I was invited to attend the annual ball hosted by the Riding for the Disabled Association last Friday. Not only had it been a very meaningful charity event as the money raised will be used in supporting those disabled persons to engage in horse riding activities, it was also a memorable night for me as I'm asked to sing at the stage.
I have not been caught singing in public on stage since 1968, at the time when I was 12 and being part of a chorus singing corals in my school. I think my performance that night was just so-so, like getting pass in a trial, but I still felt very delightful as of its charitable nature. Comparatively, the performance of Club chairman John Chan and the association's fundraising committee chairman Apollo Ng were truly outstanding and of Group One standard.Instead of focusing on my singing performance, it's better to go back to racing as our races last Saturday were obviously more entertaining and enjoyable. With local top snooker player Marco Fu showed his professional skills and pledged his support to our Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races next month, I was amazed by the progress and performance shown by our star sprinters Sacred Kingdom and Absolute Champion this season.
Sacred Kingdom has simply trounced other top Hong Kong sprinters to win the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial. Although reigning Sprinter of the Year Absolute Champion also produced a brilliant run in this Group Two race, Sacred Kingdom was still too strong for him and I can't wait to see this rising star, along with defending titleholder Absolute Champion, to contest with other overseas contenders in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint on December 9.
Before our race meeting tonight, we will announce which overseas horses will be nominated for our four international Group One races next month. Among those who have entered and registered for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint, I think should the connections of Australian mare Miss Andretti – the current leader of the Global Sprint Challenge and best sprinter in Australia this year – accept our invitation, she will surely become the strongest opponent for Sacred Kingdom and Absolute Champion in this 1,200-metre race.
England-based miler Ramonti is another horse I look forward to seeing it to return to Hong Kong this year, as the Godolphin has transformed the horse to be the best miler in Europe since it joined as a member of the stable early this year.
Apart from Miss Andretti, French horse Darjina, currently the world's highest rated mare at 123, will be very likely to get her place in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile. We will also invite Canada-based jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson to be the first female participant taking part in our Cathay Pacific International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley Racecourse on 5 December. It will be interesting to see if these females at racing will play an influential role and lessen the dominance of males in our international racing carnival this year.
I welcome you all coming to the racecourse earlier to watch our selection announcement and enjoy our exciting races tonight, which personally, I am eager to see how Diamond Supreme and Circular Machine perform as both horses have a better draw this time.
By the way, as promised, I would like to announce to you all the good news that Treble will be back starting from our race meeting on 25 November. We hope this can respond to your demand and bring more choices in betting options.
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