This is a sad time for all of us at the Club, having been shocked by Saturday’s bus accident after racing. I had just left Sha Tin when I heard the news and spent much of the night assembling our team to prepare our plans to help the victims and their families. It was a tragic loss of life, and on behalf of all of us at the Club I want to express my condolences to the families of the victims and my sympathies to those injured in the accident.
As we announced on Sunday, the Club has established a special relief fund of not less than HK$10 million for the provision of immediate support to the families of deceased passengers and those who are hospitalised. Tonight at Happy Valley, we will hold a minute of silence at 6:30 P.M. in remembrance of the deceased. I invite all our racegoers on course to participate. We have also cancelled all performances on course tonight as a mark of respect.
Many of you have commented on this tragedy through our social media channels, offering your kind words of support to the victims and their families. I am sure they are greatly appreciated and we thank you for them.
We will have eight races tonight at Happy Valley and among them are three Class 3 races, all of which are part of the Hong Kong Airlines Happy Valley Million Challenge. We are in the final two weeks of this competition and will award HK$1 million to the Owners of the top three points earners next Wednesday. Three of the top contenders chasing Charity Glory, who leads on 49 points, are in action tonight. Those are: E-Super (46) and Money Boy (34) in race six and Thunder Stomp (36) in race eight. E-Super and Thunder Stomp could take the lead tonight with a win.
Race 6 is a Class 3 over 1000m with an expanded rating band of 85 to 60, which give horses like E-Super, Country Melody and Mythical Emperor a chance to run in Class 3 despite being rated over 80. The expected pace is fast, which should give horses from behind the pace, especially on today’s B Course, a chance to use the inside to come with a late run.
The speed will strong early with Moment Of Power, Mr Right and Ocean Roar all likely to battle for the lead. E-Super is likely to settle just behind them with Mythical Emperor in danger of being caught wide but tracking close. Storm Signal and Diamond Master are likely to settle midfield with Money Boy behind. Country Melody and General Iron should be near the rear.
E-Super is in very good form finishing third in a Class 2 over 1200m and is working very well. He should be well-positioned behind the speed and is a win and place chance for me with Nash Rawiller on board. This combination was successful at Happy Valley two back over the distance.
Money Boy, ridden by Joao Moreira, is another contender in the Hong Kong Airlines Million Challenge with a good chance at least for a place. Money Boy has to come from further back, which is not easy over the 1000m in Happy Valley, but the fast pace gives him a chance. The same applies to General Iron, who has to come from last, but his second to Money Boy at his last start was a good performance.
Moment Of Power is one of the front runners, and with apprentice Jack Wong and his 5-pound allowance, drawn in gate two, makes him a win and place chance too.
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