Consolidation and celebration are the key words as the Club strives to ensure that our sport goes ahead in the safest possible fashion while preparing for this year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby.
The determination to consolidate comes, of course, from the continued challenges posed by the spread of COVID-19 virus all around the world and especially here in Hong Kong, where the challenge of a second wave of infections brought here by people arriving from abroad is becoming extremely serious.
Hong Kong is seen as a safe place in this ever changing world and it was estimated that there are at least 50,000 Hong Kong students overseas and a significant amount of them have been and will be returning to Hong Kong since the Government announced on 17 March the implementation of compulsory quarantine to visitors arriving at Hong Kong from foreign places. This has created a new risk of situation of people being exposed to carriers of COVID-19.
For weeks now I have been saying that we have worked hard to create an unusual bubble in Hong Kong racing and there is no question that we must now do all in our power to keep that bubble intact.
Racing has been shut down in Britain, France and Germany, while Australia, Japan, the USA and Ireland are replicating our model of continuing racing with severe attendance measures in place.
To continue racing, we must react strongly to this second wave. After considering all facts and evidence from medical experts, non raceday services at selected Off-Course Betting Branches and our two racecourses on will be suspended for two weeks. These services have operated smoothly, serving more than 320,000 customers since 2 March, and we ask for understanding as we review the situation.
Plans to allow more people to come racing on Derby day have also been shelved and we are mirroring Government’s decision to impose a mandatory period of self-isolation for those who have arrived from abroad in the last two weeks.
In line with the Government’s latest health quarantine arrangements, any Owners or Voting Members (along with family members) who have travelled outside Hong Kong in the past 14 days will not be admitted to the racecourse.
Those who do attend will be required to wear medical masks and undergo temperature checks as usual, while we have also introduced a Health Declaration which people need to sign as we strive to prevent occurrence of novel coronavirus in any of the Club’s premises.
The fact that this year’s Derby offers so many strong storylines makes it frustrating that the race will be played out without the usual crowd of 60,000 or more.
But we have to play the cards we are dealt and there is no question that a win for Francis Lui’s Golden Sixty – making Vincent Ho the first homegrown rider to win the Derby since Tony Cruz back in 1995 – would be a tremendous story.
The new normal we are adapting to means that every day we must consolidate and strive to ensure that the progress we have made in recent weeks is not undermined.
But for a few hours on Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin we can also celebrate one of Hong Kong’s most cherished sporting prizes in a way that brings true racing fans together.
This will be a Derby like no other in front of largely deserted grandstands but there will be millions of people all over the world tuning in on television and mobile devices to see whether Golden Sixty and Vincent can claim a famous Hong Kong victory.
I hope to see as many of you as possible back on the racecourse in when the time is right but, in the meantime, I wish for you and your families enjoy one of our greatest racing days in good health as we move on through this most challenging period.
This year’s renewal of the BMW Hong Kong Derby – which comes up as Race 8 at 4.35pm – is extremely strong at the top with Golden Sixty, Champion’s Way and More Than This coming into the race with triple-digit ratings and impressive credentials. The winner will come from this trio and all three should continue on to contribute to the future of Hong Kong racing.
Golden Sixty is perfect this season from six starts and is bidding to become only the second horse in history to sweep the four-year-old series. A win in the Derby will make him a legitimate chance to become Horse of the Year. Jockey Vincent Ho has a lot of confidence in his horse and will ride him from about midfield, banking on his proven acceleration to run solid closing sectionals.
Vincent has to be careful not to be trapped wide from gate 9 and he also has to keep Golden Sixty calm and relaxed to rely on his amazing turn of foot. He is the best horse and clear favourite even though going up to 2000m is another challenge.
The thing that will make this race more difficult for Golden Sixty is the pace of the 2000m race being ordinary at best. World Famous and Savvy Nine are most likely to make the running with Playa Del Puente and Reliable Team in close contact. Decrypt may go back from his high draw to avoid being caught wide and also to help see out the trip. The field will bunch on the turn and it will be critical to get clear passage.
More Than This has drawn the inside barrier and this will help him secure a position closer to the pace with cheekpieces fitted. He will appreciate the step up in trip and, though he has fallen victim to Golden Sixty in the Classic Mile and Classic Cup, he has been a worthy opponent. The draw and the extra distance give him a better chance to turn the tables on his stablemate but if Golden Sixty stays the trip with a clear run it will be difficult to beat him.
Champion’s Way punched his ticket to the Derby a long time ago by virtue of his sensational three-year-old season. He started slowly this season but has shown steady improvement with each race and the real question here is his ability to get the distance. There is no doubt that he is a quality horse with strong attributes such as consistency and determination, and this makes him a place chance, but I am not sure if the extra distance will suit him.
Super Oasis is at his best over 2000m or further and will be closing ground over the concluding stages and the multiple Brazilian G1 winner Butterfield is another proven distance horse who should not be underestimated as a place chance.
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