So we are already in the month of June with just six weeks to go until the end of the current racing season in Hong Kong. But in Europe the early season spring racing is just now moving on to the summer highlights, as this weekend England and France will be hosting their respective Derby races.
The English version has the longest tradition in racing as this is the original Derby and has been held every year since 1780, meaning that this year’s is the 233rd edition of the race. Although the “Derby” race name has been copied and used in other racing countries since then, the original version held at Epsom Downs every year remains one of the best-known thoroughbred races in the world, and is currently the richest race in the UK.
The race is always a thrilling spectacle and the pinnacle for European middle-distance three-year-olds. The past three renewals of the Derby have produced sensational stories and talking points for racing fans. In 2009, top Irish jockey Mick Kinane won his third and last English Derby before retirement later that same year aboard Sea The Stars. In winning the Derby, the superbly-bred colt, owned by Christopher Tsui from Hong Kong, also became the first racehorse to complete the 2,000 Guineas and Derby double since Nashwan 20 years earlier.
In the following year, Workforce brought his trainer Sir Michael Stoute his 5th Derby success, with the horse winning the race in an Epsom track record time of 2m 31.33s. That was also a first Derby win for star rider Ryan Moore, who had only the previous day won his first English Classic atop Snow Fairy in the Oaks. Last year we simulcast the English Derby to Hong Kong and I am sure many of you will recall the victory of Pour Moi under then 19-year-old French jockey Mickael Barzalona, as this sensational and talented rider announced his arrival at the fore of the world racing stage. Such was Barzalona’s confidence that, in a narrow verdict, he saluted the crowd just before the winning post as he claimed victory on his first ever appearance in this British classic.
This year’s race will no doubt produce as many talking points as in past years. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Camelot will be the classic-winning flagbearer this year, with some European racing columnists and commentators going so far as suggesting he has a good chance to become the first British Triple Crown winner since the brilliant Nijinsky in 1970. With the prowess Camelot showed when winning the 2,000 Guineas last time, he has scared off many opponents and with only nine runners set to go to post, this year’s Derby field will be the smallest since 1907. Tonight in our simulcast you will have the chance to see how he performs and if he can achieve this coveted classic double in the Derby.
And tomorrow at Chantilly Racecourse, north of Paris, the French equivalent of the Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club, will take place. We will simulcast this 2100m G1 event to Hong Kong for the first time. There are a few French three-year-olds who remain unbeaten and who showed promise earlier this season in Europe. With Camelot’s dominance in the English Derby, a few raiders from the UK and Ireland have decided to target this race in France, including Camelot’s unbeaten stablemate Imperial Monarch. Adding to other runners such as French Fifteen who finished a close runner-up behind Camelot in the 2000 Guineas.
When I was last time in Paris, I visited one of my horses Now We Can, who is now trained by French Fifteen’s trainer Nicolas Clement. Coincidentally, I had the chance watching French Fifteen’s performance in his final gallop before he made his seasonal debut at Maisons-Laffitte. Even he is not an imposing type of horse, I was really impressed by his fluent action in that gallop. And for my horse Now We Can, at that time he looked like a real stayer, but I was very happy that he won his second career start in a maiden race in St Cloud over 2400m last week. Hopefully he will continue delivering some nice performances when he takes part in higher class races in the near future. And for the French Derby, I expect it will be an exciting challenge and you may see how the battle pans out in this race on Sunday night.
For myself, I will need to make some efforts to search for a local racing channel or find a channel online to watch both races, as I have just arrived in Japan and will be attending the Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse tomorrow. This year we will have two runners from Hong Kong to contest this race – namely the John Size-trained Glorious Days and the Caspar Fownes-trained Lucky Nine. The ever-consistent Glorious Days continues to maintain his progress and improvement despite having finished runner-up in all his last three starts at Pattern level. And there can be no question as to whether Lucky Nine can adapt to the environment in Japan as this is his second trip to Japan in just under nine months. Both horses are in prime form this season and hopefully tomorrow one of them will become the third Yasuda Kinen winner from Hong Kong. Certainly, I will be cheering on both horses at the course.
Tonight’s simulcast highlight is the Investec Derby which has attracted only a small field of nine, especially due to the dominance of Camelot. He’s sired by Montjeu who himself was a multiple Group 1 winner over 2400m. After winning the 2000 Guineas, Camelot became the clear favourite of tonight’s race and I also believe he will be the horse to beat. Bonfire, which is sired by German-bred Manduro, is my second choice after his strong performance in the G2 Dante Stakes. Another improving horse for a place is Astrology who won his last race by 11 lengths.
In the Yasuda Kinen both of our Hong Kong starters Glorious Days and Lucky Nine have good chances as long as the weather stays as pleasant as it is today and if we have no rain in Tokyo tomorrow. Lucky Nine has a very good draw and my main concern is that he had a long season and the tough 1600m at Tokyo Racecourse may stretch his stamina due to the straight’s uphill part. But he should have at least a place chance because this year’s opposition seems to be not as good as the years before. Glorious Days is drawn 14 but he should be able to find a good position and I have high expectations that he can win the race. Sadamu Patek finished second to last year’s Triple Crown winner Orfevre in the Japanese 2000 Guineas last year. He won his final prep race in a G2 last month and seems to be the best Japanese chance, as well as Silport and Strong Return. As an outsider I like Donau Blue who ran well finishing second in the G1 Victoria Mile in her last start despite hanging out.
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