I was in Tokyo on Thursday with a chance to offer some words on the recipient of the 2017 Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit, the great jockey Yutaka Take. His lifelong contributions to racing were recognised in the ceremony, and it was indeed a great honour to review his career successes. Among them, of course, are two wins at the Hong Kong International Races and an International Jockeys Championship win. He has enjoyed 31 consecutive seasons with a pattern race win, and along with the seemingly endless list of big-race tallies in Japan, also has Group 1 wins in Great Britain, France and Dubai. Take was the regular partner of the globetrotting sprinter Agnes World and also the legendary Deep Impact, who is now stamping his greatness as a champion stallion.
Take has delighted Hong Kong fans, visiting us during his vacations, chatting and mingling with fans who have been absolutely thrilled to meet him in person. With a thoughtful, engaging personality and as a true master of his craft, Take is truly an excellent ambassador for Japanese racing and most deserving of receiving the Longines IFHA International Award of Merit.
Both Zac Purton and Olivier Doleuze rode doubles at our midweek races while three trainers each scored twice – Richard Gibson, Paul O’Sullivan and John Size. We are on the verge of the Christmas holidays, but before the festivities, we will have one more race meeting at Sha Tin this afternoon, with the Griffin Trophy being the day’s feature race.
To some racing fans, it may feel a bit of a distant memory that Pakistan Star was the winner of this race last year. This popular horse took the race with ease before incredibly strong runs in the BMW Hong Kong Derby and the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup. We all hope he is able to overcome his behaviour issues and get back to the races.
In recent years, some other talented horses also progressed out of the Griffin Trophy with Luger being a notable example. He took the spoils here in 2013, before he went on to win the Derby two years later, also placing in the G1 Stewards’ Cup in 2016. G1-placed sprinter Strathmore took part in this race in 2014, and the fourth that year, Dashing Fellow, has eight wins from 38 starts in Hong Kong, including a Group 3 win earlier this season in the National Day Cup.
Before we know it, the 4-Year-Old Classic Series will be upon us with the Hong Kong Classic Mile slated for 21 January and then the Classic Cup on 18 February. It all culminates with the BMW Hong Kong Derby, run this season on 18 March. There is plenty to come and I know you join me in looking forward to it. Quite a number of runners on today’s card could be aiming towards the Classic Series and it will be fun to see the contenders shake out as we get closer to the big races. For today’s Griffin Trophy, which goes as Race 3 and is run over 1400m as a condition race for 3 year olds only.
The speedmap is easy to draw with Sparkling Dragon having two on pace wins, and is likely to go forward again with a good to slow pace overall. Win Beauty Win and Lucky Master will track with Alcari next. Gallant Return should settle in midpack.
Sparkling Dragon, Alcari and Win Beauty Win are the three horses who are working exceptionally well and they are the three main chances.
In a tight finish, I have Sparkling Dragon as my first choice, especially if he can get a soft lead. Gallant Return, who had no room in his last start from the 150m to the last 50m and ran on well, is in my view, a horse with further potential and should not be underestimated.
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