I was fortunate enough to be at Tokyo racecourse on Sunday for a thrilling edition of the Japan Cup in which Epiphaneia trounced a bunch of top-class opponents. Now I am back in Hong Kong and the next week and a half will be hectic as I, along with the rest of the team at the Jockey Club, turn my enthusiasm and energy to our international races next week.
Some of you will remember that Epiphaneia came to Hong Kong earlier this year for the APQEII Cup and came up short against our Horse of the Year, Designs On Rome. The Japanese four-year-old travelled wide throughout the race that day, and the 2000m distance may have been on the short side for him. But with Christophe Soumillon on board he was seemingly transformed in the Japan Cup. Despite stalking behind the leaders under a fast pace, the horse was still able to unleash an outstanding dash in the home straight and was too good for his opponents, including Ryan Moore’s mount Gentildonna who failed in her bid to win a third consecutive Japan Cup.
It was also a sweet and emotional victory for Soumillon, considering he also rode Buena Vista to be first to pass the post in the 2010 Japan Cup only to be demoted after the race. We will simulcast the Arima Kinen later this month and you will have another chance to watch Epiphaneia square off with Japan’s top horses in that year-end grand prix race.
All of you Hong Kong racing fans will need to wait just one more week before you can enjoy seeing Soumillon and Moore in the flesh, displaying their skills around Happy Valley and Sha Tin. First stop will be the Valley and our LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship next Wednesday. Those of you who are familiar with navigating our website may have found that one past IJC winner, Yutaka Take, is contributing a blog ahead of this year’s event. Take remains the only Japanese jockey to have won the IJC as he was crowned the joint-winner together with Soumillon in 2004. I hope you would enjoy reading Take’s blog talking about the IJC and the international races.
Meanwhile, I know that in the past few mornings a few of the early arriving overseas contenders have been out and have exercised during trackwork. Yesterday, Cup runner Farraaj clocked a fast time in a serious work-out under Andrea Atzeni. With more overseas runners due to arrive in Hong Kong as this weekend approaches, you can stay up to date with any news via our various channels.
While we are all looking forward to the big day next Sunday, tonight we will be having our first Wishing You a Happy Wednesday Christmas party at Happy Valley, as we will transform the Valley into a winter wonderland for the Christmas festivities. Apart from the Christmas atmosphere and festive food treats on offer, you can also participate in our IJC prelude game for the chance to win a new model tablet and food and beverage coupon. Hope to see you and enjoy the party this evening.
The Sunflower Handicap is the last race of today’s card and is run as a Class 3 over 1200m on the C+3 course which tends to favour runners who are running on the pace. There are plenty of speedsters which will go forward and ensure a good to fast tempo, which may help closers, especially in the last race, and mitigate the track bias of the C+3.
The Prince should take the lead and may be joined by You Are The One or Master Pinnacle who would have to go forward to overcome his wide draw of 11. Oriental Prosper can challenge the lead or take the box seat behind the leader, on the inside of Joyful The Great or Gentilis. Affluence Of Rain, Seasons Star and Victorius can be well placed. The Prince is coming in the race with decent form and is a win and place chance for me in this very open race, as is for Gentilis who is working very well. Seasons Star and Oriental Prosper are my other choices for a place.
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