This year’s Jockey Club School Football Development Scheme has just come to a close, and to celebrate we invited over 100 participating students plus teachers and coaches to a 2-day graduation camp at Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village. One of several youth football initiatives launched by the Club in collaboration with Manchester United, the scheme uses football training as a way to develop the physical, mental and social capabilities of Hong Kong’s young people. Everyone joined together for a final training and team building session followed by a graduation ceremony and BBQ dinner, where four outstanding coaches were awarded certificates of merit. We hope they and their fellow coaches will take forward the lessons learned and continue to inspire future generations of students.
Tonight at Happy Valley we host the Sauternes Cup, a race named for the popular sweet French wine which emanates from Bordeaux, in what is the last of three nights in our Le French May celebration. Dr. Jean-Michel Descamps, the Mayor of Sauternes, and also the President of Bordeaux Racecourse, will be on hand to present some incredibly fine selections of wine to the winning connections of tonight’s Cup.
Once again the annual French-themed series has been great fun for our racing fans and the topic of French racing, discussed in my blog last week, is well worth another mention. If you are a frequent reader of various racing publications like me, you may have found the story from Sunday’s French 2,000 Guineas, won by Aidan O’Brien-trained The Gurkha - a 5 ½ length victor under the steady hands of Ryan Moore.
The race, held this year at Deauville on the straight course, was all but over with 400m to run when The Gurkha powered to lead and was never to be caught. O’Brien later noted the son of Galileo had endured two surgeries for colic as a juvenile, adding the English and French Derbies were under consideration for his next start, as was the St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, but the owners at Coolmore would make the final determination soon.
In tonight’s races, the ninth race is a Class 2 Handicap over 1,200m of the B Course and has drawn a solid field of 11 runners. Almababy is likely to go forward yet again after a very successful performance last time in Class 3. Lucky Year has landed the inside barrier and should secure a good early position with Caga Force nearby. Tonyboy, a winner of three straight, including two by narrow margins, is in danger of a wide passage given the pace scenario, which should be good. He has negotiated wins from wide barriers recently, though. Accepted and Eroico will likely be midpack with Country Melody not far behind.
My win and place chance for this race is Lucky Year. He has endured very rough trips in his last two races when drawn in gates 10 and 11 and continues to go well in the morning while getting the ideal draw for this race inside. Tonyboy is on a great streak and Kei Chiong has been engaged to take seven pounds off, which could be valuable in this competitive event. While potentially being trapped wide, he is a strong placing hope for me. Accepted, who just missed last time, and now gets Zac Purton aboard.
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