It was a super racing weekend for local racing fans last Saturday and Sunday with the big focus on our top horses in Group 1 action in Dubai and Japan. Their good performances resulted in a rewarding weekend as they emphasised Hong Kong racing’s high international status.
I was in Meydan for the Dubai World Cup races to offer my support to the seven Hong Kong raiders. Although we lacked that little bit of luck needed to notch a win, we did go close with Peniaphobia running second in the Al Quoz Sprint and also the surprise package Super Jockey running second, under a masterful ride from Ryan Moore, in the Golden Shaheen.
Our horses faced very strong opposition in Dubai this year. Given the fact that six of our septet finished their races in the top five and three gained top three finishes, thanks to Rich Tapestry’s third in the Golden Shaheen, I would say they fared well. For Peniaphobia, his actual birth date was 8 April, so he has not yet turned four, although his official birthday, like all northern hemisphere horses, was 1 January. I personally believe that it is likely that he has not yet reached his peak and he should have some more upside. The majority of horses he faced on Saturday were more experienced, so it was a tough assignment for him, but his emphatic run once again told us that his future could be very bright indeed.
I know some of you will be disappointed with the fourth place achieved by our Horse of the Year Designs On Rome. In my opinion, the slow early pace in the Sheema Classic made things difficult for the horse, especially as he had to settle at the back which left him in a very disadvantageous position when the prominently-placed winner Dolniya kicked for home. He ran on well though, and I believe he will target the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup after returning to Hong Kong.
The highlight of the weekend came in Japan, of course. I’m sure you all watched the excitement unfold as the Paul O’Sullivan-trained Aerovelocity became the first horse from Hong Kong, and in fact the very first overseas horse, to win the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen. It’s not always easy for a foreign horse to win in Japan. It is a new environment, the quality of runners is very high, and the atmosphere created by those enthusiastic racing fans could be quite intimidating to some horses. All of these factors pose a challenge to all overseas horses and they have to be very relaxed and adaptable if they are to deliver their best there.
Our Executive Director Bill Nader was at Chukyo and he told me that Aerovelocity was unfazed by the atmosphere and full of himself before the race. He didn’t sweat much and was even calmer when compared to he how he acts in Hong Kong. Running for the first time on a rain-affected track, I believe those of you who watched the race live endured some nail-biting moments, especially when you saw the horse seem to struggle a bit entering the straight. For a moment I thought it might be a lost cause. Amazingly he managed to recover and won with a determined drive to the line. As Paul O’Sullivan said after the race, the horse showed his guts and his big heart.
I also learnt that the Japanese racing fans also applauded loudly for Zac Purton after the race. It was Zac’s first G1 victory in Japan and while they appreciated Zac’s great ride on the horse. It’s welcoming to see our world-class horses and jockeys gaining recognition and appreciation from both horsemen and racing fans in other countries.
With those Group 1 memories fresh in our minds, it’s time to get back to our local racing fixture tonight, but it’s no regular affair! Not only will it be the first Happy Wednesday Easter night, featuring many festive-themed activities on the track, it will also be the finale night of the season’s Million Challenge this evening.
The series this season has been the most competitive in my memory. As entering the final day of the contest, some 11 of the top 18 horses on the leaderboard will participate in the race today, and each of them is still in with a shout, having at least a mathematical chance to clinch the crown. All Great Friends is still the leader with 44.5 points, but that is just 2.5 points more than Twin Delight and Choice Treasure in joint second. It’ll be exciting to see how these 11 horses run and which of them could earn his owner the winning share of HK$650,000.
Tonight’s 5th race is the Achievement Handicap with no less than four horses eligible for the Club’s newly-introduced High Achievement Bonus worth HK$750,000 for a horse winning for the first time in Class 2 before reaching the age of five. Twin Delight is one of the four horses seeking the HAB award and he comes into the mile race ranked co-second in the Happy Valley Million Challenge on a total of 42 points, so there is a lot on the line tonight.
Twin Delight has drawn the outside gate and will need to press forward with early pace pressure from Fat Choy Hong Kong, a last start winner which has drawn nicely tonight in gate two. Sichuan Exec is also likely to be in the mix early, after an improved run on the pace in a 1400m Class 3 at Sha Tin two weeks ago when he was beaten only a neck by Super Talent. Though he has never factored in four previous runs at Happy Valley, Sichuan Exec is a win and place chance for me as he is likely to have the advantage of the box seat just behind the leaders and appears to be in top form coming into the race.
Amazingly is tied for 5th in the Million Challenge on 36 points and can improve tonight from his better draw. He is suited by the course and distance and is a solid place chance along with Noble Deluxe and Fat Choy Hong Kong.
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