I trust you all enjoyed Sunday’s renewal of the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse, which featured a thrilling finish as a fast-closing Nassa bested Time Warp, who was incredibly game in defeat. The final time was a course record, and with Time Warp setting all of the early fractions, it proves how game he was in defeat.
Take nothing away from Nassa, who reeled off a final 400m split that was more than half a second faster than any other horse in the field. He has definitely acclimatised to Hong Kong and is a progressive horse to watch. This was also the third consecutive year the race was won by a Tony Millard trainee, and my congratulations go to him and his team.
Nassa was 10 pounds out of the handicap, with jockey Chad Schofield also putting up two pounds overweight to ride at 115 pounds. He only just edged Time Warp at the finish but the rest of the field finished far behind the pair, so taking all of that into account, his rating was boosted by 18 points by the handicapper post-race. On his new rating of 105, he may now be in contention to be selected for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races next month.
Prior to the race last week, I was in Beijing for our 10th Charity Wine Dinner and Auction, a marvellous event at our Beijing Clubhouse. The Members in attendance raised more than RMB 6.1 million, with the net proceeds going to the ZhongShe Social Work Development Foundation under the Ministry of Civil Affairs, supporting under-privileged children with education, medical and rehabilitation services. The generosity of our Mainland Members was superb and it was exciting to be there yet again to enjoy this annual event.
Yesterday the global racing focus was on Flemington but due to a tight schedule, I could not attend the Melbourne Cup this year. However, I still very much enjoyed watching the race coverage in our Racing Club at Happy Valley. I admire what has been achieved in Melbourne to have a race which really stops a nation. And the win of 24-year-old Joseph O’Brien with northern hemisphere three-year-old Rekindling, with the trainer defeating his world record breaking father Aidan, added another wonderful chapter to the long history of this great race.
Our annual Japan-themed Happy Wednesday parties return to Happy Valley over the next three midweek meetings at our city course. Tonight, the feature is the Class 3 American Club Challenge Cup Handicap over 1200m on the B Course, to be run as Race 5.
The pace is expected to be good which, on the B course, gives every horse a chance to perform to its best. Fantastic Eight has strong early pace and he should be able to take the lead despite breaking from stall 11. King Mortar could also contest the lead, but it is more likely he will take the box seat position behind Fantastic Eight, with Blaze Stamina outside. Debutant New Elegance should settle just behind that trio, with Sam’s Love also stalking the pace and Charity Glory set to make a run from beyond midfield.
Fantastic Eight is working well, he is very consistent and he is my first choice. He has not raced at Happy Valley before but he trialled nicely here twice. His good early speed should put him in a nice position. Sam’s Love is another Happy Valley debutant with a good chance. He has trialled at Happy Valley and his track work has been very good. With a likely nice spot midfield, it gives me extra confidence in him.
Charity Glory is a last start course and distance winner. Even though he has to come from the back of the field, I rate him as a place chance at least. The same applies to Smart Boy, who has a great record over this course and distance this season with one win and two seconds. As an outsider, I like Golden Harvest from the in-form Tony Millard stable. He will be ridden by leading homegrown rider Derek Leung, who has matured into a jockey that would be successful in any major jurisdiction. The horse has won four races over the course and distance and his fitness will be improved after his first start of the season in October.
Comment
