I returned from Seoul yesterday where we concluded a most successful week with the 37th Asian Racing Conference. There were roughly 600 delegates from overseas, hailing from all corners of our industry, and they joined with many representatives from the Korea Racing Authority.
Among the key takeaways from the week, there is no doubt that we articulated a vision to create a global brand for racing, which is necessary for us to widen our fan base and create an emotional connection to racing. While there is no doubting that wagering is such a lifeblood of our sport, the offerings to our customers must be articulated, we have to establish an emotional connection from our fans to racing’s participants, especially the horses.
The 38th Asian Racing Conference will be held in Cape Town, South Africa in February 2020 and I’m looking forward to the progress we will make in the intervening months.
It’s back to the races at Sha Tin tomorrow and one notable event is our third race, The Racing Club 10th Anniversary Cup, commemorating a great decade since the launch of TRC. It is hard to believe that it has been ten years since I initiated TRC. It was designed to attract younger racing fans as Members of the Club and make an ownership experience part of a systematic onboarding process with all sorts of regular activities for them.
Since then, TRC has evolved even more and been such a great way for Members to learn more about racing through behind-the-scenes programmes, interact with racing celebrities and enjoy a wide range of special experiences, including some overseas racing tours. TRC has four active horses at the moment and it is always fun to see members celebrating when a TRC horse wins. Over the last decade, 14 horses have been in their ownership and without question, Young Elite was the most accomplished, winning six races and earning six other placings from 17 starts. Young Elite (pictured below) won in Class 1 company back in 2009 and even competed in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, running fifth in the 2010 edition of the race.
Tomorrow, the tenth race is the Tourmaline Handicap, a Class 2 event over 1600m of the C+3 course and the pace is projected to be slow, as the race lacks a really clear leader. Easy Go Easy Win and Star Majestic are capable of going forward, as is Sergeant Titanium. Morethanlucky showed speed in a barrier trial last week, but none of these are certainties to lead. Sergeant Titanium could be the default leader.
Rise High, ridden by Zac Purton, is working very well and is in great form. In winning his last race convincingly with a sectional time of 21.87 seconds for the last 400m, he has the ability to quicken from his position behind midfield and is, in my view, the horse to beat.
Doctor Geoff is, like Rise High, an exciting 4-year-old, and his form and trackwork is good. In his last run when finishing strongly to grab third place just 2 ¾ lengths behind Rise High, he had no clear run till the 300m. Despite the five-pound claim, I rate him as my second choice.
Coby Boy is a Class 2 winner over 1400m in his last start. He should have no problem to step-up to 1600m being fourth in a Group 3 over 1630m in Australia. He is more a place, than a win, chance in my view. Easy Go Easy Win was disappointing in his last start and as a 3-year-old, it is not easy to compete in Class 2 against proven Class 2 horses, but see him still as a place chance.
Morethanlucky ran well in the Classic Mile, finishing third in January, but was disappointing in his subsequent start in the Classic Cup where he finished eighth but was found lame. He has the class in my view, but after three months without racing, I have him as an outsider with a place chance.
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