The chance to see history made comes rarely and when it does it is important to appreciate it in full.
Last Sunday will go down in Hong Kong sporting legend as the first time all four LONGINES Hong Kong International Races were won by Hong Kong horses.
That fact alone is highly significant – and something for Hong Kong to be proud of – but there were many other conclusions to be drawn on a memorable day.
Perhaps the most important is that Beauty Generation’s runaway Hong Kong Mile win proves we have an exceptional champion who deserves to be recognised as the world’s top miler.
Frankie Lor’s G1 double with Mr Stunning and Glorious Forever in the Sprint and the Cup shows our system has produced an exceptional training talent and Exultant’s thrilling Vase win shows our best stayers can compete with international rivals over 2400m as well as over shorter distances.
Among other positives, it was great to see a crowd almost 2,000 higher than last year despite chilly weather. We also had record turnover and co-mingling figures of HK$1.605 billion and HK$258 million (30% more than last year), while the equivalent of HK$215 million was wagered on the four HKIR contests in Japan.
It was a tough day for most of the European visitors, with only Eziyra finishing placed, but Japanese horses ran extremely well to deliver second placed finishes in the Vase, the Mile and the Cup.
I have no doubt that star international horses from all over the world will continue to come here each December but perhaps the main message of all from Sunday is that Hong Kong’s elite G1 horses are tough to beat at all distances nowadays.
We welcomed more international visitors on Monday when some leading racing executives joined us in a tour of Conghua Racecourse.
Their feedback was very positive and, as we are always looking ahead, we now look forward to a historic exhibition raceday at this amazing facility next March.
Before that, we have eight races at Happy Valley this evening. Tonight’s fourth race is the Class 4, 1200 metre Hong Kong Golf Club Centenary Cup. Wah May Princess is the likely leader turning back one furlong in trip and making its first start at Happy Valley in a race that is void of early speed. Lightning Steed, also making its first start at the Valley, will be in close pursuit and is moving up in trip from 1000 metres for his new trainer Caspar Fownes.
This may prove to be a tactical race as the field will be tightly bunched on the C Course. Applause is a win and place chance based on his good form this season and a midfield trip that will give him a chance to produce a strong finish. Khaki has drawn wide but has in-form jockey Silvestre de Sousa and has been going well. He is a place chance along with Flying Force and the speedy Wah May Princess. Flying Force had substantial mucus in the trachea after racing in his most recent start which explains the disappointing result.
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