As we reflect on the highlights so far of an already spectacular season, it is clear we are experiencing a fantastic phase in Hong Kong racing.
The success in December of LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) resonated globally with the performances of champion horses, jockeys and trainers and was particularly satisfying as part of the relaunch of our incredible city.
From a racing perspective, the feats of Win Marilyn, California Spangle, Wellington and Romantic Warrior in December attracted international acclaim and validation, which was reflected in both the 2022 LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings and the LONGINES Top 100 G1 races.
Golden Sixty did not figure in the winners’ list at 2022 HKIR but, in finishing second to California Spangle in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, he played a pivotal role in helping the race achieve a rating of 120.25 – the highest of any race run in Hong Kong last year.
Last Sunday, when confronted by the two world-class – and younger – contenders to his throne, Golden Sixty produced one of his greatest career performances in defeating Romantic Warrior and California Spangle in the G1 Stewards’ Cup. I am confident this race will be regarded at the end of 2023 as one of the highest-rated mile races in the world.
It was fantastic that a healthy crowd was on hand at Sha Tin to watch one of the most important victories of Golden Sixty’s glittering career and, for me, his latest performance maintains his position as the global benchmark over a mile.
Vincent Ho’s ride was first-class and his patience in waiting on Golden Sixty for the run between Romantic Warrior and California Spangle was decisive in a race which lived up to expectations with a relatively small margin covering the first three horses.
It is fantastic to see Golden Sixty at his very best as one of the best milers in the world and naturally many people around the world would like to see him showing his talent outside of Hong Kong.
Going to Dubai with seven or eight hours in travel, settling into a completely new environment from trackwork to raceday, when horses have to be in the pre-parade ring an hour before the race and then coming into a noisy parade ring with many racing connections in it, requires a horse who is very mentally composed.
Golden Sixty has some nervous energy which could lead to him playing up being in a different environment, especially when it is hot and humid and running in Dubai in late March means likely missing FWD Champions Day because from past experiences it is not easy to back up at the end of April after another eight-hour trip.
It is a very difficult decision for the owner and trainer to weigh up the benefits and risk with Golden Sixty being a seven-year-old, who has not travelled on a plane since when he came to Hong Kong in 2017.
There is also the additional challenge of Golden Sixty going left-handed for the first time, plus stretching to 1800m with a long straight adds to the task.
The best age to look at running in overseas races, in my opinion, is when they are five and six-year-olds.
On Sunday, following on so quickly from the tremendous success of the Chinese New Year meeting, where we had attendance of 84,394 and stunning turnover, we able to again showcase Hong Kong racing to the world not just with the battle of our “Three Titans”, but also through the winning deeds of visiting jockeys Ryan Moore, Jamie Kah and James McDonald.
Jamie’s ride on Voyage Bubble, as part of a double, to win the Hong Kong Classic Mile was further evidence of her talent and skill, Ryan’s quality also shone through with a double while James showed why he last year won the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey award with his winning display on first-starter Happy For All.
With the relaxed travel restrictions into Hong Kong now, I look forward to welcoming top international jockeys back to our city on a regular basis.
Last Sunday’s meeting marked the final meeting as Chief Stipendiary Steward of Kim Kelly, who has served the Club with distinction since 2002.
Kim has been a beacon on the international stage for decades and his amazing contribution to racing integrity has been highly valued. Respected in every racing jurisdiction for his leadership and authenticity, Kim will be missed in Hong Kong.
Kim has done an outstanding job in upholding integrity, fairness and safety in Hong Kong racing and he is the longest-serving Chief Stipendiary Steward in Hong Kong racing history.
I wish Kim the very best as he returns to Australia and express my confidence in Marc Van Gestel, who replaces Kim with the support of Terry Bailey, Gerard Bush, Ken Kwok and Justin Ho.
At Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the first section of the Tin Lok Handicap for Class 3 horses over 1200m is carded as Race 9 at 10:50pm with prizemoney of $1,725,000. Excellent Peers is one of the leading chances in the race and can take the lead in the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge if he can claim victory.
The pace in the race will be good with Valiant Elegance from gate five and Bundle Of Charm drawn ten, both likely to go forward. Outgate, a four-time winner over 1400m and further in Great Britain, makes his Hong Kong debut here for trainer Tony Cruz. Outgate has shown good gate speed in winning both his recent trials and will also contest the lead from gate nine with Angus Chung aboard and can run well on debut.
Vincent Ho and Francis Lui combined to win the Stewards’ Cup on Sunday with Golden Sixty and they combine here with Gold Gold Baby, who has been a revelation this season winning four of his five starts, storming home from near last along the rails to win running away from Beauty Charge over this trip on 4 January. Gold Gold Baby has an inside draw again and if he can find clear air in the straight, I make him a win and place chance.
Excellent Peers has also been in superb form with his past eight starts at this trip at Happy Valley, delivering four wins and runner-up at the other four. At his last start on 21 December, he got further back than usual and ran home to beat all but Nordic Dragon. Zac Purton takes the ride for the first time this season and, despite the wide draw and carrying top weight, Excellent Peers is a place chance.
Armour Eagle was a long-priced winner last start when he went back from a wide gate but ran home strongly to beat Howdeepisyourlove. Lyle Hewitson takes the ride and he should have Armour Eagle closer to the lead than last run from an inside gate. I make him a place chance.
Winning Icey won his first two starts this season over this course and distance. He was disappointing when under pressure on straightening and one paced in the run to the line finishing sixth to Nordic Dragon on 21 December. He will have benefitted from time at Conghua since then and had an easy trial at Happy Valley on Saturday. Winning Icey is a place chance despite his wide gate.
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