Sha Tin hosts one of the most important race meetings of the year on Sunday with three feature races highlighting an outstanding programme, crowned by the clash between Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year Exultant and his heir apparent Golden Sixty.
The illustrious pair’s meeting in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) is merely one of the tantalising offerings with the staging of the HK$12 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup – the world’s richest 1400m race on turf – and the pivotal running of the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m).
For me, Golden Sixty’s return to 2000m for only the second time in his career – and the first time since his memorable 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby victory – for a showdown with Exultant, winner of four races over this course and distance, shapes as a generational encounter of champions.
The tactics adopted by Zac Purton on Exultant and Vincent Ho on Golden Sixty in the small field will be fascinating – and the fact the race will be run in front of 2,300 spectators makes the occasion all the more significant.
The Club is extremely grateful to the HKSAR Government for approving the increase in numbers with attendance reaching four figures for the first time since 22 November. Since then, the highest number of people the Club has hosted is 609 at last Sunday’s Chinese New Year Raceday.
At next Wednesday’s Happy Valley fixture, where we celebrate the winner of the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge, there will be a maximum of 1,600 attendees.
As ever, the Club will strictly follow all the necessary biosecurity protocols to ensure the continued safety and welfare of all participants – including race-goers – as we optimistically build towards a return to the numbers normally associated with Hong Kong racing.
The Club remains deeply appreciative of the patience and loyalty of all our customers, who continue to express their passion for racing with strong turnover. On that front, all of the Club’s Off-Course Betting Branches will be opened from Monday, 22 February.
However, at this stage, there still will be restrictions on the service the Club can offer. This includes no Mark Six sales, no opening on Sundays as well as racing sales only until 5pm on Wednesdays.
It is wonderful to look ahead to such a tremendous race meeting on Sunday.
The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup
The G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup is the third race and the first of our three major races on the star-studded card. This is the world’s lucrative race over 1400m, a popular distance in Hong Kong racing, and many of the top contenders will be pleased that the connections of Golden Sixty declined this option in favour of the 2000m Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup later in the day.
Ka Ying Star (Zac Purton) and Buddies (Matthew Chadwick) will go forward to set an honest pace from their outside draws with Southern Legend (Karis Teetan) in close striking position. Southern Legend is the best horse in Hong Kong this season to have not won a race. He has finished second to Golden Sixty in his last two races, the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and the G1 Stewards’ Cup. He will get every chance here and is a serious place chance.
Waikuku (Joao Moreira) has a pair of promising races under his belt after an extended layoff and looks primed to deliver a big race. He has a good record over the course and distance and is a win and place chance making his run from midfield. He was fourth in the Stewards’ Cup behind Golden Sixty, but he clocked 21.95s for his final 400m and has won three times over 1400m at Sha Tin. Ka Ying Star will be hard to run down and is a place chance while Champion’s Way (Alexis Badel) drops back to his favourite distance.
The Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup
The Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup is race 7 and Golden Sixty comes out of his comfort zone under regular rider Vincent Ho, stepping up from a mile to the more testing distance of 2000m. His 12-race win streak is on the line.
Time Warp (Derek Leung) will go to the front as usual and set an unpressured pace. Reigning Horse of the Year Exultant (Zac Purton) will keep him honest in an attempt to make it a truly run race. Furore and Joao Moreira will also be in striking range and Golden Sixty could be closer than usual in a two-wide position.
Golden Sixty is a win and place chance as I think he will showcase his versatility and validate his reputation as the best horse in Hong Kong. Vincent Ho will need to pay close attention to the pace of the race before calling on his horse for his strong closing sectional. Exultant has finished second in all four of his races this season and his consistency at top level is remarkable. He is a place chance along with Furore.
The Hong Kong Classic Cup
The Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800m is the middle leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series and will be run as race nine. Lucky Patch (Matthew Poon) and Shadow Hero (Zac Purton) will go forward to set a moderate pace.
Tourbillon Diamond (Vincent Ho) is a win and place chance after being held up in the Hong Kong Classic Mile when finishing strongly for a close third. He will do his running from a similar position to Excellent Proposal and will be suited by the step to 1800m.
Excellent Proposal (Blake Shinn) has won four of five races this season, including the Classic Mile four weeks ago and is also a win and a place chance. He will settle worse than midfield and close ground over the concluding stages.
Lucky Express (Karis Teetan) and Shadow Hero are place chances. Shadow Hero will relish the extra distance and had excuses last start when he was found to have blood in his trachea.
The BMW Hong Kong Derby will be run on 21 March.
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