It was a pleasure to be in London yesterday for the announcement of the 2016 LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings which saw a record 26 horses from Hong Kong land in the premier international classifications. The subsequent race ratings were revealed showing that all 11 of our Group 1 races were in the World’s Top 100 Group 1 Races, with the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint measured as the world’s highest rated sprint in 2016!
Werther’s performance in the APQEII Cup earned him the highest rating for a Hong Kong trainee with a 124, good for a joint eighth in the overall table. Maurice was tied for Japan’s top-rated performer of the year, earning a 127 when winning the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup. Interestingly, he was tied with 2015 Cup winner, A Shin Hikari, who earned the same mark from his French win in May.
While the rankings list all horses which earned a top rating of at least 115, eight Hong Kong horses landed in the Top 50 – a remarkable number considering we have just 1,200 horses in training. Compared to Japan and Ireland with 11 each or the UK with 13, Hong Kong surpassed Australia (six) and France (four). These are numbers we should be proud of and I thank our Owners for sourcing such quality horses, our trainers and stable staff for preparing them and of course, our great fans who support them all.
Among all 11 of our G1 races making the World’s Top 100, it was also great to see our newly upgraded G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize make the list, and in the Top 50 too. In fact, nine of them were even in the top 50, a number surpassed only by the UK, and matched by Australia. It was a great compliment to us and reflects the success of our long-term strategies to encourage and incentivise participation. We are certainly hopeful our horses and races will land even higher in the future as we continue to strive for even better results.
Rapper Dragon justified his favouritism and as top-rated runner in the field, produced an authoritative win in Sunday’s Hong Kong Classic Mile. It was a classy performance and the way he won it easier than many people expected before the race. He showed that he’s a real deal and is now in for a chance to get more in the rest of the 4YO Classic Series. Earlier on our Sunday card, I was also quite impressed with Derby entrant Dinozzo, who could be bound for the Hong Kong Classic Cup following a big run over 1800m. Our 4YO crop is quite exciting and there is much to look forward to as the season progresses.
I will miss the racing tonight at Happy Valley as I will be returning from Europe, but I have had a chance to take a look at the card. The Chater Handicap goes as Race 9 and is a Class 2 over 1650m of the C+3 course and has drawn a field of 12. The pace here is projected to be quite slow. Happy Spirit is an obvious horse to lead, and has been in good form this season with two wins, including one over the C+3 course when leading throughout, drawn in gate one, and last time over this trip on the C course. Fantastic Kaka, Speedy Longwah and Eastern Express should all adopt tracking positions, while Mcqueen is in danger of getting a wide run. He has run forward at times in the past. Packing Llaregyb should be midpack with Mr Genuine and Marvel Hero. Santa Fe Sun and Dynamism will likely drop out the back.
The shape of this race suggests to me that Happy Spirit is well set for another big performance. He has drawn gate one again and it should enable Zac Purton to get the run of the race. Continuing to work well in the mornings, he is my main selection for the win. Marvel Hero was a strong winner two back in only his second start at Happy Valley. His first try in Class 2 was a good one last out when two and a quarter lengths behind Beauty Generation. Getting Joao Moreira and a better draw tonight, he is a live win and place chance. Both Speedy Longwah and Packing Llaregyb are solid placing hopes after a 1-2 finish last out. Eastern Express will be interesting to follow as he makes his first start at Happy Valley for John Size. He is taking a big step down in class and that could make him a place chance.
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