The provisional line-up for the four Group 1 features at the HK$110 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) on 11 December is gradually taking shape following the close of entries and, with only six weeks to go, the early signs are certainly positive.
Several factors will ultimately decide which horses face the starter at Sha Tin at our flagship meeting, but the early indications are definitely encouraging based on feedback received regarding the plans for several world-class horses.
Glory Vase needs no introduction in Hong Kong as a dual G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase winner and should he return in search of a third victory at Sha Tin it would create much interest. Similarly, the presence in Hong Kong of Panthalassa, Salios, Kinross, Gendarme, Naran Huleg, Schnell Meister, Nature Strip, Saffron Beach and Mendocino – among others – would be tremendous.
Given the size and quality of the international entry, and also that of a classy Hong Kong contingent, we will eagerly monitor the progress of several of the horses entered for LONGINES HKIR over coming weeks as anticipation builds towards our flagship meeting.
It is clear from the interest shown so far from our overseas friends that the global horse racing community is keen to embrace the opportunity to return to Hong Kong for LONGINES HKIR to support their horses in world-class competition while also enjoying the best this amazing city has to offer.
From a personal ownership viewpoint, I was delighted to see my horse Now We Know win a Class 2 race at Longchamp over 1800m last Sunday. It is always exciting to have your own horse running, especially when you have bred the horse yourself and it gives you great satisfaction to see them winning. Now We Know has won four races and is Group 3-placed with a full sister by Kendargent who has just gone into training and the Adlerflug half-brother is a good-looking foal.
Japan stages one of its most treasured Group 1 races this Sunday (30 October) during our Happy Valley meeting with the running of the Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) from Tokyo Racecourse. Several of the horses engaged are also entered for LONGINES HKIR, including Panthalassa, Geoglyph, Jack d’Or and Danon Beluga.
The race brings together the elite of Japan’s established stars up against an exciting group of three-year-olds taking on older rivals for the first time.
We have come to expect races from Japan to be run at a very quick tempo and with Panthalassa (drawn three) and Jack d’Or (drawn nine) both established front runners and Babbit returning from an extended break due to injury also likely to push forward from a wide gate, this will be a high pressure race.
Jack d’Or was able to get past Panthalassa in the closing stages in the G2 Sapporo Kinen, winning by a neck when they last met on 21 August and both are place chances here.
The fast speed will suit horses closing late, like Shahryar, winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic over 2400m in March. His only run since was at Royal Ascot in June where he disappointed in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes over the shorter trip than Sunday’s contest. Shahryar has been working well in preparation for his return and with regular rider Cristian Demuro aboard is a place chance.
The three-year-old division is headed by Geoglyph, Equinox and Danon Beluga, first, second and fourth, respectively in the G1 Satsuko Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) over 2000m in April.
They met again in the Derby over 2400m in May with Equinox proving the strongest stayer of the three finishing second to Do Deuce, with Danon Beluga fourth and Geoglyph seventh.
The trio resumes here and while all have claims, Equinox stormed home in the Derby when an outside gate forced Christophe Lemaire to settle him at the back of the field. Christophe will ride him closer from a better draw here and Equinox is a win and place chance as he tries to emulate his sire Kitasan Black who won the race as a 5yo in 2017.
At Happy Valley on Sunday, the Class 2 Guangzhou Handicap over 1200m is carded as Race 9.
Rewarding Together is a four-time winner over this course and distance. He had little luck when caught wide when 10th at Sha Tin behind Fantastic Treasure on 25 September when first-up. He is drawn perfectly in barrier one for Matthew Chadwick and is a win and place chance.
Majestic Star was an impressive winner last start for Harry Bentley and Danny Shum on the AWT three weeks ago, running away in the concluding stages over 1200m to win easily from a field that included two of his rivals on Sunday in Grateful Heart and Campione. Despite rising sharply in handicap weight today, Majestic Star will get a nice run behind the speed from an inside gate and is a place chance.
That speed should be set by Ping Hai Galaxy from gate three and Harmony And Rich who will go forward from his middle draw. Ping Hai Galaxy is a four-time winner at the track and aided by a brilliant Zac Purton ride got through on the rails to win here on 5 October. He is up in class but with a lightweight and drawn three is a place chance for Alexis Badel.
Harmony And Rich returns to his favourite track for the first time since last season when he came away to beat Handsome Bo Bo over this course and trip in fast time. He also returns to Class 2 competition and will have benefitted from some time at Conghua and is a place chance with Dylan Mo taking the ride.
Campione started a firm favourite in the race won by Majestic Star on the AWT but could only manage fourth after tiring late. He comes to Happy Valley for only the second time in his career having been well beaten over this trip and course behind Keep You Warm on 18 May and his task is made more difficult with the outside gate.
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