Hi, I'm sure the exciting racing action we brought to you from Longchamp on Sunday is still fresh in your minds. Not only were you able to witness Sea The Stars becoming the second Hong Kong-owned racehorse to win the prestigious Arc de Triomphe, but to me it was also the most breathtaking and impressive performance by any Arc winner in recent years.
No doubt those of you who gave your betting support to this odds-on race favourite must have been a bit worried in the early stages of the race, as Sea The Stars appeared quite keen after the jump and was boxed in all the way until approaching the home straight. But once his rider Mick Kinane found space and daylight, the horse simply looked to have an extra gear and stormed home. I was watching from the grandstand and was awed by the style in which he dusted his opponents. So were most other people there, and the crowd began their celebration about 100 metres from the winning post when it became clear Sea The Stars would be the 2009 Arc winner. They also gave the brilliant champion minutes of huge applause for his dazzling run.
It was a magical performance and I was really glad to see him winning the race in such style. Sea The Stars has cemented a unique place for himself in racing history by becoming the first horse to win the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and Arc in the same year. This was also his sixth Group One success in a row. With his emphatic record and easy winning style, I don't think it's any exaggeration to say he's a horse of a lifetime for us all.
We would love the opportunity to welcome Sea The Stars to Hong Kong for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup as his final career appearance, though it appeared to be unlikely for that happen. Despite that, I think he has already carved out a very special status among our local racing fans, given his Hong Kong connection.
Apart from that, I'm pleased that the connections of a number of top performers at the Longchamp meeting expressed an interest in coming to Hong Kong to contest our international races in December. For instance, I've spoken to the trainers and owners of Youmzain – three-time runner-up in the Arc race, and Total Gallery and War Artist – the winner and 2nd runner-up in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, and I'm glad that they all are keen to come to Hong Kong for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races. So I hope we shall have a chance of seeing these top overseas horses perform on our home turf on 13 December.
While I was at Longchamp I also met Belgian rider Christophe Soumillon. Though he sustained an elbow injury in a nasty race fall a few weeks ago, to everybody's surprise a medical check-up cleared him to ride at the weekend's Longchamp meeting. Despite he's not being fully fit, Christophe still won the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac and Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein on the day before the Arc. His speedy recovery and sound performances over the weekend show his toughness and illustrate why he's considered a wonderkid in racing. It would be great to see him riding in Hong Kong again later this year.
His boss Aga Khan also enjoyed great success in the Longchamp race meeting as he won seven group races – including a Group 1 double in the Prix Marcel Boussac and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere – within 48 hours. Gerald Mosse, who will return to Hong Kong after the Longchamp meeting, also had a rewarding weekend as he partnered Aga Khan's Siyouni to win the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, while he won two other Group 2 races in Paris this week.
Gerald has already arrived Hong Kong and he will be riding here until March next year. Although he just has one ride in our night race meeting tonight, I hope to see him continue his great form in the meetings to come. But before then, we have eight exciting races at Happy Valley this evening and I will be watching the performance of Chater De Lago in the Nam Long Shan Handicap. Having lost his debut appearance of the season to veteran runner Harry Harry, Chater De Lago will enjoy better advantage and start tonight's race from Gate 2. With Harry Harry drawn wide for Gate 12, I think he will have a very good chance to turn the table to win over Harry Harry this time.
In the Nam Fung Handicap, Asian Citrus had a satisfactory run at Happy Valley last time. Trainer David Ferraris has stepped up the preparation for the horse since then and I hope to see how he performs in this race. However, Happee Gift has shown his credential after transferring to John Moore's stable with an outstanding win in a 1200m race. I think he will be a tough opponent for all. Tony Cruz's Single Malt continues to show his progress this season and I am optimistic that he will be in the finish in this race.
Meanwhile, I think David Ferraris has another good chance with Chater Power in the Deep Water Bay Handicap. The horse showed great form early this season as he almost snatched a winner in a 1200m Happy Valley race three weeks ago. He will be partnered by Douglas Whyte tonight and I'll see if he can perform even better. Among his opponents, North Hill was transferred to Andreas Schutz's stable during summer and I'll be interested to see how he performs tonight.
