I have the pleasure of being in Guangzhou today for the Longines China Tour Hong Kong Jockey Club Cup Guangzhou Final, which includes members of the Club’s Equestrian Team. The heart of the competition will be ongoing when you are reading this. I had a chance to speak to the Club’s squad today and wished them all the best and also thanked them for their sincere dedication to their craft. They have had much success in the past and I am certain more is to come.
One of our earliest commingling partners is Singapore, and I was also there last evening as they hosted the Hong Kong Jockey Club Cup race, part of the EW Barker meeting which was simulcast to Hong Kong. Earlier this week we achieved further development in our commingling arrangements, extending our partnerships operators in the United Kingdom. Racing fans there can now watch and bet on Hong Kong races starting with our Happy Valley races from last Wednesday. The U.K. joined Canada as our newest commingling partners within the last month and it is heartening to see so many from around the world embracing the world-class racing we offer in Hong Kong.
Most of our top runners feature in the three G2 Jockey Club races at Sha Tin tomorrow. It will be an important step-up for them prior to their major assignments in the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 11 December. Our viral sensation Pakistan Star and the promising Mr Stunning will also feature in the undercard. It beckons to be a day with plenty of racing excitement and I look forward to seeing you at the racetrack tomorrow.
The first of the three G2 features is the LONGINES Jockey Club Cup, run over 2000 metres. It has attracted our top horses over the distance with one exception being Werther, who is recovering from an injury and is sadly missed. The pace is expectedly to be good to slow and with only nine runners, the race will end up a very tactical affair. I expect Brett Prebble to go for the lead with Eastern Express and Helene Super Star nearby. Military Attack was close in a recent trial and he might in a similar spot. Helene Happy Star and Anticipation should be nearby. Blazing Speed is at risk of being caught wide. Flame Hero and Secret Weapon should be near the back, along with Designs On Rome, which is his typical early spot.
Eastern Express is wearing blinkers for the first time in Hong Kong and even though he is the running in this terms race against the handicap in relation to the other proven Group 1 horses, he is a place chance for me. Designs On Rome is in good form and training well along with Blazing Speed, and they are the horses to beat. Military Attack is a real veteran and amazing horse and while age has likely caught up with him, he is still a place chance.
The BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile is expected to be run at a good to slow pace with Beauty Flame the likely leader. He has tactical versatility in case someone else wants to lead, but an alternative leader is tough to find. Contentment and Sun Jewellery should be close with Romantic Touch nearby. Giant Treasure and Packing Pins are likely next in midfield. The expected horse in the back early will include Beauty Only, Helene Paragon and Joyful Trinity.
Beauty Only is working well and rallied last time in 21.83 seconds and is my first choice. Sun Jewellery is working well too and will improve from his first up run. He is a good chance for a place. Contentment is difficult to assess on his last run and I prefer Joyful Trinity who was locked in at the 150m point in his last race and still rallied late.
The most competitive race is the BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint over the distance of 1200m. The two most likely leaders are Aerovelocity and Peniaphobia. Aerovelocity will not be faced with a five-pound penalty due to the conditions of the race which is not the case for Peniaphobia. Dashing Fellow, who has led in the past, should go close without needing to force the issue. Not Listenin’tome can go forward to a handy position. Lucky Bubbles is versatile and can be positioned anywhere. Lucky Year seems to have an awkward drawn in 10. Amazing Kids and Able Friend should be towards the back.
Able Friend’s return adds another dimension to the race but after the long injury break, I think he is probably not yet at his best. But, with his good trial, he should not be underestimated and can run a place. The horse to beat is Aerovelocity who ran a blinder last time out and needed the run after the break. Lucky Bubbles rallied wide last time and looks good on the track – he should go close. The same applies to Amazing Kids who came running late in his last start and this time has Joao Moreira on board. Strathmore is working very well and should also not be underestimated.
Beside these three races with proven world class horses, race nine is the Fan Lau Handicap which is a Class 2 over 1600m and is of great interest to me because Pakistan Star is running. He is competing against proven Class 2 horses but with the extra 200m in distance, he should be able to be closer positioned to the leaders and finish with his usual last 400m turbo run to win the race.
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