The 2020/21 Hong Kong season shapes as another memorable chapter in the Club’s rich history with the continued successful staging of high-quality racing despite restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
The Club has taken all measures to ensure all health and safety protocols are stringently met for the wellbeing of our staff, jockeys, trainers, owners and customers at both Sha Tin and Happy Valley as well as our OCBBs (Off-Course Betting Branches).
The recent opening of the Club’s sparkling new OCBB at The Lohas – the first new such facility in 16 years – was based on our strategy to create more experience-based offerings and the customer feedback received was very encouraging. There was also a very positive response among customers to the resumption of live coverage of races in OCBBs, where our service teams did a fantastic job to manage the increase in customer traffic.
As we approach the 77th meeting of the season at Happy Valley, our achievement of not losing a single meeting to COVID-19 since the first outbreak last year is one of which we can be immensely proud. That aside, we cannot afford to drop our guard and we must remain vigilant to the dangers that remain.
On a pure racing front, one of the most satisfying aspects of the current season has been the emergence of an impressive crop of outstanding young horses with the potential to climb through the grades and hopefully emerge as international-class contenders.
The unbeaten Courier Wonder and Fantastic Treasure, both with five wins each in their first seasons, have been exceptional and are truly exciting prospects as we look to the future.
Fellow three-year-olds Fantastic Way, Carroll Street, Killer Bee, Master Eight and Winner Method also shape as above average based on recent performances, while Drops Of God was highly impressive on debut.
On Sunday, Naboo Attack literally caught the eye in every way. He tipped the scales at 1360lb before surging to victory at Class 2 level in 1m 07.92s with a 43.67s last 800m – a sectional bettered only by Caspar Fownes’ War Weapon (43.66s).
To put those figures in context, BMW Hong Kong Derby champion Sky Darci posted the slickest last 400m for the meeting in 21.84s in eclipsing Healthy Happy (21.98s). War Weapon clocked 21.90s, with the giant Naboo Attack steaming late in 22.03s. It must also be pointed out that very few horses have been able to win on debut in Hong Kong at Class 2 level.
While Golden Sixty remains very much the benchmark of Hong Kong’s equine elite, the winds of change are blowing through lower grades and it is extremely exciting to see the talent pool steadily deepening ahead of next season.
Another exciting dimension to the season is the intensifying battle for the trainers’ championship with Caspar’s Sha Tin treble on Sunday giving him a one-win lead over John Size ahead of the Happy Valley meeting on Wednesday night, where Caspar has seven runners, while John has five with both trainers having good chances to win at least two races.
The Class 3 Hillier Handicap over 1650 metres is the final race of the Wednesday night meeting with three last-start winners included in the 12-horse field.
Golfman Star (Derek Leung) and Exceptional Nice (Alexis Badel) will go forward to set a modest pace. This is the first time around two turns for Golfman Star and every attempt will be made to slow the tempo to help him see out the trip. Exceptional Nice tends to go forward when the pace is slow, so neither horse is expected to go too hard early.
Hall Of Champ (Blake Shinn) will secure a good spot behind the leaders and comes into the race in career-best form. He won his last start ten days ago in fast time over 1400 metres at Sha Tin and is a place chance here. He steps up in trip and is working well but has yet to win at Happy Valley but his good draw and good form point him out to be at least a place chance.
Gallant Crown (Matthew Poon) is a three-time winner this season over the course and distance against lesser company. He acquitted himself well in this grade four weeks ago, has drawn the inside gate and carries a light weight. He will get a nice midfield run and is a win and place chance.
Beauty Fit (Zac Purton) is coming to Happy Valley for the first time in his career after a last-start win over a mile last month. He has not trialled at Happy Valley and is following the same profile that proved successful with his stablemate Rhapsody two weeks ago. He has drawn a wide gate and must carry top weight. I make him a place chance along with Exceptional Nice.
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