As Hong Kong racing surges through the third quarter of an engrossing 2020/21 season, there is a distinct sense of optimism with the FWD Champions Day meeting only weeks away as the Easter Holidays ensue.
FWD Champions Day represents a showpiece meeting of the highest international quality with three Group 1s and a cursory glance at events over the weekend in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Chukyo in Japan demonstrates why there is much to be excited about at Sha Tin on 25 April.
Last Sunday, the effort of Danon Smash to add another Group 1 to his resume in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) at Chukyo Racecourse was enormously satisfying given the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint champion is entered to return to Sha Tin for FWD Champions Day next month.
It will be most exciting to see the Japanese jet in action in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), where he could face precocious young Hong Kong talents including Wellington, Sky Field and Winning Dreamer, while another Japanese raider and FWD Champions Day hopeful, Salios, runs Sunday in the G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin.
Champion Japanese filly Daring Tact, 2019 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase winner Glory Vase and Kiseki all hold entries for the FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m), while Loves Only You is also nominated for the QEII Cup after a close third to Mishriff and Chrono Genesis in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) last Saturday.
In light of the limits posed by the pandemic, the Club will again implement its “racing bubble” operation for visiting staff, including trainers, jockeys and stable employees, who will travel directly from their hotel to the track and back but will otherwise be restricted to their hotel room for the duration of their stay.
The system, based on world-best biosecurity controls, functioned seamlessly during the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and also for the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship.
On a related front, the Club has been closely monitoring the latest COVID-19 developments and the HKSAR Government’s decision to partially relax social distancing measures in the wider community.
After carefully considering various factors, including the operation of OCBBs after re-opening and the demand of customers, the Club has decided to open 19 OCBBs on the days of day race meetings from Monday 5 April.
However, any OCBB located in any “specified area” delineated by the HKSAR Government or in the vicinity of confirmed cases will not open. All customers entering either the Media Hall or Priority Zone are required to scan the LeaveHomeSafe QR code of the premises or provide their names, telephone numbers and the date and time of visit.
I hope the COVID situation continues to improve as the season marches on and that soon we might be able to welcome our valued customers back to the racetrack.
At Sha Tin on Wednesday night, the Class 2 Cuckoo Handicap features an extended rating band of 105-80 over 1650 metres and the pace will be fast as top-rated Kings Shield (Derek Leung) and Hongkong Great (Vincent Ho) are two horses that like to lead at all costs. Californiadeepshot (Matthew Chadwick) makes his dirt debut but has always trialled well over the surface and has good natural speed to be in close attendance along with Magnificent (Jack Wong). Red Desert (Chad Schofield) will try to cross from his wide draw and slot in as the field should quickly spread out with the lively tempo.
Hongkong Great is perfect in two attempts over the track and distance, set the track record in Class 3 when winning his last start and gets in light as he goes up in class. He has an excellent dirt pedigree and is clearly a dirt track specialist. Despite the pace pressure and fast early sectionals, he has the ability to make all the running and is a win and place chance.
Elusive State (Joao Moreira) is a seven-time winner over the track and distance and is a last-start winner when he rallied from last in a seven-horse field. He is a place chance along with Glorious Artist (Zac Purton) and Red Desert.
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