After last week’s sensational start to the season at Sha Tin we saw further encouraging figures at our first midweek meeting at Happy Valley. The turnover of HK$797 million is the highest for the first Valley meeting of the season in the past 15 years, while the race attendance surpassed the 20,000 mark.
After noting a 2% rise in both turnover and attendance for our Saturday season opener, I thought that positive trend might carry over to our first Happy Valley meeting, but I have to admit, these good results – more than a 10% increase in both areas – are a bit beyond my expectations. These reflect our customers’ recognition of our racing products, and their support for the direction we are taking – that of bringing together attractive races and top-class racecourse facilities to provide premium racecourse experiences to every customer and racegoer. I have my fingers crossed that this trend carries on this season – I will certainly be pleased if it does.
With the season beginning so well, I also took the time in the past couple of days to catch up on what is happening in the rest of the racing world this week. I noticed on Wednesday that Doncaster Racecourse staged the Leger Legends charity race at the St Leger Festival, contested by retired jockeys. Among the participants in this event, were a few who won the English St Leger in their careers, a race which takes high profile this weekend. Mick Kinane, Kevin Darley, John Reid and George Duffield, as well as legendary US female jockey Julie Krone, were among the legends who all climbed back into the saddle.
I have watched the race video and it was an extremely exciting ding-dong climax between Kinane and Duffield, with Kinane the determined winner in a tight photo finish. Kinane showed he is still in good physical condition and produced a good performance similar to the days when he was an active rider. It’s hard to fathom that it’s almost three years since he hung up his saddle and boots!
The Leger Legends was a feature event on the first day of this year’s St Leger festival. The climax of the festival of course being the classic race itself this evening, in which Camelot will bid to become the first horse to win the UK Triple Crown since the great Nijinsky in 1970. Frankel has become a phenomenon in the UK and even across Europe this year, and if Camelot, undefeated in five starts to date, can complete the elusive Triple Crown, he will ensure that racing maintains something of a high-profile in that part of the world.
Camelot’s trainer Aidan O’Brien and his son Joseph, the horse’s jockey, are waiting to etch their names in racing history. I’m sure should O’Brien achieve this success it would probably eclipse all the great achievements so far in his illustrious training career.
It’s also nice to see Joseph, still a young rider at 19, not getting carried away and staying prudent about Camelot’s chance, as he told the British racing media, his horse has not yet been tested over the St Leger distance and there are no certainties in racing. Certainly, while he looks a very good horse, question marks remain about the strength of the form in his previous races. But as he is facing largely the same horses as before, it appears the British racing public are more confident and are convinced that the extra distance should not count against him achieving this special feat tonight.
Elsewhere, it will be an eventful weekend in France too. Tomorrow, Longchamp Racecourse in Paris will host important step-up races for Arc day next month, as well as the mile G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. For those who closely follow Japanese racing, you will want to pay special attention to the Prix Foy as reigning Japanese Horse of the Year Orfevre will contest this race as a prep for his Arc challenge three weeks later. From the sporting perspective, and as some racing fans expressed in online discussion forums, we would love to have shown how Camelot runs in the St Leger, also those lead up races to the Arc. But regretfully, we cannot do so due to current regulatory restrictions, which limit our flexibility to arrange simulcasts. This is what we have to continue to work on and for you to express your views and needs.
Meanwhile, here in Hong Kong, we have arranged a 10-race programme at Sha Tin Racecourse tomorrow, and we have a stunning Triple Trio Jackpot of HK$32.75million for this meeting. In the first leg – Woodpecker Handicap, the expected pace of this Class 5 event over 1600m is slow, which favours horses in the front of the field. Fitness is the key in the beginning of the season and therefore Treasure Glitter has the advantage of starting at the first race meeting. He showed a good effort in making some ground in the final stage of the race, and the extra distance as well as being expected to be one of the race leaders, should help his chance and is for me the logical banker for this race.
Tailorbird Handicap (first section) as the second leg is a Class 4 race over 1400m, with an expected good to slow pace. It’s a tough task in picking a banker here. Danzulu was disappointing in his first start this season. Although he sat three-deep and got some bumping, he did not fire at all on the home straight. He gets blinkers for this start and should still be considered as a possible banker as he is better drawn in Gate 2. The alternative for me is Double Dragon who likes to lead and runs well fresh!
The last leg – Sunbird Handicap – is a Class 4 event over 1200m on the All Weather surface. The expected good pace will ensure a fair contest, with What A Heart needing to work hard to go to the lead together with O'Halo and Expedite. The latter two are serious chances, especially Expedite who is working well. Perfect Joy with the good draw in 1 should not be underestimated, too!
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