So many notable stories have emerged over the last few days both on and off the racecourse.
Exultant was clearly the star of a very strong Sha Tin card on Sunday, adding to his Hong Kong Vase success with a typically brave win in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. He has achieved something no horse has ever done before – winning both our G1 prizes over 2400m along with the Centenary Vase over 1800m and the Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000m – and in most seasons he would be a very worthy Horse of the Year.
Little Giant’s win under a big weight in the Sha Tin Vase confirmed that Hong Kong’s elite sprinters are a very strong group again this year, while Aethero is becoming one of the most talked about young horses seen here for a long time after his second runaway Griffin success.
Zac Purton and Joao Moreira were in dominant form riding six and four winners respectively on an 11-race card. John Moore did his best to strike a blow for the trainers’ title with four winners, but reigning champion John Size fired back with three of his own including the 1200th winner of his Hong Kong career as Hezthewonforus landed a thrilling finale.
With 13 fixtures left there is ample time for more drama and excitement on the track but the last few days have also seen the Club involved in a couple of very important community-related events.
It is always a huge pleasure to attend the Hong Kong Student of the Year Awards and Saturday’s event was no exception, with so many talented high achievers and inspirational stories representing the young people of our city.
And then later on Saturday we enjoyed another notable ceremony to mark the first anniversary of one of the most complex projects ever undertaken by the HKJC.
Hong Kong SAR’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam and our Club Chairman Dr Anthony Chow were both present in the heart of Central to mark the first anniversary of the Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts.
A huge amount of thought and planning went into the project and it is now clear that the restoration of the 16 buildings of the Central Police Station compound has set a new standard for heritage conservation in Hong Kong.
This venture was the product of a strong partnership between the Club and the Government and, with almost 3.5 million visitors in its first year, Tai Kwun is now firmly established as a living, breathing cultural space where art, music, film and history events can all thrive and prosper.
The final race at the Valley on Wednesday night is the Class 3 Tan Shan River Handicap at 1200m with Very Rich Man and Gintoki going forward to set a good pace.
Very Rich Man should get inside running due to his lower barrier with Mighty Maverick using his inside gate of 2 to claim the position immediately behind the leader and First Responder in close attendance. Breeders’ Star can be next back on the rail but three-time course winner Waldorf has drawn 10 and is at risk to be caught wide.
Coby Oppa has run five times in his first season of racing and has enjoyed initial success on the All-Weather Track. He also ran well at Happy Valley over course and distance in early March and looks like he will get a nice run in the one out, one back position, just behind the early leaders.
He looks a win and place chance along with First Responder. John Moore’s gelding is a three-year-old in good heart and Purton, who is in magnificent form, rides for the first time. He will also be well positioned and has to be high on the short list along with Breeders’ Star, a five-time winner over course and distance who now comes back to Class 3.
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