Continuous development and the pursuit of excellence are key elements of the Club’s commitment to all of its activities, both in Hong Kong and the Mainland.
The signing this week of a Supplemental Framework Cooperation Agreement with the Chinese Equestrian Association (CEA) to fully promote strategic cooperation in speed racing and the equestrian industry until 2028 strengthens our ongoing partnership.
This enhanced collaboration with the CEA is evidence of the Club’s longstanding commitment to the country’s development and we look forward to working with the CEA to strengthen the national equine development, especially in the Greater Bay Area.
The construction of Conghua Racecourse is one of the most significant developments in the Mainland and its importance to Hong Kong has increased substantially since its establishment with its ability to accommodate Hong Kong horses in world-class surroundings for training, spelling and rehabilitation.
Conghua has also been instrumental in helping local talents develop professionally across a wide range of important activities, including equine care, trackwork duties and other vital logistical pursuits.
The Club’s major investment in Conghua’s horse training centre and racecourse is part of our major commitment to developing a world-class equine industry in the Greater Bay Area and, ultimately, we look forward to racing at Conghua in 2026 following the construction of a new grandstand.
On Friday evening, I had the pleasure of attending the 15th anniversary of the opening of the Club’s Beijing Clubhouse, which is the home-away-from-home for Hong Kong Members. It was a special occasion and I look forward to welcoming our Mainland members to Conghua in 2026.
Ellis Wong takes another important step in his young career when he has his first race ride in Hong Kong in the Carnation Plate (1000m) for Griffins aboard Kaholo Angel at Sha Tin on Sunday. At 22, Ellis is the latest young rider from the Club’s Racing Talent Training Centre to participate in a Hong Kong rider.
Ellis has recently returned from South Australia, where he gained invaluable experience by competing in more than 900 races, winning 88 of them.
Indentured to Caspar Fownes, who trains Kaholo Angel, Ellis bids to follow in the footsteps of several established home-grown jockeys such as Matthew Chadwick, Derek Leung and his role model, Vincent Ho. I wish Ellis the best of luck for his career in Hong Kong.
The feature race on Sunday at Sha Tin is the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap carded as Race 9 at 4.35pm. First held in 1982, the race is run under handicap conditions over 2400m and carries prizemoney of HK$3.9 million.
The speed in the race will be moderate with no natural leader in the field. Sword Point went forward early at his most recent start to set the pace and may find himself in front again from gate seven. Tourbillon Diamond has an outside draw and Derek Leung may go forward with him and Butterfield should be in the leading division on settling.
Sunday’s contest is an intriguing battle between established top-class stayers Russian Emperor, Senor Toba, Panfield and Butterfield and emerging four-year-old’s Straight Arron, Sword Point and Beautyverse who all competed in the BMW Hong Kong Derby in March.
The form coming out of the Derby is proving to be very strong. Straight Arron ran a luckless fifth in that race and was very impressive sprinting away from Sword Point over 1800m at his only run since on 23 April. Straight Arron extends beyond 2000m for the first time here but is a four-year-old of exceptional talent and with Vincent Ho riding again I make him a win and place chance with his light weight.
Russian Emperor won the G1 Champions and Chater Cup over this distance in 2022. He comes into the race after returning from an overseas campaign which saw him run three times, winning the H.H. The Amir Trophy in Dohar on 18 February before producing an excellent fifth in the G1 Jebel Hatta over 1800m at Meydan.
Russian Emperor ran below expectations in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic behind Equinox over 2400m on 25 March when he settled at the back of the field and failed to make ground in the run home. Since returning from overseas, Russian Emperor has had time at Conghua and looked good in a recent trial. Russian Emperor is a high-class stayer and despite giving weight to all his rivals under the handicap conditions is a win and place chance for Hugh Bowman.
Butterfield won this race in 2021 and was runner up to Senor Toba in last year’s edition. He was second to Running Glory over 2000m on 19 February when racing on pace and his last two runs have been over 1800m. Butterfield is racing consistently, has a good record at this distance and is a place chance for Lyle Hewitson with his light weight.
Panfield is another horse with a good record at the distance and was fourth to Romantic Warrior in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in December. He comes into this race off his run behind Golden Sixty over 2000m in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup on 26 February when fifth, beaten two and a half lengths, and is a place chance.
Senor Toba is the defending champion in this race but needs to find his best form after his overseas campaign in an excellent renewal of the staying feature that also includes other runners with claims including Running Glory, Tourbillon Diamond and Sword Point.
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