It has taken a huge amount of preparation by a lot of people, including owners, trainers, riders, grooms and HKJC staff, but the stage is now set for another memorable edition of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.
This has truly been an event our city can be proud of for many years and it places Hong Kong at the front and centre of the sporting world in a way that cannot be underestimated.
For me, Wednesday’s LONGINES IJC at Happy Valley was one of the best ever and Silvestre de Sousa took the title in a style to suggest that this was a real breakout night for his Hong Kong career.
The atmosphere during trackwork at Sha Tin on Friday morning was fantastic and, as usual, last night’s LONGINES HKIR Gala Dinner was the perfect way to move into a wonderful weekend.
Nothing can ever be taken for granted when so many high-class thoroughbreds come together and there is so much to look forward to whether you are a purist or just a general sports fan who loves to see the best from all over the world do battle.
High-class performers from France, England, Ireland and Japan come to challenge Hong Kong’s best stayers in the Vase, while Hot King Prawn and last year’s hero Mr Stunning head the bill from high draws in what promises to be an explosive Hong Kong Sprint.
No-one can be sure exactly what to expect when Time Warp tries to become just the second horse to win the Hong Kong Cup twice, while the world’s leading turf miler Beauty Generation deserves his status as the potential star of the show and will need to be on top of his game after being drawn 12 as he bids to repeat last year’s success in the Mile.
Names like those speak for themselves and so do the facts, with high-class Group 1 winners from Hong Kong, Ireland, Australia, France, Japan and England and also a welcome visitor from Singapore.
This is a truly a day of world-class racing and I wish everyone involved a day of success both on and off the track.
The LONGINES Hong Kong Vase is the first of our four international Group 1 races and the full field of 14 is very strong from top to bottom. This is the first of only three races run at 2400 metres in Hong Kong but the home team is well represented by Pakistan Star, Exultant and Eagle Way. The visiting team is led by Waldgeist, Mirage Dancer, Lys Gracieux, Eziyra and Latrobe.
A good pace is expected, which makes this one of the more exciting races of the day. Crocosmia is likely to lead for Japan as she comes off a solid effort in a filly and mare G1 at Kyoto where she nearly made all. She has drawn the inside gate and will quickly find the front. Mirage Dancer, an improving son of Frankel, will likely press forward from his outside gate to get a contending position under Ryan Moore and Salouen will be close up in the box seat. Mirage Dancer is trained by Sir Michael Stoute and he is an improving horse from the powerful Juddmonte stable.
My win and place chance here is Exultant for Hong Kong. He has shown continued improvement in each run this season and looks to be coming into the race in peak form. Waldgeist is a classy opponent. He is a G1 winner this season, was a good fourth in the Arc, beaten less than two lengths by Enable, and is well drawn. I make him a place chance along with Mirage Dancer, Latrobe and Eziyra. The latter races in the colours of H H Aga Khan and her consistent form against top class fillies such as Enable and Sea Of Class should not be overlooked.
I would have preferred to see Pakistan Star in the Cup and there is the question of whether he will show up with his best form on the day. If so, he is at least a place chance.
In the Sprint, a good pace is likely as Hot King Prawn will jump and run from gate 11 with stablemate Ivictory and Mr Stunning in close pursuit. Joao Moreira will try to slow the tempo on Hot King Prawn, which may force Mr Stunning to move a bit early. Fine Needle, the multiple Group 1 winner from Japan, has drawn the outside gate and will have to go back.
At equal weights, Mr Stunning is my choice to successfully defend his title in the Sprint with the incredibly consistent John Size team all place chances. Hot King Prawn has won nine of 10 races, Beat The Clock has finished in the top three in all of his 16 starts and D B Pin has the benefit of a good gate and consistent record. All are place chances.
In the Mile, Beauty Generation can cross over from gate 12 and is a win and place chance based on class and home course advantage. He is in the best form of his career, which has elevated his status to world’s top rated miler. The only reservation might be that his last race was his best-ever performance where hung out badly through the straight and it could be a sign that he has peaked too early.
Japan poses the biggest threat with Mozu Ascot and Persian Knight. G1 Prix de la Foret winner One Master is an improving filly with a strong finish. These three are place chances.
In the Cup, the two brothers will renew their rivalry once again and this should ensure a good pace in one of the world’s premier 2000 metre races. Time Warp and Glorious Forever have the same pedigree and the same running style which is to be forwardly placed, though the pace will not be as fast as when they last met three weeks ago.
Japan has a strong hand, led by the in-form Sungrazer, which is my win and place chance based on his good recent form. He will be midfield and should have every chance under Moreira. Deirdre, a talented G1 winning Japanese filly, is also a big chance as she stretches out in trip. She is a place chance along with outsider Gold Mount and defending champ Time Warp.
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