A phenomenal success in terms of world-class racing, race-track ambience and global promotion of our city, the 2022 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) last Sunday capped one of the most successful
weeks in Hong Kong racing history.
The electric on-course atmosphere at Sha Tin was confirmation of Hong Kong’s deep connection with horseracing as international visitors returned and, on the track, we were privileged to witness a string of outstanding performances to appropriately crown a seven-day celebration of elite horseracing.
Hong Kong’s effort to provide three of the four G1 winners from a horse population of only 1,250 – 0.8 percent of the world’s horse population – with Wellington (LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint), California Spangle (Hong
Kong Mile) and Romantic Warrior (Hong Kong Cup) – is an outstanding endorsement of the commitment and expertise our owners, trainers and stable staff.
The support of international owners, trainers and jockeys was an integral part of Sunday’s success and we again saw the strength of Japan’s stayers with Win Marilyn’s magnificent Hong Kong LONGINES Hong Kong Vase triumph for Takahisa Tezuka and Damian Lane.
Win Marilyn delivered Japan’s fourth win in the Vase in the past seven editions and third in the past four years.
To succeed on the international stage, in any sport, is an incredible achievement and Wellington vindicated Richard Gibson’s faith after overcoming lameness issues to win his fourth Group 1 and, as we again sympathise with the injured Alexis Badel, Ryan Moore again delivered a masterly ride with a typically clinical and patient ride.
Pitted against rivals from Singapore and Japan, Wellington led home a Hong Kong first four – with Sight Success, Sky Field and Courier Wonder next across the line – a reminder of the strength of Hong Kong’s sprinting ranks.
It was always going to take a massive effort to halt Golden Sixty’s quest for a third Hong Kong Mile and Tony Cruz and Zac Purton were able to deliver – albeit narrowly – with California Spangle. With nine wins from 1000m to 1800m, California Spangle is not only one of our most versatile and talented horses, but he is also part of our latest ‘Golden Generation.’
He is the only horse to defeat Romantic Warrior and was himself beaten by only a head in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and, such is his quality, Tony could conceivably set him for any top race from 1200m to 2000m.
Golden Sixty showed again what a champion he is in defeat, courageously willing himself under Vincent Ho into the contest to draw within a neck of California Spangle on the line.
Romantic Warrior produced the best 2000m performance I have seen for a long time against world-class competition, winning by four and a half lengths with an absolutely dominant display under James McDonald.
We are extremely proud of Romantic Warrior’s achievements under Danny Shum. Already the first Hong Kong International Sale Graduate to win the BMW Hong Kong Derby, Romantic Warrior continued a meteoric rise by winning his second Group 1 on Sunday, having had a somewhat unorthodox preparation for the race.
Originally selected for the Club by Michael Kinane and educated in the UK by Brian Meehan, Romantic Warrior has now won nine of 10 starts, taking his career earnings to more than HK$62 million and, after rising to 130 in the handicaps, now shares Hong Kong’s highest rating with Golden Sixty – one point ahead of California Spangle (129) with Wellington next on 128.
With so little between Golden Sixty (124), Romantic Warrior (124) and California Spangle (123) in the provisional international ratings, which are yet to be finalised by the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee, I am excited at the prospect of the potential clash of the three Hong Kong titans in the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on 29 January.
As magnificent as the racing action was on Sunday, last week also allowed us to again welcome the global racing community back to Hong Kong with meetings of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, Asian Racing Federation and International Horse Sports Confederation.
We also hosted a spectacular Gala Dinner and staged an incredible and dramatic LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley last Wednesday, which was a key part of our “Celebration of Champions” theme.
As CEO, I am extremely proud of the planning, organisation and implementation of an incredible number of tasks and initiatives by Club staff to ensure the success of the entire week. None of this would have been possible without the support of the Hong Kong Government and the entire racing community and I am especially grateful for the contributions of a wide range of people.
At Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the Tern Handicap for Class 3 horses over 1200m is carded as Race 9 at 10:50pm.
The pace should be good in the race with both Naboo Legend and California Cible likely to go forward from outside gates and newcomer Gummy Gummy should also be prominent from his rails draw.
Naboo Legend raced on speed when making his Hong Kong debut and faded to finish ninth behind Happy Sharing on this distance on 1 October. He has since spent time at Conghua and trialled well at Happy Valley on 26 November and can improve sharply on his debut effort.
Beauty Tycoon was able to get a perfect trail one off the fence when coming away for an easy win on 23 November to continue his good form. He is drawn well in gate two and Zac Purton should again be able to stalk the speed and Beauty Tycoon is my win and place chance.
Igniting was caught three-wide in the race won by Beauty Tycoon, when he worked hard throughout and battled on strongly to finish third beaten two lengths from the winner. He has drawn wide again here but if Matthew Poon can find cover Igniting is a place chance.
Jumbo Legend was caught on the rails and couldn’t get clear room early enough in the straight when flashing home to finish a close third to Power Koepp on 23 November when making the rise to Class 3. He is drawn gate three here and if Vincent Ho can get him into clear space at the top of the straight, he is the main danger to Beautiful Tycoon.
Cobhfield, Our Lucky Glory and Smart Idea are horses racing well and have drawn well. They have place claims in a race where there are a number of horses with a place chance outside the two favoured runners.
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