The countdown to FWD Champions Day is well and truly underway and the stunning performance of Dubai Honour to win the G1 LONGINES Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick today illustrates the equine quality we can expect at Sha Tin for our 30 April showpiece meeting.
Immediately after Dubai Honour’s fantastic win under Tom Marquand at Randwick, where he defeated Australia’s premier middle-distance performer and nine-time G1 winner Anamoe, trainer William Haggas said he is very keen to travel to Hong Kong for the FWD G1 QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin in three weeks.
It was a privilege to be on-course in Sydney for the presentations to William and Dubai Honour’s representatives and it will be exciting to welcome back to Hong Kong this talented horse who, when the early stages of his career, showed his talent with a close fourth to Japanese champion Loves Only You in the 2021 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).
I had a long discussion with William and Tom and, besides confirmation that Dubai Honour is coming to Hong Kong, they both mentioned how much the horse has improved and they are looking forward to taking on Romantic Warrior and the armada of Japanese starters.
With successive G1 wins in Australia over the past three weeks, Dubai Honour has now advanced to a higher level and I look forward to seeing him back in action in Hong Kong for what shapes as a wonderful meeting with HK$65 million in prizemoney on offer across three G1 contests – the HK$20 million Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), HK$20 million FWD Champions Mile (1600m) and HK$25 million FWD QEII Cup (2000m).
At Sha Tin on Sunday, the build-up to FWD Champions Day continues with the G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) which is carded as race 8 at 4.05pm with prizemoney of HK$5 million.
In a clash of Hong Kong’s top sprinters, it looms as a two-horse race between Lucky Sweynesse and Wellington, who both carry 5lbs more than their five other rivals. The pace will be good with Whizz Kid the likely leader and Master Eight and Rewarding Together also pushing forward.
Wellington has drawn the rails and Alexis Badel will be keen to ensure he holds a forward position and able to get clear room early in the straight. Wellington won this race last year when coming from the back of the field and he is a place chance.
Lucky Sweynesse has announced himself on the world stage and posted an international rating of 123 when brilliantly winning the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on 19 March. He switches back to 1200m here, has a perfect draw in gate four and is my winning selection with Zac Purton aboard.
The other five runners look evenly matched with Courier Wonder racing well at the top level and Cordyceps Six coming back to the sprint trip after running over further at his last two runs. Master Eight ran third in this race last year but is not racing in the same form a year on.
The G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) is also a key race for horses with FWD Champions Day aspirations and is carded as race 9 at 4.40pm with prizemoney of HK$5 million.
The pace in the race should be set by California Spangle who has drawn gate two, unless Zac Purton takes a sit and surrenders the lead to Healthy Happy. Money Catcher has the outside gate and should push forward and race on speed.
California Spangle concedes 5lb to all his rivals but should be able to return to the winner’s list after being placed behind Golden Sixty in the G1 Steward’s Cup (1600m) and then runner-up to Lucky Sweynesse over 1400m at his last start. California Spangle is my win and place selection.
Beauty Joy was second to Beluga over 1400m last start when giving that horse 22lb in weight on 19 February. Beauty Joy has had a break since that run but comes back to the mile here, having run fourth in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) in December and with Hugh Bowman aboard is a place chance.
Waikuku continues to race well without threatening to win and was fifth behind Lucky Sweynesse and is a place chance, as are Money Catcher and Running Glory, who both are coming back in distance but will be suited by a fast pace if Healthy Happy goes to the front and runs the field along.
We also stage our first Griffin race of the year in a contest featuring well-bred young horses from Great Britain, Ireland, France, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. It is exciting for owners to have a young horse running for the first time and I wish all connections all the best for the future.
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