This last week was another momentous one for the Club as, for the second time in a fortnight, we announced a partnership with a key stakeholder of racing sport in Mainland China. On Tuesday in Beijing, we signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Horse Industry Association.
Certainly it’s another milestone achievement for the Club as not only will we help the CHIA in developing various veterinary and drug control aspects, but are crucially providing our support in a most fundamental need of a racing and breeding jurisdiction – modernizing the stud book. Proper registration of horses, not just those currently racing as unidentified, but the future stallions, mares, and progeny, is a necessary, foundational requirement.
China is a vast land and we have always believed a proper breeding industry can emerge if developed from the grassroots. If so, it will not only benefit the Mainland, but can also elevate the status of our sport in Hong Kong, making our major international races key indicators in the regional bloodstock marketplace, adding breeding value for stallions and mares. Truly, this is a very exciting proposition.
Of course, it will take years before the entire infrastructure is in place, but we hope for the best and are prepared to assist in this development throughout the foreseeable future.
I hope all of you enjoy every moment of this Mid-Autumn Festival weekend, especially when gazing up at the moon with your family and friends. We extend the cheer and joy on Monday as we’ve arranged 10 races on our card at Sha Tin. For the Fakei Cup (Handicap) which is run as a Class 3 over 1600m, the expected slow pace can be an advantage for horses being positioned in the front of the field. Club Life is the only known leader in this race and unless connections of one of his rivals changes the established pattern for their horses, Club Life will get a soft lead. Strong Foundation should be positioned well behind the pace with Enormous Honour on his outside with Top Ace, Winning Instinct in midfield with Beauty Lead at risk being wide on their outside.
Further back Ambassadorship and Holmes Legend are expected to travel behind midfield with Good Good View and Entitling even back further with last race beaten favourite Athena Baby and Best Show coming from last.
Enormous Honour is working very well and has an encouraging second place in his first outing this season on his record and is well positioned in the front part of the field and my first choice for a win and place. Holmes Legend is my second choice. He ran a very good race over course and distance in his start on 13 September to finish fourth and has continued to look very well in his trackwork. Athena Baby showed he is in good form in his trackwork and is a win and place chance too but has to overcome his draw and likely to have come from the back but has Moreira on board. Winning Instinct, who makes his seasonal debut, looks good and should not be underestimated in his second start for the O'Sullivan stable. Good Good View from the in form Dennis Yip's stable is an interesting outsider.
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