And so, after 10 months of world-class competition, the stage is set for a compelling final week of the Hong Kong racing season.
Mathematically, all three major individual accolades – Hong Kong champion trainer, Hong Kong champion jockey and the Tony Cruz Award for the most successful home-grown jockey – are still in dispute after 86 meetings and 816 races.
The battle for the jockeys’ crown is the tightest with Zac Purton holding a 132-130 lead over Joao Moreira and with only 20 races left to be contested this season, the tussle between these two wonderful four-time Hong Kong champions threatens to go deep into the season finale at Sha Tin on Saturday (16 July).
Zac holds a 64-60 edge at Happy Valley, while Joao leads 70-68 at Sha Tin and, with so little between them, luck in running and judgement will ultimately decide the issue.
Frankie Lor remains strongly placed to secure his first trainers’ title with a 90-84 lead over John Size and, while the finish line is within sight, the job is not yet complete.
If successful, Frankie will have taken only five seasons from the time he was granted his licence to becoming champion trainer. His consistency – a trait he shares with his former mentor John Size – is amazing and his performance this season has been remarkable.
To put Frankie’s achievements so far into context, John’s effort to saddle 84 winners to date would have won each of the past three championships. For Frankie to hold a six-win lead at this stage of the season – and still have a chance of breaking John’s season record of 94 wins – is incredible.
All three riders still in Tony Cruz Award reckoning were among the winners at Sha Tin last Sunday (10 July), but Matthew Chadwick is the logical favourite with 54 wins to wrest the title from three-time champion Vincent Ho (49) and Derek Leung (47).
Derek certainly did his chances no harm last weekend with a treble, but it will take a miracle – albeit still possible – to overtake Matthew at this stage.
The picture in all three championship contests could become clearer at Happy Valley on Wednesday night when the final race of the evening is the Class 2 Wong Nai Chung Handicap over 1650m.
The speed in the race will be good with My Ecstatic going to the front from gate six. He will be ridden by Vincent Ho instead of last-time winning jockey Derek Leung, who will stay with Prime Minister. My Ecstatic will be joined on the pace by Telecom Fighters, for Karis Teetan, who will need to use some energy to overcome his draw in gate nine.
Last-start winner Everyone’s Delight, which is ridden by Alexis Badel, will be in the box seat and will be joined by Hinchinlove with Harry Bentley on board. Sight Spirit, under Luke Currie, will make his first start in Happy Valley and will be placed in midfield, while Packing Award under Matthew Poon will be well positioned on his outside. Sunny Star, who makes his first start after a gelding operation, will be positioned behind midfield with Ruan Maia and joined by Gorytus, who is the choice of Zac Purton, on his outside.
Berlin Tango, with Matthew Chadwick, will be in the back of the field with Maldives and Luke Ferraris on his outside, while Prime Minister, which is the choice of in-form jockey Derek Leung, and Savaquin under Joao Moreira will have to come from last.
Packing Award comes into the race with good form and while he needs a career-best performance to win from his good draw in three, he is an upcoming four-year-old with potential and is my first choice for a win and place.
Gorytus is the choice of Zac Purton and is a good place chance, as is Maldives, who was unlucky in his second last start in Happy Valley when finishing sixth after he was blocked from the 200m to the 100m. Prime Minister, who is trained by in-form Ricky Yui, will need some luck but should come with a strong run from the back of the field for a place.
Sight Spirit is another place chance having his first start in Happy Valley, but went well in a trial in October before his first start.
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