Our leading jockey Joao Moreira landed another double on Wednesday at Sha Tin, taking his season tally to 117. The race to match or even surpass his own record of 145 wins, achieved last season, is well and truly underway. It will be quite interesting to see how he goes over the final third of the season.
We are all looking forward to the major international features of the spring following last week’s announcement of the selected runners in both the Champions Mile and Chairman’s Sprint Prize. Hong Kong Mile winner Maurice is due back in Hong Kong in search of an international mile double, a feat only achieved by Able Friend and Good Ba Ba. As Joao Moreira rode Able Friend, it is of particular interest that he is booked by connections to ride the reigning Japanese Horse of the Year.
Moreira’s following in Japan has grown significantly, and a top win on Maurice in Hong Kong would only increase that. His impressive win in the World All-Star Jockeys Series last August in Sapporo showed the fans there much. Several of our jockeys have had great success in Japan over the years, and it is always a great compliment and recognition of the standard of our Hong Kong riding ranks. In other jockey news, it was nice to see Olivier Doleuze back in the Sha Tin frame on Wednesday evening with his first win in Hong Kong following an injury which sidelined him for some time.
Our many skilled jockeys will be in action for Sunday’s 11-race card. I am in Sydney at the moment for the final day of The Championships and will be jetting back to Hong Kong in time for this meeting at which we celebrate the anniversary of our Beijing Clubhouse.
The eleventh and final race, Jinbao Street Handicap, is a Class 2 handicap over 1,400 metres. Quite a few horses want to race forward but it does not seem the pace will be too fast, predicted to be good to slow. Precision King and Bullish Smart should be near the lead with Righteous and So Fast nearby. Spicy Sure and Fantastic Kaka will be just behind those with Mighty Maverick and Cheeky Too next. Lucky Double Eight and Racing Hero should settle well in midpack too.
So Fast is very solid at Sha Tin with four wins from ten starts and is working fine in advance of his return to Sha Tin. He is well drawn for Brett Prebble and John Size and should get the ideal stalking trip, making him my main win and place chance. Lucky Double Eight ran very well over course and distance in his penultimate start and while winless in Hong Kong, has been in the mix in this company before. He is a placing chance for me. Cheeky Too will have to get a patient ride from Moreira to come from well off the pace and with a wide barrier. He is another placing chance for me.
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