A new decade began at Sha Tin on Wednesday and it was appropriate that ringing in the new was a strong theme from start to finish.
Safety remains our first priority given the current situation in Hong Kong and it was always our priority to stage a ten-race card (rather than the 11 of last year) with an early start to assist racegoers in their journey home.
A reduced crowd was only to be expected under current circumstances but turnover was solid again and for now we have to accept this situation as the new normal as we move into a new racing year.
Fortunately, 2020 holds some very promising signs for our sport after a card that provided a perfect illustration of how Hong Kong racing reinvents itself with new players coming to the fore from all directions.
Golden Sixty made it seven from eight with a commanding success in the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup and, with a striking turn of foot and a new rating of 112, he looks a very strong contender for the Hong Kong Classic Mile on 27 January.
Voyage Warrior and Lucky More are clearly exciting young sprinters for 2020 judging by their impressive Wednesday wins, while our latest French riding import Tony Piccone enjoyed a very happy new year with two places and a dramatic win aboard Charity Go on his first day riding in Hong Kong.
Last but not least, Douglas Whyte was in the news again. Last Kingdom’s success in the final race of 2019 was followed by Iron Boy winning the first race of 2020 and our newest trainer completed a New Year’s Day double with the promising Super Wealthy to move into fourth in the trainers’ table.
Some key metrics are well worth noting when looking at how Douglas has operated in the first four months of his new career.
His 19 winners have come from just 135 runners – fewer than any other trainer has sent out – and his record over the last ten meetings reads ten winners at an impressive strike rate of 20 per cent.
Add in the fact that more than 40 per cent of the horses Douglas currently has in work are still unraced in Hong Kong and it is clear that something significant appears to be building at Olympic Stables.
The early signs suggest that we have another very talented trainer in Hong Kong and it will be fascinating to see how things develop as we enter what is always a very exciting phase of the season.
Sunday’s Class 2 Broadwood Handicap is the final race of the day and will be run over 1400m. Taking Aim, Happy Fun and Beauty Rush will push forward to make the running with Telecom Puma in close contention from his outside gate. The pace will be good.
Happy Fun had a difficult trip in his last start when he was away a bit slow from the barrier and then travelled three wide without cover. He has since had a solid trial and is coming into the race in good order. He will get a good run from on the pace and is a place chance.
Irish import Decrypt finished third in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and impressed in his Hong Kong debut. He is second up here and, although Zac Purton has to overcome the risk of being trapped wide from barrier 9, the four-year-old colt is a solid win and place chance as he gets ready to take his place in the Hong Kong Classic Mile later this month. The Australian Guineas runner-up Beauty Legacy has trialled nicely and is another bidding to stake his claim for the Classic Series on his debut for John Size.
Fellow Size runner Beauty Rush will be on the pace and is a place chance along with Mr Croissant, who is working well and steps up to 1400m after some strong efforts over 1200m.
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