Our National Day race meeting on Tuesday proved to be very entertaining. Apart from the excellent racing action, the celebratory pre-race performances in the Parade Ring were enjoyed by many, and more than 30,000 racegoers turned up to create a fantastic racecourse atmosphere. Those who came along saw two impressive winners in the day’s two Group races. Go Baby Go showed he’s getting better and was probably at the peak of his game in the Sha Tin Sprint Trophy, while Gold-Fun proved he is a more mature horse and displayed how much progress he has made during the summer by winning the National Day Cup.
After National Day I left for Paris last night in advance of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe festival. Most of the major racing nations in the world are represented in France this weekend and I have a very busy few days of meetings, discussions and formal engagements. Included in my schedule is the annual International Federation of Horseracing Authorities conference, which meets at this time every year to discuss the biggest issues in world racing. The chance to mix with so many senior racing administrators from around the globe gives the Club’s senior team the chance to keep up to speed with significant developments elsewhere in racing and also to continue the planning towards the Asian Racing Conference, which we are hosting in Hong Kong next May for the first time since 1991. Indeed, there is an Asian Racing Federation Executive Council meeting this weekend, too.
The Arc meeting is one of my favourite race meetings outside of Hong Kong and I really look forward to it every year. The centrepiece is the historic Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, one of the richest and most prestigious middle distance races in the world. The total prize money of 4.8 million euros (over HK$50 million) and the breeding value of the winner enables this race to attract many of the top middle-distance horses in the world. Among the raiders from outside Europe this year are two star horses from Japan and even one from South America in the shape of last year’s G1 Carlos Pellegrini winner Going Somewhere.
I think it would be a long term goal to see Hong Kong, one of the top racing jurisdictions in the world, have runners at this prestigious race meeting. I understand the challenges that would present, not least the fact that this meeting falls early in our Hong Kong season and the possibility of soft ground at Longchamp in October, but a decade ago few people would have imagined that a Hong Kong horse could win a Group 1 race at Royal Ascot meeting and we have since won not just one but two! The sport of racing is all about dreams and I look forward to the chance to cheer on Hong Kong runners at the Arc meeting in the future.
This latest renewal of the Arc is arguably the best for many years. The field includes runners with excellent credentials and massive talent. I have great memories of witnessing an Arc winner from my home country, Germany, two years ago, when Danedream roared home to become the first German horse to win this race for more than 30 years. Another German horse, Novellist, who scored an impressive G1 double in his past two runs in the King George at Ascot and the Grosser Preis von Baden, should originally have a very good chance, but sadly, he was found to have fever and was scratched this afternoon. It's disappointing but I hope the horse will get well soon and be back to the track in near future.
In the Arc this year, there is also a strong contingent from Japan. Last year’s runner-up Orfevre and Japanese Derby winner Kizuna offer Japanese racing fans big hopes of ending their wait for their first win in the Arc. Connections of another key contender, the undefeated filly Treve, have received a late twist as her intended jockey Frankie Dettori suffered a fractured ankle in a pre-race accident in the UK in midweek, but his replacement Thierry Jarnet has won on the horse three times already. So I believe it is not as big an issue as some may think.
It will be an intriguing contest and you can follow the action via our simulcasts of the Arc, along with the Prix de l’Opera from Longchamp tomorrow night. Don’t forget though that there is also an interesting and competitive 10 race card at Sha Tin before then and I hope that many of you who enjoyed such a great day on Tuesday will pay another visit on Sunday.
Among the 10 races at Sha Tin, the Sunning Handicap is a Class 2 over 1200m which is run as the last race of the day, but has proven good quality horses as well as a possible rising star in the field. The pace should be good to slow with Smart Volatility try to lead to overcome his relatively wide draw, probably with Bullish Friend and Fionn's Treasure. Massive Impact and Lucky Double Eight can be well placed with Tour De Force try to get a good position in midfield from Gate 12.
In the beginning of the season it is always an advantage to get to race fitness and have already had a start. Bullish Friend, Fionn's Treasure, Lucky Double Eight, Tour De Force and Smart Volatility are all being out already, especially Bullish Friend who has improved in training after his last start. These horses are my favourites for this race but I think it is not easy for Smart Volatility, who is going up from Class 3 to Class 2, to run against strong Class 2 horses for the first time. My first choices among them are Lucky Double Eight and Fionn's Treasure who both should have the advantage to be well positioned with a good strong finishing speed.
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