The great Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien is edging closer to a single-season record for Group 1 wins in a season. Roly Poly’s win in Saturday’s Sun Chariot Stakes brought O’Brien his 23rd win at top level this term, requiring three more to pass America’s late Bobby Frankel. He will have plenty of opportunities with the upcoming British Champions Day, which we will be simulcasting on 21 October, as well as the annual Breeders’ Cup meeting. Of course, O’Brien could have several opportunities here in Hong Kong in December at our LONGINES Hong Kong International Races. His trainee Highland Reel achieved a first success in Hong Kong for Ballydoyle when winning the Vase in 2015 and could be back this year to try again after a strong second last year. Free entries for the 2017 HKIR close on Monday, 23 October.
Our Oktoberfest meetings continue tonight at Happy Valley, where we will also welcome our friends from Kwoon Chung Bus. Some of our racing fans may have noticed some familiar faces on Sunday if they follow Aussie Rules football as some current and former members of the Western Bulldogs were at Sha Tin.
Tonight, we will be joined by some of the Richmond Tigers who just landed their first AFL premiership since 1980. These visits are always reminders to us that our racecourses, and the sport of horse racing in Hong Kong, is a major draw and routinely viewed, even by visiting professional athletes, as a quintessential Hong Kong experience.
The feature race tonight is the Class 2 Kwoon Chung Bus Cup Handicap over 1000m of the B Course, and the pace should be good, which over the 1000m gives an advantage to the horses in the front of the field. This is only the second start at Happy Valley for Adventurer, and he is likely to go forward with Premiere in close pursuit. Sea Jade and Flying Tourbillon are expected to track them with Blocker Dee and Bullish Smart from midfield. Country Melody and High Five will be near the rear with Mr Genuine, Archippus and Born In China.
Many of the starters have a preference for the Happy Valley 1200m and they will finish off strongly, but it is an advantage to be in the speed over 1000m distance and my clear first choice is Premiere who ticks all the right boxes. Premiere is working well and is in very good form having won his last start over 1000m at Sha Tin. He should be well positioned in the lead or just sitting off Adventurer. While he has to cope with handicap increase of nine pounds, and meets his main opponent Archippus eight pounds worse, whom he beat last time, I think he should be able to manage this. Archippus is working well too, but has to come from the back of the field with a strong dash. He is a place chance for me.
Country Melody is in good form having joined Frankie Lor’s stable and is a place chance too, even he has to come from the back of the field. Sea Jade should not be underestimated for a place. The same applies for the “unproven” Happy Valley contender Adventurer, who should be able to lead and is in the in-form stable of Me Tsui.
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