We had a fabulous Ladies’ Day meeting in our Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day last Sunday at Sha Tin. The day’s handle of HK$1.45 billion was the highest turnover figure for our 17 race meetings so far this season and many of you came out to enjoy the day in person. I’m delighted to have your support and enthusiastic participation in such a glamorous and gallant race day.
The staunch support of our racing fans has also led to a strong foundation in our becoming one of the world’s leading racing jurisdictions. It also makes us one of the world forerunners in horse racing betting. While the sport has many different rules depending on jurisdiction, how the customer approaches the sport through betting is often a product of one’s upbringing.
As you know, outside of our Jockey Challenge betting, Hong Kong operates a pari-mutuel tote system which handles individual racing wagers entered by our customers. The pari-mutuel system was originally founded by the French and they continue to operate it as even now by PMU (Pari-Mutuel Urbain), whose racing handle amounted to 9.1 billion Euro last year.
In other leading racing jurisdictions, the Americans also exclusively offer pari-mutuel betting for their vast network of races. The British, however, are much more used to individual bookmakers offering fixed-odds products, and have a very long legacy of that, while their tote system occupies a very small sliver of the total turnover. For Australia it’s pretty even as it has a combination of tote betting and fixed-odds wagering.
Many times over the years, we have been asked if the Club will support introducing fixed odds or even in-race betting for our daily races. As our customers are so used to the pari-mutuel system, and the successful integrity measures we have in place for that system, we do not anticipate any changes to what is our flagship offering. Unfortunately, there are many examples where bookmakers take advantage of customers. Some prices were published in recent days that had Aerovelocity as short as 8-1 for the Hong Kong Sprint despite the connections declaring two weeks ago that they will not participate in the race.
Back to our races at Happy Valley tonight, please be reminded that we will have nine races on the card and the first race will start at 6.45pm. Tonight’s feature is a Class 2 event, The American Club Challenge Cup, a handicap run over 1,000 metres. Imperial Champion is well drawn in gate five and has gone forward over this trip in the past, while the light-weighted Brilliant Proposal is stepping-up in class, and should also ensure a good tempo. Perpetual Treasure, switching back to turf, and Caga Force should be in close attendance to the pace as well.
In midfield, I expect we will see All Great Friends and Country Melody, with Kingsfield, a newcomer to our circuit, but working well by all accounts, adopting a mid-pack spot. Country Melody is interesting in that he is a 1,000-metre specialist, but those have been on the Sha Tin straight course. Supreme Falcon should come from off the pace, as he is likely going to have to find a gap to slot-in after a draw in 11, along with Happy Bao Bei, parked wide from barrier 12.
Given the likely early speed we should see, I think the race will likely set-up well for horses sitting off the main speed. For me, All Great Friends is my main win and place chance, with Country Melody a strong placing chance in his third start of the season and back at his preferred distance. He had one start at Happy Valley over longer which should have helped acclimatise him to the course and he could improve off that effort last month. Imperial Champion trialed at Happy Valley in October and was on the lead throughout. This is his first run of the season, which he might need for increased fitness, but is also a good placing chance to me.
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