For owners with ambitions of Four-Year-Old Classic Series success, the early stages of January are filled with dreams and aspirations. With HK$48 million spread across the three-race series – and also opportunities to land significant PPG and PP Bonuses – 2023 offers plenty of lucrative opportunities for the Classic generation.
At Sha Tin on Sunday, the pecking order for the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 29 January will become clearer with several contenders in action on what looks to be a fantastic day of racing.
The G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1000m) is clearly the headline event at the weekend with seven horses from last month’s memorable G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) engaged, including three of the first four behind Wellington that day – Sight Success, Sky Field and Courier Wonder.
While these proven speedsters clash with upcoming horses such as Nervous Witness, Cordyceps Six and Campione over the five-furlong straight course, the Four-Year-Old Classic Series looms large across today’s card with horses including Sweet Encounter, Bon’s A Pearla, Viva Chaleur and Nordic Dragon engaged.
It is only three weeks now until the Hong Kong Classic Mile and the scramble is on for places in a race claimed over the past 10 years by truly outstanding horses such as Romantic Warrior, Golden Sixty, Rapper Dragon, Able Friend and Gold-Fun.
In a reflection of the impact of the revamped prize money and bonus schemes introduced this season, a total of 22 horses will run for PPG, PP or Top-Up Bonuses this weekend, bidding to join the 22 horses whose connections have earned HK$22 million in bonuses so far this term.
Resilience has been a recurring theme in Hong Kong since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the city in 2020 and this quality has never been more valuable than over the past three years. Ruan Maia has diligently gone about his business since arriving from Singapore in 2021, riding 21 winners in his first full season.
Things have been quieter this season with a number of minor placings out-numbering victories but it was encouraging to see the Brazilian return to the winners’ list on Wednesday night for his first success in two months as another example of reward for persistence. Similarly, Alexis Badel has shown determination and resilience and worked hard to be back riding on Sunday with some leading chances after recovering from injury.
At Sha Tin on Sunday, the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap is carded as Race 9 at 4:35pm, run down the straight 1000m course for prize money of HK$3,900,000. It draws together an outstanding field of high-class short course sprinters, including half of the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) field from 11 December. Sight Success, Sky Field and Courier Wonder chased home Wellington that day finishing second, third and fourth, respectively, and they are joined here by last year’s winner of this race in Master Eight in an exceptionally strong renewal of the event.
The pace of the race will be very fast from the jump with Nervous Witness, who has drawn gate two, likely to be the leader on the far side, with Sight Success and Kurpany the leaders on the grandstand side. Campione, who has drawn gate five, is also likely to be up on speed in the early going.
Nervous Witness makes his return to racing and has an outstanding record over the course and distance. He spent an extended period at Conghua recovering from colic surgery after his last run in July and was very impressive in winning a trial at Happy Valley on 23 December. His body weight is still a little high, but he is a distance specialist. Derek Leung takes the ride for David Hayes and I make him a place chance under the handicap conditions of the race.
Super Wealthy is the second of three runners for David Hayes and has an outstanding record down the straight course, winning at three of four attempts. He has won the last two National Day Cups, breaking 55s to win last year and this year beat Cordyceps Six by a neck on 1 October. Super Wealthy has drawn well in gate nine and is a win and place chance with Luke Currie aboard.
Sight Success comes to the race after a career-best performance in beating all but Wellington in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint when he sat outside the leader before taking the front at the 600m mark and fighting strongly in the straight. Vagner Borges takes the ride and Sight Success is a place chance from his draw on the near-side rail.
Alexis Badel makes a welcome return to race riding and Cordyceps Six is a also win and place chance. He has an awkward draw on the far side to overcome, but the Richard Gibson-trained sprinter was excellent when second to Super Wealthy in the National Day Cup over the straight course back on 1 October and ran well when seventh in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint.
There are a number of other genuine chances, including Sky Field who will be running home strongly for Hugh Bowman, and Courier Wonder, who returned to his best form when fourth behind Wellington last month and will be ridden by Zac Purton, in what is an exciting edition of the race for fans trackside and watching around the world to enjoy.
The Lung Fu Shan Handicap, which is a restricted race for four-year-olds with a rating band from 85 to 60 over 1600m as a pathway to the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, has got a very good response from owners and trainers with a full field.
While Sweet Encounter, as a four-time winner from five starts and to be ridden by Zac Purton under the top weight of 135lb, is a very good chance, he will face some upcoming horses, especially some PPs who, besides the prize money, could also earn a HK$1 million Bonus for winning.
I like Viva Chaleur, under Hugh Bowman, who is already Group 1-placed in France as a two-year-old and at his last start was blocked for a run and the step in distance to 1600m should be an advantage.
The four-year-old filly Bon’s A Pearla, with Silvestre de Sousa on board, was Group 1-placed in Australia over 1600m and caught my eye when finishing fourth in her last start under top weight. Another horse to watch is Majestic Colour, with Karis Teetan, who finished third on his debut in Class 3 and is already a Group 3 winner in Australia.
Another route to the Hong Kong Classic Mile has been chosen by Hong Kong International Sales graduate Nordic Dragon, who has been very impressive in winning his two Happy Valley starts over 1200m. He has gone up 19 points in the ratings and runs for the first time at Sha Tin in the Class 3 Tsz Wan Shan Handicap over 1400m and is, despite drawing gate 12, a horse to follow under the in-form Vincent Ho.
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