A busy weekend lies ahead, with our final Royal Ascot simulcast followed by a strong card at Sha Tin on Sunday, and this week has already thrown up a series of notable news lines.
This has been a very significant week for the Club, with the launch of the first World Pool, and with the help of our valued partners at Ascot and Totepool I am delighted to say the early signs are very encouraging.
Turnover has been strong and the potential for further growth both short and long term is considerable, while the action on the track has been high class with some very familiar faces in the news all week long.
Frankie Dettori stressed that he was in no mood for retirement when he joined us in Hong Kong to receive the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey award last December and, at the age of 48, he remains an incredible rider with a charisma that resonates throughout the sporting world.
He brought the house down yet again with a four timer on his favourite racecourse as Stradivarius won the Gold Cup for the second time on Thursday, while Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien have enjoyed another notable week.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Crystal Ocean proved himself one of the best middle-distance horses around by winning Wednesday’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Saturday’s highlight sees some high-class sprinters doing battle in the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
This is a truly international contest, with high-class raiders from France and America and last year’s Hong Kong Sprint visitors Lim’s Cruiser and Enzo’s Lad representing Singapore and New Zealand.
Last year’s third Bound For Nowhere and Kachy should ensure a true pace and the two most interesting runners are Blue Point and Invincible Army.
Blue Point bids to emulate the top Australian sprinter Choisir by winning both the King’s Stand Stakes and the Diamond Jubilee in the same week at the royal meeting and his prospects look bright.
His Ascot record is exceptional – with form figures of 13111 from five visits – and Charlie Appleby clearly feels he has taken Tuesday’s race very well. Blue Point is a win and place chance to add to his list of major wins but Invincible Army is another with strong claims for James Tate and P J McDonald.
His connections will be less familiar to Hong Kong fans but he has looked very good in two wins this year, while last year’s runner-up City Light is another to consider in what should be a thrilling sprint.
Sunday’s G3 Premier Cup over 1400m will be a sit and sprint affair with Styling City the logical choice to make the running and Pingwu Spark, Morethanlucky and Dragon General in closest pursuit.
Flying Thunder gets in under a light weight and steps up in trip after some good efforts against lesser company. He looks progressive and seems well prepared to tackle the extra furlong. I make him a win and place chance.
Styling City went well in his first try over course and distance and will be in control of the pace. He is a place chance along with Time To Celebrate and Pingwu Spark.
The G3 Premier Plate over 1800m will have a clear leader as Time Warp will dictate by open lengths with Matthew Poon getting his chance in a high level race. Time Warp will ensure a good pace but the rest will be moving along at a slower tempo. Insayshable is likely to cross over from his wide draw. Simply Brilliant and Seasons Bloom are likely to be a bit closer than usual.
Seasons Bloom has struggled to find his form this season but showed signs of improvement in his last start when a creditable fourth behind Beauty Generation in the FWD Champions Mile. He should get a nice run from inside of midfield and is a win and place chance.
Rise High will be ridden quietly to help produce the big finish he showed in his last start when second to Exultant in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. Citron Spirit has enjoyed a career best season and continues to go well. He is also a place chance along with Insayshable.
Last but not least on this busy weekend of high-class racing we will also be simulcasting a strong renewal of the Takarazuka Kinen from Hanshin on Sunday afternoon.
Lys Gracieux is clearly a strong contender after two fine placed efforts in the Hong Kong Vase and the QEII Cup. Rey de Oro, Al Ain and Suave Richard also hold solid claims but my favourite is Kiseki, who has been running with great credit in Japan’s top middle distances races throughout the season.
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