I had the opportunity this week to visit Conghua Racecourse with the Club’s Board of Stewards and it was a privilege to express my sincere thanks to the staff members who have made great personal sacrifices to help keep our operations going during COVID-19.
Conghua is a world-class facility, providing our Sha Tin-based trainers with the option of training and preparing horses in a wonderful environment in readiness for a competitive return to Hong Kong by using the excellent facilities available at Conghua to train and trial.
The ability to spell horses in Conghua’s pristine surroundings, along with the facilities available at the state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Centre, provides trainers with vital options and the confidence to know their horses are in the best of care.
COVID-19 meant that many of our team members involved in the transport, care and training of horses at Conghua were isolated from family and friends. The pandemic posed an incredible logistical challenge for the Club and, without the unstinting commitment of our staff, Conghua would not have been the success it remains.
The standard of training, veterinary and rehabilitation facilities and other services at Conghua are integral to the welfare and size of our horse population, while without Conghua we would not be in a position to undertake a comprehensive renovation of the Sha Tin stables complex from December, 2023, an operation expected to take six years.
From a racing perspective, Conghua’s contribution to Hong Kong can be measured in the championship-winning feats of Caspar Fownes in 2020/21 and Frankie Lor in 2021/2022 when both trainers excelled at producing winners directly from Conghua.
It is a similar tale this season with John Size leading the 2022/23 trainers’ championship on 48 wins with 16 of those coming from Conghua. 14 of Ricky Yiu’s 45 winners have emerged from Conghua, while Frankie has saddled 15 of his 43 winners out of Conghua.
We are extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful facility at our disposal and I look forward to its continued development.
With Easter looming, our focus returns on Thursday night to Happy Valley where the Primula Handicap is carded as Race 9 for Class 3 horses over 1200m at 10.50pm with prizemoney of HK$1,725,000.
The pace in the race will be good with lots of speed drawn in the middle gates with Valiant Elegance, Harmony N Blessed and Beauty Glory all going forward in search of the lead. Super Vince in gate five and Beauty Tycoon from gate two should be able to settle just behind the speed.
Beauty Tycoon has an excellent record at the course and distance having won twice this season and at his latest drew wide and fought on well for third to Speedy Mouse on 8 February. From his inside draw Beauty Tycoon should get a good run on a fast speed for Silvestre de Sousa and is a place chance.
Jamie Richards comes off a training double at Sha Tin last Sunday and is represented by Hoss, who is chasing a winning hat trick at the course and distance. Zac Purton gave Hoss a perfect run last start, when settling midfield in clear running and sprinting brilliantly in the straight to win impressively on 1 March. He has had his runs spaced and is a win and place chance from a perfect draw.
Winning Icey has been in terrific form and is a three-time winner at the course and distance. He was caught three wide, midfield and loomed up and hit the front in the straight before being swamped by Gold Gold Baby late when third on 8 March. Winning Icey is a place change again.
Super Vince won at his last start in Class 4 sitting behind the leader and holding on to beating E Universe. He drops in weight here with a rise in class, has drawn well in gate five and is a place chance for Karis Teetan.
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