We are just a week away from our inaugural Champions Day and our leading contenders have been gearing up their preparation for the race. Many of them took part in final pre-race barrier trials at Sha Tin yesterday morning and I believe your excitement will only build after watching those.
As for overseas contenders, the three Japanese runners arrived safely on Thursday, including their Guineas winner Al Ain (pictured below), while Chairman’s Sprint Prize runner Blue Point will jet in tomorrow. They are all quality opponents and I will see how they fare to the new surroundings through their performances at trackwork next week.
Before our big day next Sunday, the community comes to the fore as we host this year’s Community Day race meeting at Sha Tin Racecourse today. Held annually since 2005, this meeting offers us an opportunity to gather with our many working partners and friends in the community while also honouring our successful partnerships with many NGOs, government departments, education institutions and social groups.
A total of 200 representatives will join the festivities at the Racecourse today, including our Guest Of Honour, the SAR’s Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung. This year we will celebrate and commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships. We will also highlight our vast contributions in nurturing local talent as compassionate future leaders.
More than 500 young people have earned HKJC Scholarships since they were established in 1998. Two years ago, we further extended the programme and supported a number of students in their pursuit of postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford and Harvard University. We also supported students with special education needs studying in local universities and tertiary education institutions. We hope these young talents could continue pursuing their dreams and contribute to the betterment of our society in the future.
I hope all of our guests thoroughly enjoy the occasion today at Sha Tin.
The tenth race is the Sports For All Handicap, a Class 2 event over 1400m of the C+3 Course and features a field of 14. With a ratings band of 95 to 75, this gives some Class 3 horses a chance to test themselves against Class 2 horses.
The races on turf today are run on the C+3 track to have the track in perfect condition of our Champions Day next week and while the pace will be good to fast which normally helps horses from the back of the field, it is not easy to come from behind on this track.
Regency Bo Bo was very strong on the front end last time when leading all the way and will get to the inside with Almababy and Infinity Endeavour forwardly placed too. Gunnison and People’s Knight will likely track them. Coby Boy should get an ideal run behind the speed while saving ground with Turin Redstar in danger of being caught wide, along with Apollo’s Choice. Fortune Booth should be rear of midfield with Penang Hall. Harmony Hero is likely to be out the back as well, and could be wide. Xiang Bai Qi and World Record are likely to be near the back too.
Gunnison is working well and will be in a good position behind the pace. He is a Group 2 winner in Australia as a 2 year old over 1200m and he has run well in in his 3 starts in Hong Kong and is for me a win and place chance. Coby Boy should be well-positioned and is now in full fitness and is a win and place chance too.
Harmony Hero is working very well and his last win was very impressive. He has to come from the back, though, which is not easy on the C+3. Still, he cannot be left out as a win and place chance.
Turin Redstar has to step up to Class 2 rated 79 and was hampered in his last start at the 250m, but recovered and went to the line well, and he is an interesting upcoming 4-year-old with a place chance.
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