We are now on the verge of our second big spring weekend of racing with a pair of overwhelmingly compelling Group 1 features at Sha Tin. But in Europe, the flat grass racing season just commenced not long ago, and the first European classic race of the year - the 2000 Guineas – will be run at Newmarket tonight.
Air Force Blue notched three consecutive G1 wins in his two-year-old campaign, making him the top-rated horse of his generation in Europe last year. He will make his much-anticipated return in this race. His trainer Aidan O’Brien has won this race seven times and a win here would see him edge John Scott, a leading 19th century trainer, and become the first to saddle eight winners in the 2000 Guineas. His stable is in a terrific form of late and we shall see if this Irish maestro, who won the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase in December, can create another chapter of racing history.
Ryan Moore will be on for this exciting prospect tonight and that is the reason he wouldn’t be here to renew his partnership with Maurice, who will take part in another world-class mile event – the G1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin tomorrow. As I have written before, it remains a great honour to have some of the world’s most respected racing and breeding entities send horses to Hong Kong for our international races, and we are lucky to have two horses representing Godolphin in the Champions Mile. Maurice is owned by the Yoshida family, whose many interests in racing and breeding in Japan are so well known, and it is a pleasure to have them back with us.
Maurice is not the only top biller in action at our home turf tomorrow as the Australian duo of Chautauqua and Buffering will also face off with our own top sprinters in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize. I know that many racing fans in Australia are paying close attention to this sensational race. It really is terrific for us to have such a stellar line-up in its first year of as an international G1.
The inaugural run of the Chairman’s Sprint Prize as an International Group 1 with increased prize money has attracted a fabulous field with unparalleled depth. Buffering should head right to the lead and will likely be joined by Peniaphobia. Lucky Bubbles, Mongolian Saturday and Super Jockey all should get a forward position with Gold-Fun and Aerovelocity behind. Thewizardofoz should get a good position mid-pack from Amazing Kids. It is expected Chautauqua will be well off the pace as usual, but it should be a good tempo, giving every horse a fair chance to show his ability.
Buffering looks great and is in tremendous form and is at least a chance to be placed. Chautauqua looks outstanding but has the little disadvantage to come from the back and has to switch on his legendary turbo to catch the front runners, but should be able to do so. His main threats are, in my opinion, Gold-Fun and especially the pair of Lucky Bubbles and Thewizardofoz.
Thewizardofoz is, in my view, even better over 1400m, but running fresh and being the choice of Joao Moreira over Peniaphobia and Amazing Kids shows his confidence in this magnificent-looking 4-year-old. Lucky Bubbles will be perfectly positioned and can run amazingly fast last 400m sectionals. He could be Hong Kong’s next sprinting star. It is a pity the Aerovelocity had the colic setback and is behind schedule in his preparation, plus he landed a bad draw which makes it difficult for him to be at his best but he has an amazing fighting spirit.
The Champions Mile has this year lived up to his name attracting Japan’s Horse of the Year in Maurice along with a pair of the famous Godolphin Stables’, Bow Creek and Safety Check. The pace should be good and the leaders should be Beauty Flame and Dundonnell. The former seemed to relish the front-running style as asked by jockey Matthew Chadwick in his last trial. Contentment and Packing Pins should adopt forward roles with Giant Treasure next. Safety Check could be on the inside in midpack with Maurice next.
There is no doubt Maurice looks very impressive and has performed well when returning from a break in the past. He was very impressive when winning the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and it will be very difficult to beat him. If the weather forecast is correct we will get some light showers which should not be an issue for him but would dampen the chances of Beauty Only who needs very firm ground and who was, for me, the biggest threat to Maurice if the going was firm. I still would not write him off for a place. Giant Treasure works well and is in good form and is a place chance in my opinion. Contentment was a little bit disappointing in his last outing in the Chairman’s Trophy and is in my opinion a better 1400m horse because the pace in these races allows him to relax better. He is still a place chance. Safety Check is working well and is a place chance too.
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