No doubt those of you who gave your betting support to this odds-on race favourite must have been a bit worried in the early stages of the race, as Sea The Stars appeared quite keen after the jump and was boxed in all the way until approaching the home straight. But once his rider Mick Kinane found space and daylight, the horse simply looked to have an extra gear and stormed home. I was watching from the grandstand and was awed by the style in which he dusted his opponents. So were most other people there, and the crowd began their celebration about 100 metres from the winning post when it became clear Sea The Stars would be the 2009 Arc winner. They also gave the brilliant champion minutes of huge applause for his dazzling run.
It was a magical performance and I was really glad to see him winning the race in such style. Sea The Stars has cemented a unique place for himself in racing history by becoming the first horse to win the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and Arc in the same year. This was also his sixth Group One success in a row. With his emphatic record and easy winning style, I don't think it's any exaggeration to say he's a horse of a lifetime for us all.
We would love the opportunity to welcome Sea The Stars to Hong Kong for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup as his final career appearance, though it appeared to be unlikely for that happen. Despite that, I think he has already carved out a very special status among our local racing fans, given his Hong Kong connection.
Apart from that, I'm pleased that the connections of a number of top performers at the Longchamp meeting expressed an interest in coming to Hong Kong to contest our international races in December. For instance, I've spoken to the trainers and owners of Youmzain – three-time runner-up in the Arc race, and Total Gallery and War Artist – the winner and 2nd runner-up in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, and I'm glad that they all are keen to come to Hong Kong for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races. So I hope we shall have a chance of seeing these top overseas horses perform on our home turf on 13 December.
While I was at Longchamp I also met Belgian rider Christophe Soumillon. Though he sustained an elbow injury in a nasty race fall a few weeks ago, to everybody's surprise a medical check-up cleared him to ride at the weekend's Longchamp meeting. Despite he's not being fully fit, Christophe still won the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac and Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein on the day before the Arc. His speedy recovery and sound performances over the weekend show his toughness and illustrate why he's considered a wonderkid in racing. It would be great to see him riding in Hong Kong again later this year.
His boss Aga Khan also enjoyed great success in the Longchamp race meeting as he won seven group races – including a Group 1 double in the Prix Marcel Boussac and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere – within 48 hours. Gerald Mosse, who will return to Hong Kong after the Longchamp meeting, also had a rewarding weekend as he partnered Aga Khan's Siyouni to win the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, while he won two other Group 2 races in Paris this week.
Gerald has already arrived Hong Kong and he will be riding here until March next year. Although he just has one ride in our night race meeting tonight, I hope to see him continue his great form in the meetings to come. But before then, we have eight exciting races at Happy Valley this evening and I will be watching the performance of Chater De Lago in the Nam Long Shan Handicap. Having lost his debut appearance of the season to veteran runner Harry Harry, Chater De Lago will enjoy better advantage and start tonight's race from Gate 2. With Harry Harry drawn wide for Gate 12, I think he will have a very good chance to turn the table to win over Harry Harry this time.
In the Nam Fung Handicap, Asian Citrus had a satisfactory run at Happy Valley last time. Trainer David Ferraris has stepped up the preparation for the horse since then and I hope to see how he performs in this race. However, Happee Gift has shown his credential after transferring to John Moore's stable with an outstanding win in a 1200m race. I think he will be a tough opponent for all. Tony Cruz's Single Malt continues to show his progress this season and I am optimistic that he will be in the finish in this race.
Meanwhile, I think David Ferraris has another good chance with Chater Power in the Deep Water Bay Handicap. The horse showed great form early this season as he almost snatched a winner in a 1200m Happy Valley race three weeks ago. He will be partnered by Douglas Whyte tonight and I'll see if he can perform even better. Among his opponents, North Hill was transferred to Andreas Schutz's stable during summer and I'll be interested to see how he performs tonight.
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