A mere nose was the deciding margin in Wednesday’s LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship, as Singapore’s ace Joao Moreira pipped Zac Purton in the final strides of the last leg race to clinch the IJC title for the first time. His success also denied Purton’s dream to complete an international jockeys’ series double within a fortnight.
I have to say it was a good all-round winning performance by Moreira, as with his first winner we saw him dictating the pace to secure a wire-to-wire finish, yet in clinching his second victory he managed to chase down Zac’s leading ride from an almost impossible position. Apart from Moreira, it should be noted that trainer Peter Ho might also be seen as the big winner of this year’s series, as he has sent four stables runners for the four IJC leg races and the horses notched three wins and a second for the handler.
Moreira certainly treated Hong Kong racing fans to a very impressive performance and I will be keen to know how he performs tomorrow when he is on board Singaporean representative Super Easy in the Sprint and the Casper Fownes-trained My Name Is Bond in Race 6.
Tomorrow we come to the climax of our international week – the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse. This year we have again attracted a crop of top-class runners to Hong Kong, which include a total of 22 Group 1 winners.
It is sad that the world’s top-rated horse, Cirrus Des Aigles, and the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Sea Moon have withdrawn from their races due to an unfortunate minor injury and blood irregularity respectively. But we are encouraged to hear that Cirrus’s trainer, Corine Barande-Barbe, has said she is still keen to bring Cirrus here again next year. I hope both horses will recover from their setbacks soon. In the meantime, our Mile hopeful Ambitious Dragon had a moderate lameness in his right hind leg this morning and will be re-examined by Club’s vets tomorrow morning. So you may wish to pay close attention to any news about his latest condition.
Despite these late withdrawals, we still have a fantastic line-up of international talent to enjoy. Team Hong Kong notched one of its best results at this meeting last year as we won the Sprint, Mile and Cup, and finished second in the Vase as well. Looking at the field of the four international races, I think it will definitely be difficult to repeat the same achievements, and our case is not helped as leading hopefuls like Lucky Nine and Ambitious Dragon are drawn wide this time. Having said this, I’m sure they will still try their best to cope with it and perform to their best in front of our supporting fans who cheers for them from the grandstands.
Let me also share with you my analysis on the four races. First in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, the paceshould be good to slow and it’s likely that the runners will increase the tempo at 800m. Dancing Rain and Joshua Tree are the expected leaders with Liberator following them. Dunaden should be well placed in midfield with Red Cadeaux and Meandre following him. Classic winning filly Dancing Rain comes here fresh with a good run over 2400m in the British Champions Fillies’ and Mares’ Stakes and is a good win and place chance for me. I still like Dunaden most as he is working well and should get a good run from midfield, with Red Cadeaux as place chance following him.
In the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint the pace will be good, with Leading City taking the front, Sea Siren and Lord Kanaloa likely to take the box seat. Curren Chan from draw 8 will have to push to cross and join Leading City. Super Easy and Admiration are at risk to be trapped wide, while Lucky Nine is likely to get back to get cover, with Time After Time also coming from the back of the field. Sea Siren is working very well and with the bad draw for Lucky Nine, she seems to be the horse to beat. Lord Kanaloa is a place chance for me as is Time After Time who needs some luck to come through the field. Lucky Nine will come with a late run but it will not be easy for him to cut down Sea Siren!
The pace of the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile is expected to be good to slow, with Don Bosco and Master Of Hounds leading. The two Japanese horses Sadamu Patek and Grand Prix Boss can be well positioned in midfield with Xtension likely try to find a position behind the horses in the front. Glorious Days will settle behind midfield – a little further back than usual, with Ambitious Dragon trying to avoid racing wide in the back of the field. Siyouma is working well and from Gate 8 she will try to get a position in the front of the field, but she could be three-wide if not lucky, but I still give her a place chance. The two Japanese horses are the best milers we have seen for a long time coming over and are definitely places chances. Glorious Days needs some luck to find a clear run but I am still optimistic of him winning, with Ambitious Dragon a place chance too. Xtension is working very well and if he is fully fit he can beat them all.
With the withdrawal of Cirrus Des Aigles, the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup is likely to be run at a slow pace, which helps horses in the front of the field. Dan Excel will likely to dictate the pace, with Feuerblitz and Alcopop following him. The wide draw of Zaidan put him at risk of being trapped wide, with Carlton House and California Memory in midfield if the latter horse decides not to push forward to be closer to the pace. French Derby Winner Saonois is a pint-sized horse. He’s working very well but has to come from the back of the field, as will Giofra do too. I am optimistic that California Memory can defend the Cup with Carlton House, Saonois and Giofra being his main opponents.
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