A little time to reflect is valuable after major events, especially at a time like this, and after an emotional and dramatic FWD Champions Day I think Hong Kong racing can be more than satisfied.
Hong Kong and its racing community have done extremely well coping with the threat of coronavirus and, for me, we have to be prepared to live much longer with certain restrictions than most people were thinking even as recently as a month ago.
But Sunday was about much more than just our local situation. The eyes of the racing world were on us as one of so few major racing circuits still operating and I believe we delivered a very valuable glimpse of what is to come when other countries try to stage a world-class racing event behind closed doors this year.
Travel restrictions made it impossible for us to welcome international visitors but we saw a series of thrilling finishes with a couple of shock results and human stories that would resonate with any sports fan.
I really felt for John Moore on his final Champions Day. He was very unlucky – with Aethero having an issue in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize and Beauty Generation beaten narrowly in the Champions Mile despite showing tremendous fighting spirit – but it is only right that we congratulate Southern Legend for what was likely the best performance of his career.
Southern Legend is a perfect example of the bold way in which Caspar Fownes trains his horses. It was very appropriate that Caspar’s former apprentice Vincent Ho should gain his first international G1 victory on a horse trained by his old boss and this was also a great result for winning owner Boniface Ho, who is a great supporter of racing in Hong Kong and also internationally as owner of high-class horses such as Classique Legend.
Earlier on, we had another old champion in the spotlight as Mr Stunning landed the Chairman’s Sprint Prize under Karis Teetan and his long spell among our very best sprinters has ended on a high with Monday’s news that he will retire now.
And then we had Exultant, who confirmed himself a dominant middle distance stayer by completing Zac Purton’s full set of 12 Hong Kong Group 1’s in the FWD QEII Cup. Zac’s great mental strength and ability to focus was highlighted in the way he shrugged off earlier disappointments on Aethero and Beauty Generation. Once again, Exultant ground it out to give his opponents no chance and it will be fascinating to see what happens if our BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Golden Sixty takes him on next season.
Sunday also proved a very significant day in assessing the evolving nature of wagering on racing. The fact that overall turnover was up slightly up compared to the same day last year was amazing. Local turnover dipped by just six per cent – which is remarkable with no crowd and no Off-Course Betting Branches open – while international commingling was up by 40 per cent along with a similar increase for the Jockey Challenge.
The fact that Sky Sports covered the action on their Main Event channel as well as on Sky Sports Racing in Europe provided a unique opportunity to showcase all the excitement and drama of Hong Kong racing and all its fantastic horses, jockeys and trainers.
I sincerely hope we are back to our normal international format for Champions Day in 2021 but for now we can take pride in having put on such a strong show in the most unusual circumstances and our thanks go out to everyone who has helped carry our sport forward during this testing time.
Moving on to Happy Valley’s Wednesday card, the two sections of the Causeway Bay Handicap are carded as races seven and nine for Class 3 sprinters and both will be competitive events. In the seventh race, last-start winners Beauty Amigo, Victoriam and Young Legend will try to duplicate their success from earlier this month over the same course and distance.
Victoriam will need to use his speed from the outside draw to join Diamond Brilliant as pace setters. Beauty Amigo will also push forward from his wide draw to be in the early mix, hoping to find cover if possible. The pace will be good.
Diamond Brilliant has finished in the top three in each of his past three starts at Happy Valley and is well drawn to use his speed effectively under Purton. He will need to be at his very best but with the opposing speed drawn wide, he looks like a win and place chance.
Shining Gem won a recent trial after a good effort five weeks ago when he stormed home to be second. He will be closer to the pace here from his inside draw and the good tempo will suit his running style. He is a place chance along with Young Legend and Wind N Grass, who will be closing off nicely.
In the ninth race, last-start winner Beauty Spark brings his consistent Class 3 form into the race and is a place chance. Jockey Victor Wong has the return ride and should get a very similar run to his recent success two weeks ago.
The progressive Californiadeepshot will use his speed from a wide draw to take on Very Rich Man making the pace along with Shouson, Little Bird and Super Commander. Stall 11 is not ideal for Californiadeepshot but he ran very well after missing the break slightly on his latest start and looks a win and place chance to go one better under Moreira. Shouson is in good form and will get every opportunity as a place chance, while Victory Power will need to do his running from the back and is also a place chance.
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