Able Friend is now in England for the Queen Anne Stakes and yesterday he had his final fast gallop at Newmarket ahead of the race next Tuesday. From what I hear it was an easy blow-out and he appears to be in very good order. The reports have been positive from the time he landed in the UK and from the pictures I’ve seen and the reports that have come back, it appears that he is very relaxed and happy in his new setting. This is certainly a good sign for a horse that is racing overseas for the first time.
Able Friend is the latest top runner to fly the Hong Kong flag abroad this season. Our heroes have won nine of the 10 G1s in Hong Kong this season, including five of the six events with international participation, and they have also landed four major wins overseas, in the US, Japan and Singapore. As a whole they have raised the benchmark of our world-class racing to an ever higher level, which reflects the depth of quality and talent we have in our racehorse population.
Every year we host the Most Popular Horse and Jockey Awards, decided by public voting, which provide an opportunity for our racing fans to take part in our Champion Awards and also to show their appreciation to their favourite horse and favourite jockey. This season’s voting campaign started earlier this week, so you can visit our website, our off-course betting branches, or access through our new channels on Facebook and WeChat to cast your vote.
On Sunday we can show our appreciation to another great Hong Kong racehorse, as we will host a farewell ceremony for two-time Hong Kong Cup winner California Memory at Sha Tin. It seems just yesterday that this popular, pint-sized grey and his jockey Matthew Chadwick were winning the Hong Kong Cup for an unprecedented second time. But of course California Memory is getting on in years now, as far as being a full-time athlete is concerned, and connections made a wise decision to retire the old warrior who has given us all so much pleasure, particularly through his thrilling wins that included four G1 or HKG1 contests in his career. That is a huge achievement by any standard.
He will be heading to Australia to enjoy his retirement at the Living Legends, alongside many other racing greats such as Silent Witness, Bullish Luck and Sacred Kingdom. So if you come to our races at Sha Tin tomorrow, you can join our send-off for this terrific horse.
We are entering the last month of our racing season, and on Sunday, Sha Tin stages the last pattern race of the season, the HKG3 Prince Jewellery & Watch Premier Cup. Aerovelocity came through this race last year when he ran three-quarters of a length second, and he has since shot to great fame thanks to three Group 1 wins this season in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore. It will be well worth watching to see if any horse can follow his footsteps.
It’s the highlight of the 11-race programme tomorrow, with trainer John Moore holding a very strong hand in the field of nine runners. Not Listenin’tome will be tested at 1400m for the first time in his 13-race career and looks up to the challenge after a relatively easy win in the HKG3 Sha Tin Vase two weeks ago at 1200m. The Australian import has tactical speed to stay in close contact to a moderate pace and is nicely drawn from gate two to be given every chance. Adding to his current form, he is a win and place chance in this race.
Exciting Dream and Charles The Great, also trained by Moore, follow the same pattern as Not Listenin’tome from the Sha Tin Vase to this race and are both top-three chances in their current form. Exciting Dream has drawn the inside gate, which could prove to be an advantage given the expected tempo, and has run well over the course and distance when last given the opportunity early last season. Super Lifeline is a place chance after a good effort in the Sha Tin Vase as well as the relevant fact that all six of his career victories have come over this course and distance.
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