And so, with the New Year upon us, we celebrate the first meeting of 2022 at Sha Tin. The 33rd meeting of the season has arrived with surprising haste – even by Hong Kong’s famed fast-paced lifestyle.
The close of 2021 and the ringing in of 2022 is the perfect juncture to reflect on the opening four months of the season. Looking back, it is clear we have much to be grateful for. From a racing viewpoint, we are blessed to have a front-row seat as Golden Sixty continues to create history for Francis Lui and Vincent Ho.
Hong Kong’s champion has been the perfect antidote to COVID’s tentacles and his five wins in 2021 – including four at Group 1 level – provided the city with vital entertainment, pride and interest while his LONGINES Hong Kong Mile triumph proved beyond doubt his immense quality and courage against formidable international opposition.
More broadly, Hong Kong racing has continued uninterrupted – apart from the one fixture lost to Typhoon Kompasu in mid-October – providing a welcome outlet throughout the pandemic, as well as employment and associated community benefits for thousands of people.
I am thankful for the commitment of all of those involved in horse racing as we forge deeper into the second quarter of the season. This collective dedication and vigilance allowed the Club to successfully stage the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship within the security and safety of a closed-loop racing bubble, despite the emergence of the Omicron variant.
In terms of organisation, planning and execution, the hosting of visiting jockeys and trainers for HKIR and IJC was a remarkable achievement and, as I have previously said, the Club is immensely gratified to have the Government’s continuing trust.
As the world assesses the impact of the Omicron strain, the onus remains on all of us to continue observing the protocols put in place to protect all of us.
On the racing front, many congratulations to Blake Shinn for his treble at Sha Tin last Wednesday and also to Harry Bentley for his first double in Hong Kong since joining our ranks. Both jockeys have shown admirable resilience and persistence – requisite qualities to success in Hong Kong – throughout this season.
The contest for the trainers’ championship continues to intensify with John Size (30) moving to within one win of the lead behind Frankie Lor (31). On the subject of trainers, I would like to wish Alain de Royer-Dupre all the very best in retirement after he saddled his final runner at Pornichet this week.
Alain travelled to Hong Kong earlier this month with Ebaiyra, who finished third in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin. Appropriately, it was the master trainer’s final runner on the international stage. Alain’s record is truly remarkable, featuring 93 Group 1 victories over a glorious 50-year career. Two of his biggest wins came at Sha Tin with Pride in the 2006 Hong Kong Cup and Daryakana in the 2009 Hong Kong Vase.
As we look forward to Saturday’s Lucky Start meeting, I would like to wish all our customers, staff and supporters the very best for 2022 and I hope it is a safe, healthy and prosperous year for all.
At Sha Tin on Saturday, the feature races are the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup and the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy and they are programmed as the fourth and eighth races, respectively, on the 11-event card.
The Chinese Club Challenge Cup is over 1400m and the pace will be good to slow. Buddies should lead for Matthew Chadwick, while Lucky Express for Antoine Hamelin drops back from 1600m to his best distance of 1400m and should come with a strong run from the back and is a place chance along with Master Montaro, who carries only 117lb for Keith Yeung. Excellent Proposal for Joao Moreira drops back from G1 level, having been beaten just under six lengths by Golden Sixty in the Hong Kong Mile, and should get a smooth run from gate two. I make him a win and a place chance.
The Bauhinia Sprint Trophy will be contested over the straight 1000m course and the pace will be good. Sight Success under Vagner Borges and Computer Patch for Matthew Chadwick are expected to lead. Master Eight for Joao Moreira is a perfect four-from-four and ran 55.42s when a comfortable winner at Sha Tin last start and should settle just off the pace. I make him a win and place chance. Computer Patch has two wins from four attempts over the course and distance and, along with Super Wealthy for Alexis Badel, is a place chance.
The Cherry Handicap is run as race 10 and is a Class 2 over 1400m. Fantastic Treasure, Blaze Warrior and Packing Victory are exciting four-year-olds who are heading to the Hong Kong Classic Mile, which will be run on January 30.
Fantastic Treasure has already achieved a rating of 96 and has to carry top weight of 133 pounds and is ridden by in-form jockey Blake Shinn. Blaze Warrior with a rating of 89 is carrying 126 pounds under Joao Moreira, while Packing Victory, with a rating of 81 and Alexis Badel on board, has only 118 pounds to carry. Packing Victory, who was caught on the line in his last race after being wide, should be better positioned from gate six and is a win and place chance.
Blaze Warrior has a much better draw being in gate two and is a place chance. An interesting contender is Beauty Joy who won his last race over course and distance for his new trainer Tony Cruz and should not be underestimated for a place under Matthew Chadwick, along with Fantastic Treasure.
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