January can be a bit of a dull time after the excitement of Christmas and New Year, but there should be no sign of the “January blues” here in Hong Kong. This month we get the chance to see our elite horses of various ages competing in major racing series. It all starts with the Four-Year-Old Series and the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile on Sunday week. Two other top-class features beckon a week later on 25 January, as the Stewards’ Cup, promoted to international G1 status this season, kicks off our Triple Crown series, and the Hong Kong Speed Series will also commence at Sha Tin that day with the HKG1 Kent & Curwen Centenary Sprint Cup.
On Monday we announced the nominations for this year’s Hong Kong Classic Mile. A total of 11 high quality four-year-olds are being lined up for a tilt this top-class mile contest. If one reviews the past winners, you can see that the quality continues to rise. The likes of Scintillation, Thumbs Up and Beauty Flash were all very good winners in the not-so-distant past, but few would argue that recent winners such as Lucky Nine, Gold-Fun and Able Friend are a cut above. Able Friend and Gold-Fun, two of the leading milers in the world, quinellaed the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile last month. Lucky Nine showed his great talent as it’s his class that made him staying the mile distance and won this race. Subsequently it was established that he was a better sprinter than miler and his other six G1/HKG1 winner later in the career all came from the shorter distance. Anyway, it’s pleasing to see the Classic Mile being the springboard for so many top horses. I certainly hope this trend can be maintained this year.
I’m sure many of you will have watched the performances of four Classic Mile nominees in the final race last Sunday. Giant Treasure and Beauty Only showed promise with decent runs in that slow tempo race. Yesterday morning another star runner, Divine Calling, continued his Classic Mile preparation in a turf barrier trial at Sha Tin. Having watched the trial footage, I think this eye-catching grey did it well as he picked up smoothly without too much urging to pass horses in the closing stages, and finished just a whisker behind recent race winner and form horse Dundonnell. I will keep an eye on Divine Calling and see if his condition improves further in the lead-in to the race.
It’s also worth giving a mention to another four-year-old who caught my eye in Tuesday’s trials, Got Fly. He’s not nominated for the Classic Mile, but Richard Gibson’s trainee closed off very well in his trial yesterday morning. He notched a good win last time on international day and this BMW Hong Kong Derby hopeful would be another horse to look at for the series this year.
The Classic Mile is still a week and a half away, so we’ll have to wait a bit longer before we get our first big clue as to the pecking order among our four-year-olds. But in the meantime we can offer you a full evening of music and racing at our Music Hits the Valley event tonight, which has a swinging 1960s theme. The evening is not just about the great music and live performers, there is plenty for race fans to get involved, including a chance to dress as those stars from that revolutionary decade. Those on the night who take part in our best-dressed contest and interactive games have the chance to win renowned brand speakers and headphones. So please come and bring along your friends to the racecourse and have a fun tonight.
In addition to racecourse entertainment, there will also be a pattern race on the card at Happy Valley this evening, the HKG3 January Cup. Among the field of 10, six ran in G1 races at the LONGINES HKIR last month, including Khaya who ran third in the Vase and Helene Super Star who finished a fine fifth in the Cup. With Same World, winner of last year’s January Cup, also in the race, I’m sure it will be an intriguing contest.
This 1800m handicap is opened for horses rated 90 or above. The top rated Endowing with a rating of 121 carries top weight of 133 pounds and has pushed lower rated horses such as Helene Super Star with a rating of 99, Sunny Ying with a rating of 98 and Wayfoong Express with a rating of 90 to be running out of the handicap. The pace is expected to be good to slow with Khaya needs to work early to overcome his draw, with Sunny Ying sharing the lead or competing with Pleasure Gains and Same World for a good position behind the pace. Endowing and Harbour Master should be well positioned in midfield with Helene Super Star may go forward if the pace upfront is to slow.
The race is very open and Harbour Master ridden by Joao Moreira is my first choice despite getting seven pounds for a convincing win last time over course and distance. Khaya ran a good race in the Hong Kong Vase last time. Although it will be his first race run at Happy Valley, he’s still my second choice, with Sunny Ying and the top-weight Endowing the other chances in this event.
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