Lord Kanaloa was a sensational two-time winner of the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, and I’m sure many of our racing fans remember his brilliance on the track. He is also one of the leading producers in Japan now, and his first progeny to be based in Hong Kong arrived this week. Owner David Boehm purchased this son of a champion in Japan and he has told me he will be named King Kanaloa. Boehm organizes an annual fundraising gala event “Ready to Race” for the HUB, which supports children living in or near poverty, giving them a chance for a better life and this year’s renewal was much enjoyed last night.
At the Club, we are continuing to explore more sources for buying horses from countries like Japan and South Africa in order to create a better balance, reduce risk and give our owners more choices.
While we will have two big Group 2 events tomorrow at Sha Tin, this weekend offers some exciting simulcast races. Apart from the Caulfield Cup in Australia, we will beam live five races from British Champions Day at Ascot tonight. I will be heading off to enjoy this big meeting and hope to catch up with some of the main European connections there before our HKIR entries close next Monday.
In recent years, two of the Group 1 races on the day have produced some key HKIR runners for us, most notably the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Champion Stakes. This year the former race will feature top European miler Ribchester and the highly-regarded and improving Beat The Bank, while star horses such as Highland Reel and Cracksman are among those entered for the latter event. Top sprinter Harry Angel looks to continue his stellar season while The Tin Man hopes to repeat last year’s win in the British Champions Sprint Stakes.
Of the last 14 Hong Kong-trained winners at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, 13 of them raced in either the Premier Bowl or the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy, our two Group 2 features this weekend. The only exception to that was Glorious Days, who won the Mile first-up. It is a very key weekend on the road to our big day in December and I’m sure our racing fans will be well attuned to the results tomorrow.
For the Premier Bowl, over 1200m of the A Course, which goes as the seventh race of the day, the pace is expected to be good as Fabulous One should go forward. Peniaphobia is quite versatile and might sit just off the pace. Magic Legend has a bit of an awkward draw and might go forward with Dashing Fellow tracking from the inside. Mr Stunning, D B Pin and Not Listenin’tome should settle midpack with Lucky Bubbles possibly behind them and Thewizardofoz near the rear.
These races are still run in handicap conditions and that must be considered a strong factor. D B Pin has run well twice in Group 3 races and probably has the best weight advantage here, carrying just 116 pounds, enjoying a 16 or 17-pound spread from Lucky Bubbles, Mr Stunning and Thewizardofoz. Lucky Bubbles has run well when fresh in the past, winning this race a year ago, and is my main win and place chance. Mr Stunning should be a bit more fit for trainer John Size and is another strong win and place chance. Thewizardofoz has needed some time to get into shape in previous seasons and it could be the case again, so I reserve him as a place hope. D B Pin is certainly a placing chance, and it is worth mentioning the eye-catching work of Strathmore this week. While he has not been in the frame of late, his work on turf this week was very sharp and at his best, he could catch a minor placing.
For the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy, over 1600m, which goes as the eighth race of the day, the pace should be good to slow. Winner’s Way is probably going to lead from Beauty Generation, who took advantage of the conditions last time to lead. Jolly Banner should be a bit closer than in his 1400m races with Werther potentially prominent too. Booming Delight should settle midpack with Joyful Trinity and Secret Weapon behind. Beauty Only should be near the rear with Helene Paragon.
Despite the potential pace, my main pick is Beauty Only, who ran a strong race last out when closing from behind on rain-softened ground that we know is not his preferred surface. He should be more fit at this stage and our Champion Miler from a season ago could be back on top here. The John Moore quartet of Helene Paragon, Joyful Trinity, Booming Delight and our former Horse of the Year Werther are all dangerous and each would have placing chances at the least. His fifth runner, Beauty Generation, needs to be respected off his earlier win over 1400m and could also earn a placing here.
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