The last ten months have taught us the value of continued vigilance in relation to Covid-19 and, in view of the recent increases in cases in Hong Kong, we have decided to take prompt action and scale down certain operations.
We hope for the understanding of all our customers but protecting public health is always our guiding principle and therefore all Off-Course Betting branches will be closed on race days from 22 November. OCBB”s will remain open from noon to 5.30pm for night meetings, while the OCBB on Hennessy Road in Wan Chai will suspend service until further notice.
In addition, the Club’s Board of Management has decided to return to flexible working arrangements for many of our staff from Monday, 23 November.
We will undertake another detailed assessment on Monday as further information becomes available. No changes are planned to to the racing programme at this stage, including the LONGINES IJC and HKIR, but this is the only prudent course of action until we get a clearer view of the situation.
The announcement of the international cast for this year’s International Jockeys’ Championship has been the big racing story this week and we have a strong Hong Kong versus Europe theme with six visiting riders who have all made major headlines.
Ryan Moore needs little introduction as he chases a record-equalling third IJC and he will be as hungry as ever after missing out on numerous big winners this year due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Pierre-Charles Boudot is fresh from two Breeders’ Cup wins and a totally dominant third French championship season, while William Buick has excelled on the world’s highest rated racehorse Ghaiyyath and Mickael Barzalona has added to his Classic collection aboard Victor Ludorum for the master trainer Andre Fabre.
And then we have two fascinating IJC newcomers in Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand, who are a couple off the track and formidable opponents on it after enjoying great success both in Britain and abroad this year.
Ensuring that this year’s HKIR week remains a true celebration of international racing has been one of our key priorities in recent months but our leading home riders are all eager to share the spotlight.
Joao, Zac, Karis, Vincent and Alexis Badel all look locked in for the 9 December highlight, but Vagner Borges, Chad Schofield, Neil Callan, Derek Leung and Matthew Chadwick are all in the mix to secure the final place over the next two meetings.
The Jockey Club Mile is the first of three G2 races on a star-studded Sunday with the main events carded as races three, five and seven.
Golden Sixty has drawn the inside gate in the Mile and will get a soft run behind Ka Ying Star, Southern Legend and Mighty Giant. The pace will be good to slow.
It is hard to go against Golden Sixty as he seeks his tenth consecutive win. He will relax midfield and then move to the outside for his patented closing punch. He is a win and place chance as he moves one giant step closer to the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile on 13 December, though there is a risk that he could be trapped on the fence behind horses if Ka Ying Star takes off having run slow sectionals.
Ka Ying Star will dictate the pace and comes into the race following sharp improvement in the Group 2 Sha Tin Mile Trophy. He is a dangerous rival to Golden Sixty and should not be underestimated. He is a solid place chance.
Mighty Giant steps up in trip after winning five straight over 1400m against lesser opposition. It will be interesting to see how he stacks up here but I expect a good showing and make him a place chance.
Hot King Prawn returns to equal weights in the Sprint and will go forward to help set a good pace along with Computer Patch, Big Party, Voyage Warrior and Big Time Baby. There will not be much separating the first half of the field as Amazing Star and Stronger will also be in close pursuit.
Hot King Prawn won this race in 2018 and is also a win and place chance under Moreira. He was a little ring rusty giving lots of weight away in the Premier Bowl after a five-month break. However, he has improved in his work significantly of late and seems poised to return to peak form.
Computer Patch did well to stay on for second after cutting out a very fast pace in the Premier Bowl and he is also a strong contender from his forward position. Wishful Thinker was the horse who ran Computer Patch down in the Premier Bowl. He would be very well suited by a fast pace again and is a place chance.
Horse of the Year Exultant has been a gem of consistency, having finished in the top three in each of his last 14 starts, including seven wins, and will benefit from his first-up run three weeks ago. He will go forward from his outside draw to get a stalking position behind Time Warp and is a win and place chance.
The pace will be slow and he will be a hard horse to run past during the business part of the race.
Furore is back in top form and is a strong place chance to make a good race of it along with Dances With Dragon and it will be interesting to see how Columbus County fares as he has has always been held in high regard by the in-form Caspar Fownes and was very impressive in beating Class 2 rivals with ease at Happy Valley on his latest start.
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