And so we come one step closer to the end of another racing season in Hong Kong with a very special closing night at Happy Valley.
Whether you are dancing to the music in the Beer Garden with friends or dining in one of the many grandstand restaurants, the End of Season Fiesta meeting provides the perfect chance to celebrate at our spectacular city track.
And, for this year’s final Valley fixture, we have a fascinating subplot in the shape of an ongoing race for the trainers’ championship between John Size and John Moore.
Close battles like this add so much to the end of a season and we have seen some real thrillers in recent years.
John Moore was at the heart of one of them back in 2011 when coming from two behind at the start of the final day with a four-timer to beat Tony Cruz.
Tony missed out narrowly again when Dennis Yip edged ahead of him in the very last race of the season on an unforgettable night at Happy Valley in 2013, while Caspar Fownes won the title on countback the following year after sending out three winners on the final day to tie with John Size.
Time will tell whether we are in for yet another grandstand finish but, with John Size’s lead over John Moore down to just one, it is certainly on the cards.
The evidence from the last 10 Hong Kong meetings makes for very interesting reading, with the Moore team having had 13 winners compared to just six for the Size team during the same period.
Every single success is precious at this point and, with both stables set to be strongly represented for the final two meetings, the stage is perfectly set for a gripping drama featuring two of the greatest trainers Hong Kong has ever seen.
Zac Purton knows just what it is like to be involved in a close title battle after getting the better of Joao Moreira in an epic jockeys’ championship last year and he is chasing a different target this season in the shape of Joao’s single season record of 170 winners.
After a remarkable fourth six timer of the season at Sha Tin on Sunday, our champion jockey needs six more winners to equal the record. With just twenty races left that is a tall order, but Zac has been maintaining a remarkable strike rate, with 30 winners from the last 10 racing days alone.
Whatever happens he is now firmly established as one of the world’s elite and the need to keep attracting the world’s best jockeys and horses ties in perfectly with this week’s news that the Club will increase prize money for the 2019/2020 season by 6.5 per cent to a record total of HK$1.3 billion.
In addition, the High Achievement Bonus awarded to horses rated 80 or higher who win in Class 2 before the age of five will go up from HK$850,000 to HK$1 million with an additional HK$500,000 (up from HK$300,000) if the horse goes on to win in Class 1 or higher during the same timeframe.
There is a very clear vision from the Club and the stewards that world-class racing is what we want to provide and in order to continue that drive we need significant prize money increases. The world is becoming ever more competitive and, as a result, the market for high quality horses and riders has become increasingly strong in recent years.
The worldwide search for the right talent is challenging but our owners recognize this and we are committed to creating an incentive structure which ensures that Hong Kong’s premier sport continues to provide the maximum reward for those who invest in it at every level.
Wednesday’s Class 2 Sun Jewellery Handicap at 1200m is the final race of the Happy Valley season with nine horses eligible for the High Achievement Bonus, including six enjoying their final opportunity, and fancied runners from the Moore and Size barns.
The pace will be good with Sunny Boy, Speed Vision and Handsome Bo Bo the likely leaders. Speedy King and Water Diviner will be in close contention.
John Moore’s Sunny Boy has adjusted quickly since coming to Hong Kong. He steps up in grade off a sharp second and will need to take another step forward to win at this level. He has never raced or trialled at Happy Valley but has a good profile to fit the track. He is a win and place chance from a better draw and carrying a much lighter weight.
Perfect Glory has been no factor in his last two runs from a wide gate but returns to his preferred track and distance with a better draw. He should be much closer to the pace and is a place chance with Purton, who won on Sunny Boy at Sha Tin in May, in the saddle.
Kasi Farasi has never been to Happy Valley and comes off a tough run when he had to be used up early when caught wide and without cover.
Loving A Boom moves up in class and is a place chance after an impressive course and distance success on his latest run, while the Size runner Tornado Twist tends to miss the break and has drawn stall 11 on his return from a break.
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