As the last laps of 2020/21 rapidly approach, it is remarkable to think the Hong Kong racing season is only six meetings from its finale – but, to borrow a footballing term, there is still so much to play for.
Since the moment Caspar Fownes and Joao Moreira combined with Joy Master to win the first race of the season on 6 September last year, laying the foundation for what has become the most potent trainer-jockey combination of the current term, a further 775 races have been run and won – and Caspar and Joao have claimed the most victories in their respective fields.
With 146 wins for the season, Joao has achieved the bulk of those successes with Caspar (37 victories) and John (36), while Caspar (75 wins) and John (68) remain locked in battle for the trainers’ championship as the 14 July deadline looms.
In the intervening ten months since the season-opener, compelling chapters have been written at every turn as Hong Kong racing has responded to the challenges of the pandemic with a can-do attitude with the unstinting cooperation of jockeys, trainers, owners, staff and our customers – on and off the course.
One of the most memorable achievements of 2020/21 has been the continuation of international racing in Hong Kong. The presence of horses from Ireland, France and Japan at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races – and again with visitors from Japan on FWD Champions Day – stands as a high-water mark in terms of the creation and maintenance of biosecurity protocols within our ‘racing bubble.’
It is my hope that, as soon as can safely be achieved, Hong Kong can revert to its energetic and magnetic self as we all strive to combat the virus.
At Sha Tin on Saturday, reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Exultant will be farewelled in a retirement ceremony in the parade ring at 12:10pm in celebration of a wonderful career.
The Class 2 Lai Pek Shan Handicap is the final race of the card and will be run over 1200 metres.
Trillion Win (Alexis Badel) comes into the race in excellent form with top three finishes in each of his last three races. He will be on the pace from the start along with Highly Proactive (Jack Wong) and Shining Ace (Joao Moreira). He is one of four horses in the field eligible for the Club’s $1 million High Achievement Bonus and I make him a win and place chance.
Mr Croissant (Tony Piccone) will go back from his wide draw but should be closing the race off strongly as a place chance along with Congratulation (Harry Bentley). The latter has taken a bit of time to find his form since arriving in Hong Kong but is now making improvement.
Victoriam (Matthew Poon) has done his best work on the dirt surface this season but he can also be effective over this track and distance. He is a place chance in his current form along with Shining Ace, who is a three-time winner over 1200m on both the A and C tracks and, with Joao Moreira on board, should be well positioned.
On Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan, we will simulcast seven races including the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m). This is the race that Werther came very close to winning for Hong Kong three years ago.
The two standout horses in the 13-runner field are Chrono Genesis with Christophe Lemaire and Lei Papale with Yuga Kawada. We need to keep an eye on the weather as rain and thunderstorms are in the forecast for Takarazuka, Hyogo on Sunday.
Japan is known for turning out outstanding fillies and mares, and these are two of the very best in the sport today.
Chrono Genesis is the obvious danger and she is top class. She ran a huge race when narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Sheema Classic in Dubai over 2400 metres and she won last year’s Takarazuka Kinen by six lengths. She is also proven on soft ground, having won the Group 2 Kyoto Kinen early last year. She will need to be at her very best to run down Lei Papale and I believe she can do it.
Lei Papale is undefeated from six starts and defeated Contrail and Gran Alegria when winning the Group 1 Osaka Hai by four lengths on soft going in her last start. She looked to be struggling a bit approaching the final furlong and then suddenly found another gear and was drawing away at the end.
She will go forward in the run and the track and weather may work to her advantage. It is a short straight at Hanshin over this trip and Lei Papale will be hard to go past. She is beautifully bred and very talented. I make her a solid place chance.
Comment
