During tomorrow’s Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup meeting we will bid farewell to Able Friend, a champion and great warrior of Hong Kong racing. He amassed four Group 1 wins including a Hong Kong Mile and Champions Mile double, 12 overall wins, and over HK$61 million of prize money in his five wonderful seasons. At his peak, he was the highest rated horse in Hong Kong history, and the only hometown hero to ever spend time as the world’s top-rated thoroughbred. His dazzling last-to-first win when drawn in gate 14 as the top-weight in the Premier Bowl was the world’s top-rated sprinting performance of 2015 and will be remembered for a long time.
In terms of his remarkable ability, I believe most of us will remember his electrifying turn of foot. In a matter of strides, and no matter what pocket or trouble he encountered in running, he could unleash an acceleration that is produced only by the world’s best horses. He impressed us on numerous occasions with such a performance, notably in the 2014 Hong Kong Mile, for which he was rated 127 and became the only Hong Kong horse to ever rank in the top three of the year-end world rankings. His win in the 2015 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup was equally astounding, propelling him to the top of the world ratings for several months. I’ve put the replays of these races below for your enjoyment.
He will be fondly missed by us all and we all hope he will enjoy the pastures in New South Wales after retirement. We hope you join our ceremony tomorrow to say farewell to this great champion at the parade ring after the third race.
The final Group 1 of the season has assembled a compact but intriguing group for the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. Blazing Speed has won two renewals of the race while his trainer, Tony Cruz, has managed four straight in the staying test. Werther just missed in last year’s edition while the likes of Eagle Way, Helene Charisma and Gold Mount represent the serious up-and-comers.
The pace is expected to be slow with Basic Trilogy likely to go forward and Blazing Speed should not be too far behind and will likely be the first to push. Werther is anticipated to slot in next with a gap to several that lack any early speed – Eagle Way and Gold Mount next then Helene Charisma and Designs On Rome.
Our reigning Horse of the Year Werther is seeking his second Group 1 win of the season after a solid third in the APQEII Cup last time. I expect him to go close again and is a major win and place chance. Eagle Way is my main choice in the race. While this is a step up for him out of the handicap company from the Queen Mother Memorial Cup, he clearly enjoys the added distance and seems to be peaking in his campaign. Blazing Speed continues to be incredibly consistent at the age of eight and loves these longer races. He is a serious placing chance and could earn a third win in the race if he is on his best. Helene Charisma is a distance specialist and could also run a placing, though might need softer ground to improve enough to win.
The Sha Tin Vase goes as the eighth race and is a Group 3 event over 1200m, drawing a group of ten. Our recent Group 2 winner, and Chairman’s Sprint Prize second Mr Stunning is the topweight for Joao Moreira, leading a strong group in this renewal. The pace is expected to be good-to-fast with Fabulous One the likely leader and Magic Legend tracking, along with Not Listenin’tome. Sun Jewellery and D B Pin should be midfield with Thewizardofoz behind him. Mr Stunning and Amazing Kids are likely to settle near the rear.
Magic Legend saw his winning streak come to an end last time but is now very well drawn and might have some advantage with the light weight. He is a win and place chance. Mr Stunning and Thewizardofoz are two strong chances from John Size’s five runners and I give the edge to Mr Stunning again off the back of his quality performances in his last two starts. Not Listenin’tome is a placing chance for Hugh Bowman following a strong third in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize. D B Pin offers some interest carrying a very light weight and is also a place hope.
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