The steady arrival in Hong Kong of outstanding horses from all over world over the past four days for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races has been an uplifting sight and a reminder that our showpiece meeting is now only eight days away.
Following months of meticulous planning, the trackwork presence of international G1 winners Gendarme, Resistencia, Danon Scorpion, Laws Of Indices, Panthalassa, Lei Papale and Danon The Kid at Sha Tin is welcome confirmation that the ‘Turf World Championships’ are on our doorstep.
Several more world-class horses will settle into Sha Tin this weekend and we wish the international owners, trainers and jockeys travelling to Hong Kong the very best of luck as they compete with our elite horses and horsemen in the four Group 1 LONGINES HKIR races on Sunday 11 December.
The first of our major race day events next week is the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday (7 December) and it shapes as a magnificent competition given the quality of jockeys assembled.
Zac Purton is on record pace with 51 wins for the season so far, while Vincent Ho, Silvestre de Sousa and Matthew Chadwick, with his treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (30 November), are in peak form as they prepare to face a powerful international contingent led by Ryan Moore, Yuga Kawada, James McDonald, Hollie Doyle, Jamie Kah, Tom Marquand, Jye McNeil and Mickael Barzalona.
Given the class of the assembled cast, it is appropriate that next Friday day night, we will formally crown the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey based on Group 1 results during 2022.
With so much to look forward to, our focus switches to Sha Tin tomorrow (4 December) when a number of horses targeting the Four-Year-Old Classic Series will be in action, including A Pal, Amazing Victory and a quintet of well-performed imports making their Hong Kong debut such as Ivy League, Goodban Banbanbang, Samarkand, Casa Cosmo and Hava Nageela.
In race nine, A Pal is another PP from the Frankie Lor stable, who will look to emulate the impressive performance of stablemate Keefy, winner of the Class 1 Chevalier Cup Handicap last Sunday.
The meeting concludes with the Salisbury Handicap, carded as Race 10 for Class 2 horses over 1200 metres where another Four-Year-Old Classic Series aspirant Galaxy Witness is engaged.
Galaxy Witness switches back in distance here after running home for sixth behind Beautyverse over 1600m on the turf on 6 November. The four-year-old has won over sprint distances early in his career and, if he doesn’t give the leading division too great a head-start, he is a place chance running home late.
Campione and Equaletta Blitz both displayed brilliant gate speed when drawing wide in the race won by Oriental Smoke on the turf here on 20 November. They have drawn closer to the rail this time and should set a fast early pace as they fight for the lead.
Campione is building a good record on the AWT having won twice from three starts, and I rate him a place chance for 10lb claiming apprentice Angus Chung who rode him for the first time at his last start.
Hugh Bowman takes the ride on Majestic Star for Danny Shum and he should be able to sit just off the speed from gate one. Beaten for early pace at Happy Valley last start, Majestic Star stayed on in the straight when fourth to Rewarding Together. He has won twice at this course and distance and I make him a win and place chance if he can find clear running in the straight.
Super Win Dragon has been a revelation over the last six months, racing five times on the AWT at this trip, winning three and runner up in the other two. He was incredibly impressive under a brilliant Vincent Ho ride last start when held up for clear running in the straight, before driving through on the rails to win running away from Call Me Teddy.
Matthew Chadwick takes the ride for trainer Chris So here and, despite the rise in grade, from a perfect draw in gate five, I also make him a win and place chance in a race where other runners like Power Koepp and Apache Pass also come to the race in good form.
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