There has been an unmistakable sense of anticipation this week ahead of FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday week (24 April) when Hong Kong racing parades its elite horses, jockeys and trainers to a global audience.
With HK$65 million in prize money spread across a trio of Group 1s – the FWD QEII Cup (2000m), Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) and FWD Champions Mile (1600m) – the rewards for ultimate success are immense as horses the calibre of Golden Sixty, Wellington, Romantic Warrior, Waikuku, Russian Emperor and California Spangle compete.
Tuesday’s trials provided a glimpse of the quality we can expect in nine days when several FWD Champions Day entries limbered up. Off-course, there were positive developments, too.
The Club has received permission from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, in light of the easing of the Covid situation and the imminent general relaxation of Covid restriction measures, to have not only owners with starters but all owners and their guests at the races starting with FWD Champions Day and we hope to welcome more of our racing fans in the not so far future.
The resumption of cross-border horse movement (CBHM) between Sha Tin and Conghua Racecourse (CRC) on Thursday was important outcome for our owners and trainers after the four-week suspension of the service because of deteriorating COVID conditions.
This has allowed those horses entered for upcoming race meetings to return to Sha Tin, including five horses entered for FWD Champions Day – Lucky Patch, Mighty Giant, Columbus County, Reliable Team and Zebrowski – who arrived safely in Hong Kong today.
We are grateful to both Mainland and Hong Kong authorities, as well as the many Club staff, who have worked tirelessly to provide continuous support while assisting with all procedures regarding CBHM.
Conghua’s importance as a world-class training facility to Hong Kong racing is well established because it offers our trainers options with horses which are not available in Hong Kong in terms of preparation, spelling and recovery. Of the 584 races run in Hong Kong this season, 127 (21.74%) have been won by horses which had been stabled at CRC before returning to competition.
Cross-border horse movement is carried out under a stringent closed-loop system, which requires grooms and float drivers to isolate and undergo daily testing before travelling to CRC, where they are again isolated and tested before returning to Hong Kong under a five-week roster.
At Sha Tin on Saturday, the D’Aguilar Peak Handicap is the ninth of ten races as a Class 3 with an extended rating band from 85 to 60 over 1200 metres on the All-Weather track, which has attracted 12 starters with five horses with a handicap rating of more than 80.
Among them is a rising three-year-old Campione who, as a two-year-old was a three-time winner in Italy with his last impressive win a Group 3 by five lengths. He won his last start in Hong Kong from a rating of 78 in Class 3 over 1200m on the turf and received a rating increase of six pounds for the win which takes him to Class 2, which is not easy for a three-year-old Northern Hemisphere horse, who would get in Europe a significant weight-for-age allowance when competing against older horses at this time of the year.
This is a very competitive race and it will be run at a good to fast pace with the presence of last-start winners Campione and Like That. Harmony N Blessed will also be a pace factor with Zac Purton riding in him in his first race on dirt. He has trialled well on the surface in the past.
Campione has drawn the outside gate and jockey Matthew Poon will use his speed to try and cross over to make the running. The Italian import has yet to race or trial on dirt but showed his talent to win in only his second start in Hong Kong. But he must carry top weight (133lb) and is drawn wide (12) and based on all of these factors coupled with his inexperience on dirt, I believe he is vulnerable.
Like That has won his last two starts, including a Class 3 on the dirt just over two weeks ago when racing wide and without cover throughout the race. He will be on the pace with Derek Leung and will get a much better run this time from his good draw. He is a place chance.
Lightning Bolt will settle about midfield with Joao Moreira riding for the first time. He has performed well over the track and distance, and just missed in this same race in his last start. I make him a win and place chance on the strength of his good recent form and proven record on the surface. He is a good example of a PP coming in on a rating of 64 and making an immediate impact.
Drops Of God is second up after a four-month layoff and improvement is likely with Vagner Borges taking the return assignment. He went well in his return, which was first start on the surface, and will benefit from that experience. Magic Supreme with Ruan Maia is a track and distance specialist and is a place chance under a light weight.
Finally, I would like to wish all of our customers, members, owners, trainers, jockey and staff the very best for Easter.
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