The finish line of the 2020/21 season is suddenly within sight but, as much as we look forward with excitement to the final chapters of this term, it is also a period of reflection – and appreciation.
The Club remains deeply grateful to everybody who has sacrificed and remained vigilant during the pandemic with a discipline and dedication that has allowed Hong Kong racing not only to continue, but to flourish.
Our trainers, jockeys, owners, customers and staff have committed wholeheartedly for the continuation and betterment of racing at a time when many other sports around the world have been sadly compromised.
The Club’s gratitude for exemplary contributions extends, of course, beyond humans. By the end of this season, we will have farewelled two equine titans from Hong Kong – Beauty Generation and Exultant.
With 13 Group 1 triumphs between them, both of these champions are rightly revered in Hong Kong. Collectively, they were acclaimed three times as Hong Kong Horse of The Year with Exultant (2019/20) succeeding Beauty Generation (2017/18 and 2018/19).
Respected internationally – Beauty Generation was acclaimed as the world’s best miler in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, while Exultant finished his career among the elite – they combined for 29 wins in Hong Kong and occupy the top two places on the list of Hong Kong’s highest-prizemoney earners with Beauty Generation amassing HK$106.23 million and Exultant HK$83.49 million.
Although different in style, Beauty Generation and Exultant’s greatest legacy to Hong Kong is sustained excellence, whether in international competition against visiting raiders or against the very best local opposition and our racing was enriched by their presence.
As one door closes, another opens and I was very satisfied with what I saw this morning at the Hong Kong International Sale breeze up session at Sha Tin, where 22 lots took part. I believe we have a nice mix of very well prepared two and three-year-olds from the Northern and Southern Hemisphere to be offered for sale on Sunday (27 June) from 10:00am.
The growing relevance of the World Pool has again been on display as turnover approaches HK$1.5 billion by the end of the fifth day of Royal Ascot, which closes tonight with the running of G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) with 12 runners to face the starter.
Ed Walker’s Starman was the favourite for the Diamond Jubilee after four victories from five starts after his winning return in the Duke Of York Clipper Logistic Stakes (1200m) at York last month, but his scratching because of the soft track means the race is now wide open.
Sir Michael Stoute – never to be under-estimated at Royal Ascot – is represented by Dream Of Dreams, who will be suited by yielding ground under Ryan Moore and is the new favourite. Strong chances are also given to Glen Shiel (Hollie Doyle), Nahaarr (Tom Marquand) and Art Power (Silvestre De Sousa).
At Sha Tin on Sunday (20 June), the final Pattern races of the season will be featured with the G3 Premier Plate (1800m) as the fifth race and the G3 Premier Cup (1400m) as the seventh race on the 10-race card.
The pace will be good in the Premier Plate with Time Warp (Keith Yeung), Reliable Team (Alex Lai) and Tsar (Matthew Chadwick) likely to stride forward with their light weights. Southern Legend (Zac Purton) must concede a lot of weight to the field due to his lofty rating and proven class. He has enjoyed a terrific season with seven placings in the top three from nine starts at top level, which is incredible for an eight-year-old, as he steps up in trip from one mile.
Butterfield (Matthew Poon) looks to be favourably suited at the weights and distance. He will get a nice run from midfield and is a win and place chance. He was a course and distance winner in March and he comes into the race in good form.
Columbus County (Joao Moreira) prefers a longer trip but signalled his sharpness with a strong effort in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup last month. The good tempo should help him along and he is a place chance, along with Southern Legend and the in-form Charity Fun (Karis Teetan).
In the Premier Cup, Derby winner Sky Darci (Joao Moreira) leads a strong group of four-year-olds, including Healthy Happy (Alexis Badel), Sky Field (Blake Shinn) and Lucky Patch (Matthew Poon), against older horses that include five Group level winners. The pace will be good with Voyage Warrior (Harry Bentley), Buddies (Zac Purton) and Lucky Patch trying to cross from their outside gates to join Mighty Giant (Neil Callan) and Healthy Happy, which will close up in the run.
Sky Darci returned from his Derby victory to record his fifth win of the current campaign in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy over a mile. Now he drops down again in trip to 1400 which is well within his comfort zone. Regular rider Moreira will position Sky Darci midfield in the run and give him every opportunity as a win and place chance.
Healthy Happy is three pounds better off at the weights after finishing a good second to Sky Darci in the Lion Rock. Badel will put Happy Healthy in a contending position just behind the leaders and he should go very close as a place chance. Not Usual Talent (Matthew Chadwick) and Champion’s Way (Karis Teetan) are also place chances.
The Group 1 Prix de Diane for three-year-old fillies over 2100 metres from Chantilly is on tap at 10:00 pm with a solid field of 18 runners.
Philomene will try to make amends for a disappointing performance in a G1 mile in her last start but the well-bred Dubawi filly should be better suited over the longer trip and is the choice of jockey Mickael Barzalona. I was impressed with her Group 3 win in April over 2100 metres when she won with authority and the runner-up Incarville came back to win a G1 four weeks ago. Trainer Andre Fabre has won this race four times and I make Philomene a win and place chance in a highly competitive race.
Joan Of Arc steps up in trip after finishing a close second over heavy ground in the Irish 1000 Guineas and her pedigree is sensational. She is a daughter of Galileo from a Storm Cat mare who was a full sister to Giant’s Causeway who produced multiple G1 winner Gleneagles. She may be better suited over a mile and jockey Ioritz Mendizabal will need to carefully reserve her speed to help her see out the trip. I make her a place chance.
Jockey Christophe Soumillon jumps off last-start G1 winner Incarville to ride lightly-raced Khalidya for the Aga Khan and six-time winning trainer of this race, Alain de Royer Dupre. Khalidiya is only a maiden winner and is the lowest rated filly in the race but she will get the trip and is a place chance along with the Andre Fabre-trained Burgarita. She, too, is lightly raced but has shown promise and will be ridden by Maxime Guyon.
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