I can truly understand the feeling of disappointment among racing fans at the decision to cancel the Happy Valley race meeting last Sunday, in particular with the subsequent improvement of weather conditions that day. Also, I'm sympathetic to the different views expressed in the past few days. I'd like to update you that I've been in touch with the Director of Hong Kong Observatory, following which both of us have agreed to strengthen our liaison in future. We have also started discussions with the Government on improving the drainage system of the infield to prevent flooding of the track.
Although it looks less likely that we'll have sunny weather tomorrow, I don't think it will undermine the desire of you all to attend our springtime international event, the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup, at Sha Tin Racecourse. For me, it's amazing to have witnessed how this championship has progressed within just a decade from a domestic Group One race to an International Group One event that attracts worldwide interest and coverage.
This year's event is also a landmark in its history as it's the 10th running of the race under the sponsorship of top watchmakers Audemars Piguet. In fact, Audemars Piguet became the Club's very first strategic racing partner when it took on the sponsorship of this race in 1999. Since then the brand's high international reputation has helped us enhance the image of this classic event, as well as establishing a successful model for collaboration that has boosted the interest of other prestigious brands and organisations in becoming associated with Hong Kong racing.
I would say that this year's Audemars Piquet QEII Cup is also the most open and interesting edition of this race in the past decade, as there is a great array of talent amongst both the local and overseas runners and they are all showing very nice recent form.
Helene Mascot showed us all how far he has improved with his emphatic win in the Hong Kong Derby six weeks ago. This UK import will enjoy some physical advantage compared with other runners as tomorrow's race will just be his fourth start this season. With Kiwi runner Sir Slick set to add more pace to the race, I think this progressing colt will have more to deliver when facing older opponents this time.
Matsurida Gogh is no doubt a tremendous horse and currently one of the best gallopers in Japan. His dominating victory in the Group 2 Nikkei Sho last month proved his success in last year's Arima Kinen was no fluke. His trackwork performance this week has shown that he's in top form and I'll be interested to see whether he can repeat the success of Japan's Eishin Preston in the 2002 and 2003 editions of this cup.
South African runner Archipenko is another runner not to be overlooked as his trainer Mike De Kock has achieved some great recent performances in this race, with Irridescence winning the 2006 edition and Grey's Inn finishing second a year earlier. As for our champion stayer Viva Pataca, he had a great run in Dubai but I'm a bit worried that the trip will have taken some toll on his performance tomorrow.
One good reason for cheering on Viva Pataca, though, is that he will be racing for charity this time, as at Thursday's draw Angela Leong, representative of the horse's owner Dr Stanley Ho, said that they had decided to donate any prize money earned from this race to support the Olympic equestrian events in Hong Kong.
For our other International Group One race tomorrow, the Champions Mile, Andreas Schutz's Good Ba Ba is in terrific form as he's won all his last four races, including three Group 1s in a row. To my mind, he is definitely the horse to beat in this race. However, I feel that resurgent local miler Armada and another upcoming John Size-trained runner Dao Dao will be well capable of putting up a strong challenge.
Anyway, do come along and cheer for our home team. See you at Sha Tin tomorrow.
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