''The most exciting two minutes in sports''
For the past two years, we've brought you simulcasts of the Breeders' Cup races from Santa Anita, giving those of you who closely follow overseas horse racing a chance to watch some of the world's leading horses in action at one of America's premier international meetings.
In the early hours of tomorrow morning, following our Labour Day race meeting at Sha Tin today, we'll be able to give you a further helping of top Stateside action by simulcasting to Hong Kong for the first time another American classic, the world-famous Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs.
First run in 1875, the Kentucky Derby is one of the oldest thoroughbred stakes races in North America, where it is widely known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”. It is also the opening race in the US Triple Crown series for three-year-olds, which is completed by the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico and Belmont Stakes at New York's Belmont Park. The paramount status of this US$2 million event and its popularity among American racing fans is reflected by its stunning attendance figures - the past five editions have all attracted more than 150,000 people.
Many of America's most legendary horses have won the Kentucky Derby in the early stage of their careers before going on to cement their status in the country's racing history. Perhaps the most notable example is the great Northern Dancer, who went on to become the most successful sire of the 20th century. Other top runners like Sunday Silence and Fusaichi Pegasus have also won this prestigious race in recent years before becoming influential sires. Then there are the famous horses who went on to win all three legs of the US Triple Crown, like Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed (the last to do so in 1978, which shows what a tough challenge it is).
While it is not uncommon to see 20 or more runners competing in flat races on turf, particularly at some of the larger racecourses in Europe and Australia, it is unusual for the dirt races in North America. In this respect the Kentucky Derby offers racing lovers a rare spectacle as the maximum field of this dirt race is 20 - and a full gate of runners will again contest this 2000m Grade 1 event this year.
Local weather forecast suggests heavy rains may affect the Churchill Downs track during the Kentucky Derby programmes. So I recommend you all to keep an eye on the track condition before the race.
Following the withdrawal of top contender Eskendereya due to injury, it looks like being a very open race this year. I will see if Nick Zito’s Ice Box can win this event. This three-year-old colt has delivered an outstanding performance in his previous run in Florida Derby. He earned a good draw this time and I think he will be the main contender in this race. Super Saver showed his promising talent when he finished a close second in the Arkansas Derby in his last start. He will be partnered by last year’s Kentucky Derby winning jockey Calvin Borel. I’ll see if the rider can win this classic event again this year. Lookin At Lucky and American Lion are both in nice form recently and they can also finish close in this race.
Apart from the Kentucky Derby, we will also simulcast three more races from Churchill Downs for your enjoyment, giving you the chance to see some of American's older turf and dirt runners in action. They are the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, the Grade 1 Humana Distaff, and the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes. So I hope you will all enjoy watching these simulcast races early tomorrow.
While we hope these simulcasts will help you broaden your knowledge of overseas racing, another event the Club is organising this weekend will give you the chance to experience a different side of equine sport. Tomorrow, we will be hosting our annual open day at Tuen Mun Public Riding School, so that local residents can understand more about the daily life of horses, and come into close contact with these lovely animals.
Members of the public can join our guided tours to visit the new stables and feed room at the riding school, and watch horse care demonstrations by the farriers and grooms. Children can also enjoy pony riding sessions with our popular Shetland ponies, while our school riders will entertain visitors with vaulting demonstrations. So do please bring your family members along to join us, as I'm sure you'll have a great time there.
Before then, you can turn your attention back to Sha Tin as there will be 11 races on our programme this afternoon, including the Hong Kong Group 2 Sprint Cup.
Among the field of eight top sprinters in this 1200m event are Happy Zero and Green Birdie, both of whom are lined up to participate in the KrisFlyer International Sprint in Singapore in a fortnight's time. So you can have a final review of their latest form before they set off for their international campaign.
Personally, I think Happy Zero at his best would be difficult to beat. However, he has been given a relatively easy time since he snatched his maiden Group One victory in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup in March. So let’s see if this prolific sprinter can still get some results in this race. On the other hand, One World ran a terrific race in the Dubai Golden Shaheen and is working well since returning to Hong Kong. I think this is probably the reason for Darren Beadman to choose riding him.
Other high quality runners like Green Birdie, who performed very well in his barrier trial on 23 April, and also Amigo, who has been working brilliantly recently, will both be the main danger for these two John Moore runners in this sprint event.
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