With only five meetings to go and just six wins separating Caspar Fownes and John Size in the race for the 2020/21 Hong Kong trainers’ championship, it takes something outstanding to take focus away from the pair’s late-season joust.
Joao Moreira and Francis Lui managed precisely that on Saturday with trebles and, in an era where numbers can unjustly fade to grey, the efforts of the championship-leading jockey and Golden Sixty’s handler bear further examination.
With approximately 50 races left before season’s end, Joao would need to partner about half the remaining winners through the 14 July finale to better his record of 170 wins in a season, or even eclipse his second-highest haul of 168.
A winning strike rate of 21.47 has Joao careering to a fourth Hong Kong crown, a feat which would give the Brazilian maestro parity with four-time winner Zac Purton, who has 121 wins for the term – a wonderful haul in anyone’s language, but not enough this season.
Apart from his excellent effort to keep Golden Sixty unbeaten in 14 successive starts across two seasons for an overall record of 17 victories from 18 starts – a record which includes four G1s – Francis is on the cusp of a personal best.
His 60 wins leaves him only three shy of his career-best 63 victories, set last year when third behind Ricky Yiu (67). As it stands heading into Thursday’s meeting at Sha Tin, Francis trails only Caspar (75), John (69) and Frankie Lor (64).
As we approach the final stages of another incredible season, it is appropriate to reflect on the achievement of our horsemen and their fabulous equine athletes at a time when many other sports have suffered badly because of the pandemic.
Before we reach the season’s break, there is still much to be excited about and, at Sha Tin on Thursday, the Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1800m) is carded as the seventh of 10 races during the holiday race meeting. The field of 11 lacks a natural leader and it appears that Sunny Star will take up the running by default under Karis Teetan. The pace will be slow.
Sunny Star is a last-start winner and a three-time winner this season. His body weight is just a shade over 1000 pounds but this is not unusual for horses that excel over distances of a mile or longer. He is up in grade, carries a light weight and his consistency and the tempo of this race make him a place chance.
Super Football has been freshened up at Conghua after an improved effort in his last start in April. He is drawn inside with Matthew Poon and will do his running from behind midfield. He was blocked in running last start and has made good progress this preparation but is still not proven over 1800m. He is capable of a big closing section and I make him a place chance.
Berlin Tango (Vincent Ho) showed at Happy Valley over 1800m in April that he has acclimatised when a close fourth to Charity Fun. He had no clear running last start on the dirt at Sha Tin when third to Hongkong Great, when he was blocked but finished very well. His trackwork is very good and being a G3 winner on Polytack over 2000m and also being G3-placed over the same distance at Royal Ascot, he is my first choice.
Looking Great did not get the best of trips in his last start and has drawn the outside gate under regular rider Joao Moreira. With the lack of speed in this race, he should be able to slide forward to assume a prominent position. I make him a place chance. Berlin Tango, Super Football, Sunny Star and Looking Great are my four selections in that order and are all eligible for the Club’s $1 million High Achievement Bonus.
The Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup is run as race six over 1800m. The Cup recognises the importance of the Greater Bay Area for the further development of Hong Kong racing, especially our framework agreement with the Guangzhou Municipal Government to establish the Guangzhou-Hong Kong Racing Economic Cluster.
The pace will be only moderate with Crown Avenue (Tony Piccone) and Divine Unicorn (Vagner Borges) the likely pace makers. Bullish Unicorn (Victor Wong) and Tailor Made (Matthew Poon) will be in close attendance.
Stunning Impact (Karis Teetan) would be an appropriately named winner, emphasis the tremendous impact Conghua has made on the performance of the many horses which have benefits from a stay in our training centre. He was checked in his last start in Sha Tin when third over the course and distance.
Red Elysees (Harry Bentley) is a recent winner over the course and distance and will get a nice run from midfield from his good draw. He is a place chance along with Tailor Made, Dragon Commander (Dylan Mo) and More Than A Horse (Jerry Chau).
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