After an informative few days at home and abroad it is safe to say things are building towards a tremendous edition of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.
Qipco Champions Day at Ascot last Saturday produced high-class performances as usual and Cracksman was impressive in running away with the Champion Stakes for the second year in a row, but the ground was very soft and my conversations with some leading connections suggests they will find conditions much more suitable in Hong Kong in December.
Speaking of winning a major race for the second year running, it was well worth the quick return from the UK to see Beauty Generation land Sunday’s Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy.
John Moore’s gelding was the star of a very strong card and, in conceding 16lb to an up-and-coming young horse like Singapore Sling, he showed he is even better than when becoming Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year last season.
The Hong Kong handicappers have increased his local rating from 132 to 137 – which makes him the highest rated horse since Able Friend was rated 138 for his 2015 Premier Bowl success – and for me he now fully deserves to be rated as one of the world’s very best milers.
Earlier on Sunday’s card, Hot King Prawn added his name to Hong Kong’s long list of top sprinters with his decisive win under Sam Clipperton in the Premier Bowl.
His emergence adds another name to the list of elite horses being trained towards the HKIR and previous G1 winners like Mr Stunning and Pakistan Star did more than enough on their first runs of the season to suggest they can also have a big say in their respective December targets.
Entries for this year’s HKIR closed on Monday and, with no fewer than 67 individual G1 winners from 12 different racing jurisdictions, the scene is set for a spectacular occasion.
Aidan O’Brien has entered two Classic winners in Capri and Kew Gardens, along with the July Cup winner US Navy Flag, while his son Joseph has entered his Irish Derby winner Latrobe.
Andre Fabre has entered his Arc third Cloth Of Stars along with his Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Talismanic and Arc fourth Waldgeist, while Japan has a huge entry headed by the brilliant Fillies’ Triple Crown heroine Almond Eye and also including top sprinter Fine Needle and the Yasuda Kinen winner Mozu Ascot.
There are several fascinating entrants from the USA – including major stars like Imperial Hint and Mind Your Biscuits – while it is great to see fifteen individual Australian G1 winners engaged including the top-class sprinter Trapeze Artist.
The interest from Australia despite the current restrictions of Australian Horses coming to Hong Kong is remarkable. Having said that, it would need a solution to this issue within the next two weeks to enable these horses to participate.
As ever, we hope to welcome as many international stars as possible to Sha Tin in December.
The response from leading global horsemen shows the faith they have in the HKJC as a world leader in racing, but what we saw at the weekend from Beauty Generation, Hot King Prawn and company suggests that our home-trained challengers are more than ready for the tasks ahead.
Nearer to hand, we have another interesting Happy Valley card in prospect this Wednesday and the Class 4 Longines Cup at 1000 metres is the fifth race with Noble Delight and Lucky Lucky expected to go forward to set a good pace. Lunar Zephyr and Multimax are also likely to push forward from wide gates along with newcomer Champion Supreme.
Gentle Breeze makes his first ever appearance at Happy Valley and looks to be a win and place chance as he turns back in trip from 1200 metres after the benefit of a first up run 11 days ago. He showed some promise in two starts late last season and is well drawn to make an impression from midfield. Beaut Beaut won in this grade over the course and distance in June and comes off a good first-up run two weeks ago. He will also be fairly close to the good pace and is a place chance. Despite the wide gates, Multimax and Lunar Zephyr are both place chances and both have won over the course and distance.
Later in the night, Perfect Glory will put his unbeaten record on the line in the Class 3 Perfect Gear Handicap, the seventh race of the evening. A three-time winner in Australia, Perfect Glory was a debut winner at Happy Valley two weeks ago to remain perfect.
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