It was a sensational race day on Sunday as over 70,000 race fans witnessed the local contenders and overseas runners finish all-square with two victories from the four international G1 events at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races. It was a tremendous day of competition. With winning horses coming from the UK, Japan and Hong Kong, it showed that horses from all over the world can compete on our home turf, making the occasion truly international and proving its status as the Turf World Championships.
With local runners landing two wins it was a great day for Hong Kong. Some joked that we should count Hong Kong as having won two and a half races, because although the Vase winner Red Cadeaux was a UK representative, he is owned by our former Club Chairman Ronald Arculli. This was Mr Arculli’s first Hong Kong International Race success in 21 years. Coincidentally, his last international success in Hong Kong was also ridden by Gerald Mosse, as the Frenchman steered the famous River Verdon to its Invitation Cup triumph in 1991. As for our legitimate winners, California Memory and Ambitious Dragon claimed the Cup and Mile in style, with the former even writing a new chapter of history by becoming the first horse to capture the Cup twice. And speaking of new chapters, Lord Kanaloa of course won Japan its first Hong Kong Sprint title in breathtaking style.
I was delighted on Sunday to hear some prominent top horsemen kindly praising our international races. One of those was Carlton House’s trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who said the HKIR is a very lucrative day of racing and that it is rated very highly on the international racing scene. Some of my friends also told me after Sunday’s races that even though they themselves didn’t have much success from betting, they felt that the races, particularly the four G1 events, were very exciting and it was overall a great sport occasion. These were encouraging comments to us and it all shows that the HKIR is a truly a great day of sport and certainly not just about gaming.
It was also pleasing to work with our new strategic partner, LONGINES, as they offered us great support throughout the occasion and its build-up. The presence of ambassadors Kate Winslet and Aaron Kwok at the racecourse gave our flagship races additional elegance, glamour and media attention. My colleagues told me that the exposure was extensive, with some overseas papers and websites carrying the photo of Kate Winslet hugging Cup winning jockey Matthew Chadwick at the presentation ceremony. It certainly helped draw the attention of a wider audience, both locally and overseas, to our annual event which is probably Hong Kong’s biggest major international sporting occasion.
Given the event’s success, I want to offer my thanks to the support given by the Club’s work team, as it was their great efforts which have enabled us to showcase the best racing to our visiting guests, and the meeting again concluded on such a high note and with plenty of positive responses.
Although the big Group 1 action is over, it doesn’t mean we are short of racing excitement as there is plenty on offer in our Happy Valley races this evening. Along with that we will also host the first of the three Holiday Smiles Come to the Valley race meetings tonight. The Valley will be full of festive atmosphere as not only have we arranged for you some fascinating performances but Christmas-themed food treats will also be on offer! So I hope you find it to be an enjoyable night.
For the eight races on the card, the Chek Lap Kok Handicap as today’s last race is a Class 3 event over 1000m, with an expanded rating band from 85 to 60. Of the 12 horses in the field, nine of them are in the Class 2 territory, rated between 85 and 81. The pace is expected to be good to fast, with strong leader Romantic City from Gate 5 setting the pace, and Amedeo out of Gate 7 and Charity Spirit from Gate 3 competing for a good spot. Super Goal Elite is drawn in Gate 11 and will likely go forward because in the majority of races over 1000m in the Valley you have to be on the pace to have a chance. Bundle Of Love will make his Valley debut after having trialled here at the end of last season. He can get a lovely run behind the pace from Gate 1 and is working very well. I would give him a place chance. Charity Spirit is for me the horse to beat, with Windicator Power and Super Plus as his main opponents!
Comment
