The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) are widely regarded as the Turf World Championships and, as the days tick down to next month’s showpiece, we are looking forward to a “Celebration of Champions” at Sha Tin on 11 December.
The initial entry of 172 outstanding horses from around the world and also Hong Kong for LONGINES HKIR lays the platform for what shapes as a wonderful celebration of horse racing in this incredible city.
The interest shown in LONGINES HKIR from world-class trainers such as Aidan O’Brien and Yoshito Yahagi, as well as many others from around the globe and also in Hong Kong, reflects the importance of a meeting where the four Group 1s carry a combined purse of HK$110 million – not to mention the enduring prestige of success.
The presence of Hong Kong champions Golden Sixty, Wellington, California Spangle and Russian Emperor sets the scene for spirited home defence – and an unforgettable day’s racing as elite jockeys and trainers from Hong Kong and across the world do battle.
With the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship on 7 December, we will see the champion jockeys from across the world competing to win the coveted title and at the Gala Party on Friday, 9 December, we will celebrate the crowning of the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey of 2022.
We are set for a phenomenal week of racing which will again showcase the magic of Hong Kong and its uniqueness – especially the city’s passion for racing with its iconic venues of Happy Valley and Sha Tin.
With so much to look forward to, we are delighted and grateful that the Hong Kong Government has announced a further relaxation of anti-pandemic measures which will enable us to bring more of our passionate racing fans back to celebrate our Hong Kong champions preparing for LONGINES HKIR with the Bank of China Race Day on Sunday, 20 November.
Furthermore, we will now be able to relaunch our sportainment in Happy Valley from Wednesday, 23 November with the full reopening of the famous beer garden and live entertainment between races.
From a sporting perspective, as we welcome Jye McNeil ahead of his Hong Kong debut at Sha Tin today, we also look forward to the return of 2017 LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Hugh Bowman, who will start riding in Hong Kong on Wednesday, 16 November.
On Friday, I was privileged to attend an event in Tai Kwun as part of Hong Kong Legal Week 2022. The Department of Justice’s annual flagship event featured prominent experts, practitioners, government officials, academics and representatives from diverse sectors from around the world and further demonstrated that more of our city is opening up to the world.
With exactly a month now until LONGINES HKIR, the Panasonic Cup Handicap at Sha Tin today is the sporting highlight, run as a Class 1 over 1400m as Race 7 at 4:05pm.
The pace is expected to be good as Circuit Stellar steps up in class from his last start win in Class 3 company over 1600m on 23 October when leading throughout. Drawn perfectly in gate three, Circuit Stellar should set the pace again. With promising apprentice Angus Chung claiming off his lightweight he is likely to test his rivals with a solidly run race and is a place chance.
The other speed in the race comes from Healthy Happy and Silvestre de Sousa is likely to go forward from an outside gate. Healthy Happy tried to stay with California Spangle when resuming in the Celebration Cup and held on well for a clear second placing behind the star performer. Frankie Lor sent Healthy Happy to Conghua after that run. He is topweight today with 135lb, having to concede weight to all his rivals, and I rate him a place chance.
Beluga has drawn the rails and Zac Purton will be keen to hold his position behind the leader. Beluga drifted back to midfield last start and didn’t have much room early in the straight when closing late for third behind The Irishman over this trip on 23 October and he is a place chance again.
Tony Cruz goes into the race double-handed with Circuit Stellar and The Golden Scenery. The latter sat at the back in his last race and had to come very wide and made very good progress to run fourth to the promising The Irishman.
The Golden Scenery is working very well and is reunited with Luke Ferraris, who was also on board when winning on 25 June. In a smaller field and settling closer to the pace, I make The Golden Scenery a win and a place chance in an intriguing race where a case can be made for the winning chances of nearly all nine runners.
Fantastic Treasure, with Matthew Chadwick as his jockey, was a little disappointing in his last start in the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap over 1200m but in my view he is better at 1400m and will finish strongly for a place.
The G1 Queen Elizabeth Cup (2200m) from Hanshin Racecourse is the feature of our Sunday simulcast meeting and features HKIR entrants Magical Lagoon, Stunning Rose, Namur and Win Marilyn.
Magical Lagoon won the Irish Oaks for trainer Jessica Harrington in July and seeks to emulate the champion filly Snow Fairy who won this race in 2010 for Ed Dunlop after winning the Epsom and Irish Oaks.
At her only run since, Magical Lagoon raced on pace before fading to fifth behind champion mares Alpinista and Tuesday in the Yorkshire Oaks on 18 August. She has been working well since arriving in Hanshin and is a place chance in a very strong field.
Stunning Rose has accepted an invitation to compete at HKIR. The filly by King Kamehameha was second in the Japanese Oaks and at her last start won the G1 Shuka Sho at Hanshin over 2000m when racing just off the speed and she is a place chance.
Namur finished third in the Japanese Oaks and then was a closing second to Stunning Rose in the Shuka Sho. She is drawn on the immediate outside of Stunning Rose and the filly by Harbinger can turn the tables here and is a win and place chance.
The last four editions of the race have been won by older mares and Win Marilyn returned to her best form last start when third to Jack d’Or and Panthalassa. That form looks very strong and with star Australian rider Damian Lane flying in to ride her Win Marilyn is a place chance.
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