I’m sure you were all as delighted as I was when watching Rich Tapestry winning the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal at the Dubai Super Saturday meeting last weekend. It was a stylish win for the Michael Chang-trained runner. Having stalked just off the pace early in the race, the horse unleashed a strong kick that was unmatched by any of his opponents. It was a great effort by this horse in the leading step-up race to the Dubai Golden Shaheen later this month, and the way he won was far easier than my expectation.
Such a fine performance should have pleased the horse’s connections, and I believe they will be even more upbeat knowing that the past two winners of the Golden Shaheen, Krypton Factor in 2012 and Reynaldothewizard last year, were both victorious in the Mahab Al Shimaal en route to their wins in the main event subsequently. So it really serves as a good omen for Rich Tapestry to have won this prep event. I hope the horse comes out of the race in fine form and progresses to peak condition for the Dubai World Cup day on 29 March.
As Rich Tapestry continues his preparation work in Dubai for the Golden Shaheen, a few of our other top horses are preparing for the World Cup day here in Hong Kong. Five of these possible contenders, namely Amber Sky, Blazing Speed, Akeed Mofeed, Military Attack and Dominant, appeared in barrier trials at Sha Tin yesterday as part of their preparation for their overseas assignment, before their departure to the Emirates next week.
They all showed that they are in very good condition and I was particularly impressed with the run of Amber Sky who showed great dash from the gates and travelled superbly under Joao Moreira to win his trial with ease. Blazing Speed won the longer trial from the front with Akeed Mofeed pulling early before closing off well, and both Military Attack and Dominant went well too. It's quite possible that this year we will have the largest ever team of Hong Kong runners – also arguably the strongest ever – participating in various major races on World Cup night. With eight horses competing on Dubai World Cup night, Hong Kong will most likely have the most runners from any visiting country. Their participation reflects the good depth of talent we have in Hong Kong racing and I’m really excited to see how our top runners perform in Dubai in a fortnight’s time. It’s an event I hope you’re all looking forward to as much as I am.
As you know, among the Dubai-bound runners Akeed Mofeed won last year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby and Military Attack and Dominant ran 6th and 8th in the 2012 renewal respectively. We are now just four days away from this year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby, and the excitement is mounting. I am hopeful that, given the apparent quality of the field for this event, we may be talking at this time next year about the 2014 Derby horses preparing for their own trips to Dubai and elsewhere to seek more international glory for their connections and for Hong Kong racing.
Before this most prestigious local event to be held at Sha Tin on Sunday, we still have another meeting at Happy Valley tonight. There are eight races in tonight’s card and the trophy event is the Indian Recreation Club Challenge Cup, which was first established 50 years ago and will be featured as Race 3 at 1650 metres for Class 4 horses. I expect an improved performance from Born To Win, a horse that was a winner last season over the course and distance. He should get a nice run from midfield and is an each-way chance. Ho Wongchoy, a last start winner, has the outside draw but should be running on at the finish and is also a place chance along with the front-running Dragon Glory. Other horses that are likely to go forward and make the running are Ambitious Treasure, a winner of his last two starts, Dragon Keeper and Distinct Commander, a horse that is seeing Happy Valley for the first time. Owners’ Glory will be the race favourite and is once again the recipient of a good draw. He gets the services of Joao Moreira, who is winning races at Happy Valley at an impressive rate of 27 percent, and is coming off a strong effort over the course and distance three weeks ago. He did miss some track work last week, which is a bit of a concern, and is a place chance for me.
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