FWD Champions Day has long been synonymous with world-class racing and following the completion of selected runners for this year’s glittering meeting, it is clear the 25 April showpiece will live up to tradition.
With just over two weeks until a quality force of elite Japanese gallopers clashes with Hong Kong’s finest, there is much to be excited about on a day when 28 exceptional horses, including nine individual G1 winners, from two powerhouse racing jurisdictions compete in three G1 contests worth HK$63 million.
The visitors will be led by Fillies’ Triple Crown winner Daring Tact, who shapes a potential heir apparent to Almond Eye, as she prepares to face Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year Exultant in the HK$25 million G1 FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m).
Daring Tact finished third to Almond Eye in the 2020 G1 Japan Cup and will renew her rivalry with Glory Vase, winner of the 2019 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), while fellow Japanese raiders Loves Only You and Kiseki are also among the eight selected runners.
Apart from the Japanese contenders, Tony Cruz’s Exultant will face familiar opposition including stablemates Time Warp and Furore, as well as Francis Lui’s impressive last-start winner Glorious Dragon.
As has become customary, the phenomenal Golden Sixty shapes as Hong Kong’s flagbearer in the HK$20 million G1 FWD Champions Mile, where Francis Lui and Vincent Ho will bid for a fourth G1 with their stable star against BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Sky Darci, Southern Legend, Healthy Happy, Ka Ying Star, Mighty Giant and More Than This.
For me, one of the potential highlights of the meeting will be the return of Danon Smash in the HK$18 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) as the Japanese speedster chases a third successive G1 crown.
To be ridden by Joao Moreira, Danon Smash will face Jolly Banner, who chased him to the line in December’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, as well as Wellington, Wishful Thinker, Rattan and Voyage Warrior.
Frankie Lor will be represented by Big Party and Fat Turtle, while Computer Patch, Sky Field and three supplementary entries – Amazing Star, Stronger and Beauty Applause, who filled the first three placings in last Monday’s G2 Sprint Cup – complete the field.
The Club is aware of the special place horse racing commands in the hearts of Hong Kong citizens and it is our hope that we can soon welcome back more of customers to our meetings – especially fixtures of such towering quality as FWD Champions Day – before the end of the season.
It has been uplifting to have a small number of owners, Club members and members of the public at Sha Tin and Happy Valley over the past week. As ever, there has been a strict observance of biosecurity protocols, including social distancing and contact tracing to ensure world’s-best health measures are maintained.
The Doncaster Mile is one of four Group 1 races featured on our Saturday simulcast day and is the sixth of seven races. The races will be run over a rain-affected Randwick track and the going is likely to be heavy.
Aegon (Kerrin McEvoy) will appreciate the going in his first race against older horses. It is the toughest test of his young career but he is well drawn and is unbeaten on soft ground. He is a win and place chance. Cascadian (Jamie Kah) turned in a big performance in the George Ryder in his last start and is another that can handle the going as a place chance.
Mo’unga is widely drawn but gets in light and has a big turn of foot. Jockey Robbie Dolan will need to work out a trip and the going is of no concern. I make him a place chance along with Avilius (James McDonald).
Moving to Sunday’s race meeting, the Class 2 Cheung Lin Shan Handicap over 1400 metres it shapes up as a solid finale to the 11-race card. First race is 12.30 pm.
Silver Express (Joao Moreira) drops back to his preferred distance after not seeing out the trip in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) three weeks ago and with Joao Moreira on board should get the run of the race and despite dropping back to 1400m is a place chance. He will go forward and face pace pressure from Highly Proactive (Karis Teetan) and Hinchinlove (Matthew Chadwick). The pace will be good.
Not Usual Talent (Jerry Chau) acquitted himself well in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and now returns to the top of Class 2 with the benefit of the seven-pound claim. He had a sharp trial at Conghua recently and is a win and place chance to run down the leaders from midfield.
Guy Dragon (Keith Yeung), a graduate of the Hong Kong International Sale, will get an inside trip from midfield and will need to find running room as the field bunches up coming out of the turn. He is a place chance at the weights.
Roman Turbo (Alexis Badel) and Super Wealthy (Zac Purton) will go back from their wide draws and both horses are in top form. They will each close the race off strongly as place chances.
In race eight, Courier Wonder, who will be ridden by Joao Moreira, is in my view one of the most exciting three-year-olds in Hong Kong and at only his third start is top weight in a Class 3. He is aiming to keep his unbeaten record intact after twice receiving a rating increase of 14 points for demolishing his opponents in his two starts so far.
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