chance coming with a strong late run from behind midfield. Touch Go is a competitive Class 3 winner over course and distance against Hawthorne. From his good draw and position in midfield, he has an outside chance to spoil the party of his higher-rated opponents.
The Volunteers' Challenge Cup, as the last leg of the Triple Trio, is a Class 3 event over 1800m. The pace should be good which gives every horse a fair chance to show its potential. Horses such as Hollywood Kiss and Ho Wongchoy who are drawn to start outside tonight, will need to work early to get across in front and take the lead. Ho Wongchoy is a Happy Valley 1800m specialist and in my opinion has been set for this race. Despite the outside draw, he still has a nice place chance, as well as Let's Goal who will have the chance to be placed in the box seat. The horse to beat is Delta Hedge who is working very well and with his draw of 4 gives Douglas Whyte the chance to be positioned in midfield. With his strong finish, he should have the chance to win the race. Fun Heroes is in good form and working well and is another place chance with Neil Callan on board.
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