We are in for the most important week of the season, the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races. It’s all systems go as all our visiting runners arrived in Hong Kong by Monday, but the early highlight goes to our 12 world-class jockeys when they lock horns in the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley tonight.
Earlier today, we announced the exciting news that the Club and LONGINES announced the extension of our partnership as the title sponsor of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship. Over the last five years, their tremendous support has enabled HKIR week to achieve new heights, and we are all looking forward to another term with LONGINES.
Before the IJC last year I believe few fans here have heard about Gavin Lerena, but he made his mark by winning the title in his IJC debut. This year Gavin is back to defend his title against several IJC winners of the past, including the great Ryan Moore, Douglas Whyte and Joao Moreira. We have two jockeys, both French in origin, making their IJC debuts in Mickael Barzalona who will represent France and America-based Florent Geroux, who is one of the top-riders there this year with an astounding ten Group 1 wins this season.
As usual they were all at our media photo call at Happy Valley Racecourse yesterday and are surely ready for a great tussle tonight on the turf.
All of them look very sharp and are more than ready to take on the challenge. We will crown the King of the Valley tonight after these fascinating races, in which there are many chances. I thought both Hugh Bowman and Florent Geroux had very positive draws, along with Ryan Moore. Pat Smullen could be an outsider with a decent book of rides as well, while Joao Moreira will surely be dangerous too.
Do remember to come earlier to the track as our first race of the night will start at 6.30pm. The first leg of the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship is race 4, a Class 4 event over 1000m with a likely good-to-fast pace. Powermax, ridden by Pat Smullen, should be well placed in midfield, and with his good form behind D B Pin, is my first choice. St Yazin, ridden by Joao Moreira will have to come from the back and I think he and Premiere, with Hugh Bowman and Top Bonus with Mirco Demuro are the best chances.
The second leg of the LONGINES IJC is scheduled as race 5, which is a Class 4 over 1650m. The good-to-slow pace is likely to favour horses close to the speed and my first choice is Giant Turtle for Ryan Moore. The top placing chances are Happy And Healthy, ridden by Gavin Lerena, along with Winningli for Keita Tosaki and True Comment for our own Zac Purton.
Leg 3 of the LONGINES IJC is race 7 and is a Class 4 over 1650m. The pace is likely to be good-to-slow with Works Of Art, ridden by Florent Geroux, and he should be well positioned in midfield, and is my favourite for a win. My next picks are Kiram for Hugh Bowman, Win It with Derek Leung, Graceful Kingdom for Gavin Lerena and Penny Lane with Irish champion Pat Smullen.
The last leg of the LONGINES IJC is race number 8 which is run over 1650m which will give our racing fans in the Beer Garden plenty of opportunities to get close to the greatest riders in the world. The good pace gives every horse a good chance to show its best with Hugh Bowman on Super Fluke, Vara Pearl with Zac Purton and, last but not least, Ryan Moore’s Beauty Prince as my main chances. Pearl Warm Warm for Mickael Barzalona and Bullish Smart with Mirco Demuro should not be underestimated.
Who will be the Jockey King of the Valley tonight? It is a very open contest looking at the odds in the jockey challenge, and they will be worth watching as the night progresses. I have Hugh Bowman and Ryan Moore as my first picks with Florent Geroux and Gavin Lerena as in-play opportunities.
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