Thousands of racing fans joined us last Sunday to bid farewell to Lucky Nine, who will soon depart to Australia to spend his well-deserved retirement at Living Legends. Yesterday, one of his sprinting successors Aerovelocity, who similarly held the champion sprinter accolade and tasted overseas success in Singapore, also set off from Hong Kong to Japan for his second appearance in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen on Sunday week.
Aerovelocity was absolutely sensational this time last season, and his campaign included three G1s in Hong Kong, Singapore, and this race in Japan. But his health setback earlier this term deprived him the chance to defend his crown in the Hong Kong Sprint. Having said that, it was encouraging to see this speedster return to his very best last time when winning the Centenary Sprint Cup. That also laid him a very solid foundation for his upcoming challenge in that top sprinting event at Chukyo.
The connection between Aerovelocity and Lucky Nine got a bit more interesting when seeing that not just one, but two of Lucky Nine’s siblings – half-brothers Teehaff and Sudden Storm – are both entered for the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. The racing world is indeed a small one!
Tomorrow, the first of our latest string of horses to head off for the Dubai World Cup meeting leave Hong Kong as well, and I’m sure you all join me in looking forward to both that and the Takamatsunomiya Kinen simulcasts we offer at the end of next week.
At the moment let’s turn our focus to Happy Valley as we have eight races on our city racetrack tonight. The fifth race is the Hong Kong Exchanges Challenge Cup, a Class 3 Handicap over 1200m of the B Course at Happy Valley. Imperial Champion seems likely to go forward again while Supreme Falcon and Beauty Kingdom should take spots just behind the leader. Great Charm is an interesting prospect for Kei Chiong who is well drawn and could race closer under a very light weight, while newcomer Golden Sun is mapped to race midpack along with Choice Treasure. Red Kylin and Brave Knight should position behind that group. Happy Surveys deserve attention but will be towards the rear and could cover a wide trip drawn in the outside barrier.
Choice Treasure is working well and has done his best work at Happy Valley. With blinkers back on last time, he just missed against the progressive Back In Black. He is my main win and place chance in this race. Supreme Falcon is very well drawn and should be at peak fitness for this effort which makes him a very good chance to run a big race. While I slightly favour Choice Treasure, Supreme Falcon is also a win and place hope for me. Great Charm should get a good position inside and could appreciate the light weight apprentice over this shorter trip and is a placing chance.
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