Last Saturday’s meeting at Sha Tin represented the halfway stage of the season and, with 44 meetings left go in the 2020/21 term, it also provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary resilience and strength of Hong Kong racing.
The challenges of the pandemic have meant the Club has needed to be agile, innovative and, most of all, unceasingly responsible in order to protect the health and welfare of all participants, including trainers and jockeys.
While we lament the absence of our valued customers at the racetrack so far this season as the Club adheres to biosecurity protocols, Hong Kong racing has been notable for a string of milestones, which collectively gauge the strength of our racing.
The competitive nature of Hong Kong racing is acknowledged globally and it is in that context that the achievements of Tony Cruz as a trainer (1,300 wins), Joao Moreira (1,000 wins), Caspar Fownes (900 wins overall and 500 at Happy Valley), Francis Lui (700 wins), Peter Ho (600 wins) and Karis Teetan (400 wins) must be viewed.
When it is considered that 65 percent of races in Hong Kong are decided by a length or less, there is a renewed understanding of the just how monumental these accomplishments are. Winning is not easy in Hong Kong!
At the halfway point of the season, Joao Moreira commands a 27-win lead over reigning champion Zac Purton in the jockeys’ title and with 86 victories so far in 2020/21, Joao might create even more history by breaking his own record of 170 winners in season.
However, Zac is not the type of character to concede and he has a habit of finishing seasons strongly, so it will be fascinating to see how he responds this season.
The race for trainers’ honours threatens to go down the wire with Caspar Fownes (41 wins) leading John Size (39), Frankie Lor (34), Francis Lui (34), Tony Cruz (33) and Danny Shum (30). For me, the spread of winners among the leading stables – and also others – underlines just how difficult it is for any trainer to dominate in the current environment.
At the same time, we have much to look forward to in coming months as interest in the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, culminating in the BMW Hong Kong Derby on 21 March, and Golden Sixty’s progress towards the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin on 21 February as part of the Hong Kong Triple Crown series, continues to build.
Eventually, we hope the COVID-19 situation will improve sufficiently to allow our racecourses to again host crowds and a return to the incomparable atmosphere of “Happy Wednesdays” at Happy Valley and elite racing at Sha Tin.
On Wednesday night at Happy Valley, the Class 3 Cineraria Handicap completes a nine-race programme with a good pace expected over 1200 metres. Circuit Seven (Matthew Chadwick) and Equaletta Blitz (Joao Moreira) will go forward to make the running with Ka Ying Master (Zac Purton) in the box seat from his good draw. Harmony N Home (Dylan Mo) is expected to be next along the rail with Tornado Twist (Christophe Soumillion).
Beauty Kobe (Vagner Borges) looks like leading the three-wide line in close contention and he’ll be followed by Excellent Chariot (Derek Leung). Water Diviner (Alexis Badel) and Green Reign (Vincent Ho) should settle at the rear.
Equaletta Blitz will start from a favourable draw in gate 3 and, with Joao in the saddle, he is having only his fifth start in Hong Kong and appears to have upside potential. I make him a win and place chance.
Wind N Grass (Chad Schofield) will get a nice rails run from his inside draw and is a place chance in this very competitive race. He will need everything to go right but does have some encouraging efforts over this course and distance over the past two months.
Ka Ying Master is a three-time winner this season at this class and distance and will get every opportunity from a good striking position. Loving A Boom (Jerry Chau) will go back from his wide draw but should be closing the race off strongly. Both are place chances.
Tornado Twist comes into the race in good form and was second best to rising star Sight Success in his last start. He jumps a step slow from the barrier which will have him worse than midfield but is a place chance in his current form.
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