The entire day of rain on Wednesday didn’t affect the exciting level of the contest or the racing crowd’s enthusiasm, as we all enjoyed a terrific evening in our LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley Racecourse.
Having won the last two legs of the four-race contest, it was South African Gavin Lerena who clinched the title this year. Despite it being Gavin’s first experience riding here in Hong Kong, he was very composed and performed incredibly well in his two winning races. And I think many of you would agree that he fully deserved to win his title.
A few more jockeys also left me with very positive impressions with their quality performances. One of those was Japan’s Keita Tosaki. It was the first time he rode outside his home nation, but he showed a lot of promise and his duel against Ryan Moore for a dead-heat win in the second leg, was excellent.
Derek Leung might not have the same quality set of rides or credentials than some other participating jockeys but he did not disappoint. Derek was still alive to win the title, when his mount in the final leg of the challenge hit the front. Although it wasn’t the case and his mount faded to finish third, it was a job well done for Derek and he ranked the highest among our four Hong Kong representatives.
Ryan Moore was always fantastic and it’s truly great to have him riding in front of our fans in Hong Kong. He obviously let himself down with his ride in the second leg, but despite that, Ryan still showed he is a top-class professional.
Apart from the jockeys, I would reserve my special praise to our tracks crew. With rain almost unstopped for the whole day, the team performed a stellar job in maintaining the best possible condition of the track. Many of our visiting guests, jockeys and media, remarked on our impressive track maintenance, and were amazed to see how well the course held up under such adverse weather condition. Most of us are accustomed to that, and I can say we are a bit spoiled. But if such thing happened in other tracks overseas, there would be chance that the track was found unsuitable to race, leaving the race meeting abandoned. We are quite fortunate to have such a great team, and their professionalism showed through, ensuring the turf remained in a good and acceptable condition despite such adverse weather. Their ongoing maintenance and attention to the turf was exhibited on Happy Valley’s flagship night.
It’s fortunate that the weather forecast suggests that it will be overcast tomorrow, so we all should have a fantastic setting to enjoy the racing highlight of the week, the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse. Fifty-five top-class runners, 30 individual international Group 1 winners of a combined 61 races, not to mention dozens of top horsemen, all ready to show their best in our four G1 events and I hope you all would come joining us for our meeting tomorrow.
It has been great to see all of our international visitors at trackwork this week, and in last evening’s gala dinner, where everyone enjoyed a fantastic time. It was very special to hear the remarks from Walter von Känel, President of Longines, and Louis Romanet, Chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. Their comments about the Club at our gala dinner were incredibly kind, and we are all very thankful for their ongoing support.
The LONGINES Hong Kong Vase is the first of the four G1 races tomorrow. This is an International Group 1 over 2400m and has attracted a stellar field with eight of the 13 runners having an international rating of 115 and above.
The pace is expected to be good to slow which favours horses on the pace and in midfield. Khaya should go forward with Highland Reel not far behind. Helene Happy Star and Cirrus Des Aigles will likely go close too, but none seem likely to be running off. Flintshire should get a nice trip in mid-pack along with Helene Super Star and Cannock Chase with Dominant, Dariyan, Ming Dynasty, and Preferment coming from off the pace.
My favourite is Flintshire who is working very well, has the highest international rating of 123, and has the ability to quicken even from a slow pace. Cannock Chase is a place chance for me with the Hong Kong duo Dominant and Helene Happy Star. An interesting horse is Ming Dynasty who has to prove he can handle firm going but is a horse who seems to improve.
The LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint is an International Group 1 over 1200m and has attracted a stellar field of sprinters with 10 out of the 14 horses with an international rating of 115 and above which is sensational for a sprint race. The pace will be at least good which should ensure that every horse should have a chance to produce its best.
It seems likely that Peniaphobia will be sent forward from an outside draw to adopt his normal tactics while the connections of Mikki Isle have made it clear they expect to go forward too. The Breeders’ Cup winner Mongolian Saturday will be prominent as well, with Not Listenin’tome and Rich Tapestry just behind them. Gold-Fun should be in mid-pack with a better drawn Charles The Great, then horses like Sole Power and Straight Girl should be near the back.
Gold-Fun is working very well and is at its best and should be the horse to beat. My only reservation is that he has to come out from his inside draw and follow horses who cannot accelerate as quick as he can. But with Soumillion on board, one of the best jockeys in the world, he should be able to do this. Peniaphobia is coming back to his best and is, despite the outside draw, a win and place chance but I prefer with the well-drawn. Lucky Nine can give a good showing and is a place chance for me as are Sakura Gospel, Straight Girl and Not Listenin'tome.
The LONGINES Hong Kong Mile is an International Group 1 over 1600m and has attracted some outstanding milers with nine of them with an international rating of 115 or above.
The pace should be good to slow, and maybe even on the slow side which is not necessarily good news for horses in the back of the field.
Secret Sham is the probable leader from Toormore, Beauty Flame, and Contentment in close attendance. Romantic Touch should be in the fray from midpack with Danon Platina and Mondialiste. Able Friend and Maurice should both be near the back of the field with Esoterique.
Able Friend seems likely to be back at his best, but unfortunately was reported with a moderate pulse in his leg this morning. He is going to have to be in great form to win the race because he has a formidable overseas opponent in Maurice who looks in great shape. I still favour Able Friend but if the pace is on the slow side, horses like Contentment and Beauty Flame can make life difficult. Esoterique is a fantastic filly and is a place chance too but I rate she is best over a straight mile course.
The LONGINES Hong Kong Cup is an International Group 1 over 2000m and has attracted an outstanding field with 10 of 14 starters rated 115 and above with five of them even 120 plus. Unfortunately we have one withdrawal this morning with Gailo Chop who is rated 116 with a temporary lameness and I feel sorry for his connections having prepared the horse for this tremendous race.
The pace is expected to be good which is important especially over the 2000m to ensure all horses have a chance to show their best form. A Shin Hikari is almost assured of going to the lead for Yutaka Take with Dan Excel right there too. Blazing Speed and Military Attack should get stalking trips while Free Eagle, filly Nuovo Record, and Criterion settled midpack. Staphanos is likely behind them with Beauty Only while Designs On Rome, Lucia Valentina, and Satono Aladdin are likely the early back markers.
Free Eagle is for me the horse to beat but I still think that Designs On Rome, Blazing Speed and Military Attack will give him a run for the money. Blazing Speed is especially favoured as he has a good chance of getting the steady pace he prefers. The Japanese raider Staphanos should not be underestimated and has the ability to beat all with the very talented Japanese Jockey Keita Tosaki on board.
All the best for another great HKIR meeting!
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