We had a wonderful start to 2018 as we recorded the highest turnover for our New Year’s Day meeting, at HK$1.65 billion, and the second highest attendance at the celebratory Lucky Start meeting.
Champion jockey Joao Moreira got out to a fast start, riding his third five-timer of the season, with four of the wins coming for trainer John Size. But the raceday highlight went to the Peter Ho-trained Fifty Fifty as he made his successful debut at pattern level, taking the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup.
It was an impressive win for this grey, considering that he raced here eight pounds out of the handicap. He could make an impact in more pattern races this season, but I was particularly taken with the good run by the race third Helene Paragon, who conceded 20 pounds to the winner and 18 pounds to runner-up Beat The Clock, respectively. He could again be a main player when he tries to defend his crown in the upcoming G1 Stewards’ Cup later this month. We also saw some strong trials in the last few days from our LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and Hong Kong Sprint winners, Time Warp and Mr Stunning, each of whom are aiming for the Group 1 doubleheader on 28 January.
The Hong Kong Classic Mile is just two weeks away, the first of three prestigious races comprising the Four-Year-Old Classic Series. With its HK$10 million purse and a long list of winners that have achieved major successes following a Classic Mile score, this is the first opportunity for horses of a generation to assert their superiority. Quite a number of runners on Sunday are likely to aim for the Classic Series, particularly some of the 4YOs in the last two races of the day.
Our feature is for the sprinters as we have scheduled another G3 handicap at Sha Tin tomorrow, the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy to be run over the straight 1000m. It will be contested by a small field of eight but Premiere, who won all his three starts this season over the distance, including two at Sha Tin, will be the horse to look at here.
The expected pace is good to fast and the leading roles are quite clear with Premiere and Fabulous One the leaders. Bad Boy, Not Listenin’tome and Magic Legend will settle next with House Of Fun behind them. My Little Friend and Archippus will have to come from well off the pace.
Premiere and House Of Fun are working very well and Premiere is my first pick for a win while I like House Of Fun at least as a place chance. Archippus is in good form too and is one of my picks for a place. Magic Legend has been disappointing so far this season but may be the switch back to 1000m will do the trick.
Race 10 is the Violet Handicap, a Class 2 over 1600m and has some interesting 4-year-olds like Dragon Lips who is a Group 2 winner over 1600m and Time To Celebrate who won by a half-length in Class 2 over the course and distance. Other contenders are Doctor Geoff, a listed race winner In Ireland over 1400m, while Circuit Glory won a Group 2 over 2100m in New Zealand, and last not least, Rise High who won a Group 3 over 1600m as a 2 year old in Ireland.
While Doctor Geoff was disappointing last time out, I look forward to seeing him tomorrow with a better performance.
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