With the very hot weather warning in force, many people will be heading to pools and beaches this weekend to cool off. Swimming is not only great fun but also an essential life and survival skill. To help Hong Kong's primary school children learn the basics, we have established the Jockey Club Learn-to-Swim Programme in partnership with the HK Amateur Swimming Association. To make it even more engaging, we are also partnering with Ocean Park, who will teach the children about marine wildlife and conservation. Priority will be given to less-privileged students, but we encourage every parent to apply. So far the response has been very strong, so if you're interested in enrolling your kids, don't miss the opportunity and sign up for before the enrolment period ends!
Slightly different to the past few seasons, the races for our Champion Trainer and Champion Jockey titles have all but ended well before we are to reach the final few race meetings this term. Joao Moreira is set to clinch his second consecutive champion jockey title with another record-breaking season, while John Size earned an unassailable lead in the trainers' premiership and is set to get his 8th Champion Trainer crown in 15 years.
It too appears that we have a clearer picture on the race for the Tony Cruz Award - the new accolade for our home-grown jockeys this term. With a solitary win at Happy Valley in the midweek, Kei Chiong has further extended her lead against Keith Yeung to four wins, with Yeung incurring a two-day ban which makes him ineligible to ride in the two meetings of the season. With 34 wins and four full meetings to go, Kei is set to become the best-performed apprentice jockey since Matthew Chadwick, who rode 43 wins in his debut season back in 2008/09.
The tremendous support and close bonds from our Club Members has allowed us to progress and develop throughout the years, becoming a leading membership club in Asia. It is important to remember that our Members are the source of our horse Owners, a key driver of our world-class racing product. Sunday is the annual Members' Day at Sha Tin Racecourse and we've prepared a host of special activities, attractions and offers exclusively for our Members. Please join us to enjoy the day with plenty of fun and excitement.
During our races tomorrow we will also arrange the last simulcast race this season, the Takarazuka Kinen from Hanshin Racecourse, with the top Japanese middle distance horses such as Duramente and Lovely Day both featured in this G1 event. At Sha Tin we also have 10 races on the card. The Members Cup is run as race 8 as a Class 3 over 1200m. Short Squeeze and Chevalier Star should both go forward and clear. Clever Beaver who should take a handy spot from his inside draw. Sun Touch should also be in the early mix and the overall pace should be good. Love Shock is drawn in gate 13 and has to be careful not to be trapped wide but he should find cover behind midfield and is the horse to beat. He is working very well, having only his third start in this season and is an improving 3-year-old.
His main rivals are in my view Lang Tai Sing and Team Fortune who has to come from the back of the field from his wide draw. Lang Tai Sing will be just behind midfield and he beat Team Fortune in his last run and would not be surprised he will be ahead of him again. An interesting outsider is Clever Beaver who ran last time over 1000m which is too short for his liking. Coming back to 1200m and being positioned in the field just behind the leaders may by a good advantage for this horse.
Comment
