The Hong Kong racing calendar has any number of highlights but, for me, Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse day at Sha Tin has always been a personal favourite.
This is one of Hong Kong’s most historic showpiece events, with a tradition dating back almost 170 years.
It has evolved into something that appeals to every section of the modern racing audience and we have developed a great partnership with Sa Sa, whose efforts have helped make this one of the feature days in our season.
The emphasis on style and elegance means it has become a major attraction for celebrities and fashion fans and the race looks very strong, with several leading candidates for next month’s LONGINES HKIR contests.
In addition, we also welcome two familiar faces to the Hong Kong jockeys’ room.
Alexis Badel is fresh from a first Group 1 success in France and made a very positive impression when riding 14 winners here last season, while Silvestre De Sousa has just secured his third British championship and is hungry to make his mark again after doing well in previous visits.
John Moore has booked Silvestre for Eagle Way in the Ladies’ Purse. Alexis will ride Gold Mount for Richard Gibson, and the fact that our two new arrivals have a combined total of 17 rides on their first day back shows just how well regarded they are by owners and trainers.
The Group 3 Ladies’ Purse is run over 1800m on the C+3 course, which often favours prominent racers, and the pace is expected to be good with the brothers Glorious Forever and Time Warp out in front, followed by Horse Of Fortune and Pakistan Star on the inside.
Pakistan Star had an easy summer and looked big in condition in his first start of the season with 1600m short of his best.
His fitness has improved but he is still not fully fit and a place chance for me but Teetan has to be careful not to be trapped at the inside.
Exultant ran a blinder in his season debut and will further improve in fitness and with the extra distance and is a place chance too.
Time Warp seems to have lost his form and I don’t expect him to be in the first three. The same applies to Gold Mount with his body weight well above his normal performing weight.
Eagle Way ran a blinder in his last race too which was his second up of the season and is another place chance.
The horse to beat is Glorious Forever, who was most impressive in his season debut and is working very well.
With fitness further improved, being positioned in the front and the light weight off 115lb gives him a huge advantage under Handicap Conditions.
Lastly this week, a final word on the HKJC decision not to further pursue an interim plan to enable Australian horses to come to Hong Kong for the LONGINES HKIR.
It became clear yesterday that it would have taken another two to three weeks to solve the ongoing quarantine issues, which is not acceptable for those trying to prepare horses for intercontinental racing.
We are very disappointed that, for the second year running, top Australian horses will not have a chance to show their form on the international stage in one of the world’s genuinely global racing events.
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