Many local and overseas visitors have ranked Hong Kong’s night scenery as one of the most spectacular and dazzling in the world. In celebrating the 20th anniversary of the HKSAR, the Club through our Charities Trust has become the principal founding partner, donating over HK$10 million in supporting “Lumieres Hong Kong,” a fascinating programme which will be on display over three evenings starting from tomorrow night.
It will feature artistic light effects and projections along the promenade of some heritage buildings and sites in Tsim Sha Tsui, Central and Sheung Wan, also related artistic performances at landmark venues such as Chater Garden, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Statue Square and Lan Kwai Fong. All these exhibitions and performances will be available to everyone for free. In addition we will also present the Jockey Club Lumieres Hong Kong Education Outreach Programme which is targeted to enhance public appreciation of light arts, as well as local cultural and heritage. Please don’t miss this great chance and remember to visit some of these sites in the coming days.
I had a nice surprise yesterday as the 2-year-old filly I own, Para El Futuro, won in her career debut over 1600m at Chantilly against a field of very well-bred fillies. It will be fun to follow her development in the coming weeks and months.
Our leading local hopes for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races faced off in our three important lead-up races last Sunday. It was Werther, Mr Stunning and Seasons Bloom who emerged victorious and they are now among the leading runners for the home team when they are pitched against some top opposition in three weeks’ time.
As you can expect, this trio will be amongst the selected runners for the HK$84.5 million showpiece event at Sha Tin on 10 December. The full list of local runners and overseas raiders will be formally announced tonight at Happy Valley as the excitement builds towards the big week.
There are eight races on the card tonight at Happy Valley as we celebrate the last of our Japan-themed nights. The Stirling Handicap goes as Race 8 and is a Class 3 event over 1650m on the C+3 course, which tends to favour horses on the pace. The pace is expected to be good to slow with Go Go Win, who has led in each of his last four races at Happy Valley, very likely to be the early leader. Bank On Red may be ridden forward while Relentless Me might settle behind the speed. Go Beauty Go should be prominent with Magnetism behind them in midfield with Mister Monte. Full Glamour should be near midfield too, potentially behind Mister Monte.
It is a very open race and many of the starters will challenge for the win. My first choice is Full Glamour, who is only 3-years-old and he has good form as a 2-year-old, winning four races over 1100m-1400m. It has taken him some time to settle into Hong Kong, but a rating drop of eight pounds from 71 to 63 and the change of stables to Frankie Lor resulted in an impressive second place when stepping-up in distance to 1650m. He will have to overcome the pace from midfield and his main opponents are Go Beauty Go, Bank On Red and Relentless Me who have the advantage of being better placed in the front of the field.
Mister Monte and Magnetism should not be underestimated, either.
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