In a season which has already produced incredible highs and phenomenal achievements, it is entirely appropriate that some of the best has been saved for last.
As we reflect on the equine glories of Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior, Russian Emperor and Wellington across the 2021/22 season, we still have so much to look forward to on Saturday at Sha Tin for the season finale.
History shows how rare it is for Hong Kong racing championships to be decided on the final day of the season but, in a script writers’ dream, that is exactly what we have in store when Zac Purton and Joao Moreira square off for the jockeys’ championship with only 11 races left in the campaign.
After 87 meetings and 825 races, Zac and Joao both have 132 wins to their names – Zac’s total includes one dead-heat; Joao has two dead-heats, leaving Zac with the tiniest lead ahead of Saturday’s closing meeting.
Statistics show how little separates these four-time Hong Kong champion jockeys. Zac has a winning strike rate of 19.90 percent from 663 rides, while Joao is striking at 19.29 percent from 684 mounts.
In a season where the lead has already changed six times, Joao overcame an 11-win deficit when Zac was injured in December, before Zac erased Joao’s 18-win lead in April, reviving memories of Douglas Whyte’s feat of whittling away Brett Prebble’s 16-win buffer to retain the championship – 100-99 – on the final day of the 2009/10 season.
Frankie Lor, who leads John Size 90-84, is poised to complete the fastest rise to the title by a home-grown trainer in decades, having been granted a full licence only five seasons ago. Frankie, of course, is one of 11-time champion John’s proteges and as much as John’s competitive fires will burn until it is impossible to win again, he will take pride in Frankie’s stunning progression.
The final piece of the championships puzzle will also fall into place with the Tony Cruz Award for the most successful home-grown jockey. Matthew Chadwick’s resurgence has him clasping a 55-50 lead over Vincent Ho, while Derek Leung’s best season in Hong Kong has netted him 47 victories.
As we eagerly await the outcome of these three championships on Saturday, we celebrated the best of our equine stars at a special ceremony on Friday night when Golden Sixty was feted as winner of the Hong Kong Horse of the Year award, along with victory in the Champion Miler category as well as being voted the Most Popular Horse for the third consecutive year.
Romantic Warrior sealed his stunning emergence by winning Most Improved Horse, Champion Four-Year-Old and Champion Middle Distance horse. Wellington (Champion Sprinter), Russian Emperor (Champion Stayer) and Lucky Sweynesse (Champion Griffin) were also recognised along with Zac Purton, who won the public vote to earn the Most Popular Jockey of the Year accolade.
At Sha Tin on Saturday, the Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy is a Class 1 handicap featured as the eighth of 11 races on the final race meeting of the season. Run over a mile, the pace will be good with Kings Shield going forward from his wide draw with Vincent Ho, along with Bourbonaire and Money Catcher, two horses that share many similarities.
Bourbonaire is in career-best form after an easy win in his last start over a yielding track by six widening lengths. Jockey Alexis Badel will use his speed to secure a forward position to contest the pace or sit just behind the early leaders. He is a versatile horse and is a place chance.
Money Catcher, like Bourbonaire, is a four-year-old New Zealand bred with the same running style and an identical rating of 93. Joao Moreira will ride Money Catcher for the first time in an attempt to break through with his first win in Hong Kong after finishing in the top three in six of his last seven starts. He is a place chance.
Turin Redsun is another looking for his first Hong Kong win after an unlucky run in his last start when he was narrowly beaten in the Group 3 Premier Plate Handicap. Zac Purton will ride Turin Redsun for the first time and will work out a trip from midfield. He is a win and place chance in his current form.
Fantastic Treasure takes another step up in trip and has drawn the inside gate with Karis Teetan riding for the first time. He will go back in the run and should close the race off well as a place chance.
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