Christmas is a time for celebration and reflection and, as 2023 approaches, we are in the fortunate position to be able to look back with pride and satisfaction at the achievements of Hong Kong racing over the past year.
Frankie Lor’s effort to win the 2021/22 Hong Kong trainers’ championship served as an inspiring reminder of what is possible for talented and dedicated operators, while Zac Purton’s feat to clinch a fifth jockey’s championship after a gripping battle with Joao Moreira was another example of a relentless commitment.
The 2022/23 season has been no less compelling across the first 29 meetings, with the extraordinary success of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and the victories of Romantic Warrior, California Spangle and Wellington – as well as Win Marilyn’s excellent performance for Japan.
I am grateful for the trust and support of the Hong Kong Government and the unstinting professionalism of our trainers, jockeys and Club staff to allow Hong Kong racing to continue – and to thrive.
As we celebrate the towering feats so far of 2022, our focus must always be on the future and Nordic Dragon shapes as an exciting young horse with clear Four-Year-Old Classic Series potential after his impressive win at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (21 December).
It is certainly early in Nordic Dragon’s career but his effort to overcome older horses while handling the rise to Class 3 was certainly impressive. He has risen 19 points in the handicaps to 71 in two starts, while also earning HK$2.5 million in prize money including an ISG bonus of HK$1 million, and Danny Shum will certainly approach the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on 29 January with understandable optimism.
The Four-Year-Old Classic Series picture will become much clearer, starting on Saturday (24 December) at Sha Tin where the Poinsettia Handicap is carded as Race 10 at 5:45pm for Class 2 horses over 1600m. The race is an early Christmas present for racing fans featuring an exciting clash between a trio of outstanding young horses in Keefy, Packing Treadmill and Beautyverse, all leading chances in the Four-Year-Old Classic Series which commences with the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 29 January.
The pace in Saturday’s race should be good with The Rock likely to lead from gate seven and All For St Paul’s also taking up a position on speed from gate four.
Packing Treadmill has drawn the rails and will be close to the leaders at the top of the straight. He went forward when there was no early pace to sit outside the leader and dashed clear in the straight to easily beat King Land over 1400m on 27 November. Hugh Bowman takes the ride and, despite stepping up to 1600m for the first time, Packing Treadmill should get an economical run behind the speed and I make him a win and place chance with clear running in the straight.
Keefy was totally dominant stalking the speed and sprinting quickly down the middle of the track when coming away for a big win in the Chevalier Cup Handicap (1600m) on 27 November. Although drawn awkwardly in gate 13, Derek Leung will look to have him one off the fence in the first half of the field. I make him a place chance, up in weight and from the wide draw.
Beautyverse made a positive impression on debut winning over 1600m on 6 November when setting the pace. At his next run, he was posted wide early and as a result went forward to sit outside the leader, but was left flat-footed at the top of the straight when seventh to Keefy. It will be interesting to see if Zac Purton goes forward to have Beautyverse in a controlling position on the speed here from his perfect draw or if he reverts to the running style he had in Australia, coming from further back in the field. In my view, he will further improve going up in distance but on his class, Beautyverse is a place chance.
Savaquin, All For St Paul’s and Celestial Power are all racing in good form and should be considered around the leading chances. Find My Love, who was second in a Group 3 over 1400m at Royal Ascot in June, is another heading to the Four-Year-Old Classic Series and he can show improvement on his debut effort on the evidence of an impressive winning trial on 13 December.
The G1 Arima Kinen (2500m), which is run at 2.25pm as the feature of our simulcast meeting from Nakayama Racecourse on Sunday, 25 December, is Japan’s most popular race where racing fans vote their favourite horse into the field and this year’s top vote-getter is Titleholder. The last two winners of the race, Chrono Genesis and Efforia, were also the most popular with voters.
Efforia runs again in 2022 but has finished unplaced at his two starts this year as a beaten favourite and has not raced since finishing sixth to Titleholder back in June.
Titleholder’s usual racing pattern is from the front and he will ensure the race is run at a solid speed throughout. He won the Tenno Sho (Spring) and Takarazuka Kinen earlier in the year before again leading and fading on heavy ground in the Arc de Triomphe. I make him a place chance.
The three-year-old division this year is very strong and the age group has won five of the last 11 editions of the race. Boldog Hos and Justin Palace come to the race after finishing second and third, respectively, in the Japanese St Leger. Tom Marquand takes over as Justin Palace’s rider and I make him a place chance.
The other three-year-old is Equinox who finished too strongly for Panthalassa and Danon Beluga in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) at his last start. Christophe Lemaire won this race in 2005 on Heart’s Cry and again in 2016 on Satono Diamond and Equinox is a place chance.
Vela Azul was brilliant winning the Japan Cup under a masterful ride by Ryan Moore on 27 November, dashing through a gap near the rail to beat Shahryar. Kohei Matsuyama rides here and drawn well in gate six, Vela Azul is a place chance.
Females have a strong record in the race winning two of the last three years. Before that, champion mare Gentildonna won the race in 2014 and her daughter Geraldina is a leading chance this year.
At her last start Geraldina won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup racing away from Win Marilyn, who was subsequently a brilliant winner of the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin on 11 December. Her rider Cristian Demuro will attempt to emulate his brother Mirco, who won the race on Victoire Pisa in 2010. Geraldina has drawn to get the run of the race and she is a win and place chance.
I hope everyone enjoys the wonderful weekend racing and, in closing, I would like to wish all our customers, staff and supporters a very happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas.
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