And so we move on to a weekend that promises to be very significant on several levels.
Thursday night’s Happy Valley card produced a handful of notable storylines, with Red Warrior and Country Star looking very progressive in winning the last two races.
They look just the sort of horses John Size will do well with but the emergence of local talent was a very strong theme again with Matthew Poon, Victor Wong, Matthew Chadwick and Keith Yeung all riding winners.
Our newest trainer Jimmy Ting supplied two of those winners, including Fine With Me for Keith in the featured Australian Turf Club Trophy, and I am delighted that we have found a very promising local handler who seems determined to get right behind talented Hong Kong riders wherever possible.
Thursday also saw our Licensing Committee announce that Silvestre de Sousa will be back riding in Hong Kong on a four-month contract starting in November.
Silvestre will be a strong addition after collecting his third British jockeys’ title on Saturday’s Champions Day Simulcast card at Ascot and it is good to see that several of the high-class European horses engaged there also figure among early entries for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.
I flew out to Ascot on Friday night for a great meeting featuring 19 different G1 winners which provides a perfect chance to meet Europe’s leading horsemen and discuss the prospect of coming to Hong Kong in December.
However, I will be flying back to Hong Kong straight after to enjoy watching equine stars like Ivictory, Hot King Prawn and Mr Stunning in the Premier Bowl Handicap over 1200m, followed by Beauty Generation, Pakistan Star and Werther in the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy Handicap over 1600m.
We have a wonderful showcase for the very best of Hong Kong racing on Gentlemen’s Bow Tie Raceday at Sha Tin on Sunday. In what promises to be an outstanding day of racing, the intra-stable rivalry of Ivictory and Hot King Prawn continues in the G2 Premier Bowl.
The pace is expected to be good which gives every horse a fair chance to show its best. The two possible leaders are Jumbo Luck and Hot King Prawn. Not Listenin’tome and Mr Stunning may sit behind the pair. Ivictory from Gate 8 may be ridden patiently, with Born In China and Winner’s Way at the back.
Hot King Prawn’s lone defeat in his seven race career was at the 1200 metre distance but the talented horse has matured and is a win and place chance due to the 11 pound edge in the weights against Hong Kong’s champion sprinter.
Ivictory is among the world’s best sprinters and is always a win and place chance based on talent, class and consistency but 11 pounds is a lot to overcome. He may be that good and it will be a fascinating match up. Born In China is in top form and is a place chance along with Hot King Prawn.
In the G2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy over a mile, the pace should be good with Time Warp under Alvin Ng rolling forward, while Beauty Generation and Nothingilikemore should begin well and stay in prominent positions. Rise High and Thewizardofoz will follow while Pakistan Star should be around midfield. Beauty Only, Seasons Bloom and Singapore Sling are expected to be behind midfield, with Werther and Exultant coming from the back.
Reigning Horse of the Year Beauty Generation will once again carry top weight but he is in career best form and he is a win and place chance coming off his flashy seasonal debut which earned him an international rating of 123. To put that in context, the world’s top rated miler is on 124.
Pakistan Star needs no introduction and has been training well for his return but he is not fully fit at this moment. He is aiming for the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase but is always a chance whenever he steps onto the track. He is a place chance.
Singapore Sling is training exceptionally well is a place chance at the weights along with fellow rising star Rise High.
Comment
