The outstanding quality of Hong Kong’s elite horses is amply reflected in the latest LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings with four of our horses – Golden Sixty (125), Lucky Sweynesse (124), Romantic Warrior (123) and California Spangle (122) – featuring among the top six.
With a population of only 1,250 racehorses, it is a truly remarkable achievement that Hong Kong has two of the top three horses in the world with Golden Sixty ranked second and Lucky Sweynesse third behind Japanese superstar Equinox (129).
Further complementing Hong Kong’s presence are Romantic Warrior, who is fifth, and California Spangle, who is equal sixth. The spectacular G1 victories of Golden Sixty, Lucky Sweynesse and Romantic Warrior at last month’s FWD Champions Day were pivotal in the rankings committee’s assessments.
With Lucky Sweynesse hitting a career-high mark, Golden Sixty and Romantic Warrior were able to maintain their stellar levels in a telling validation of the high calibre of Hong Kong’s racing across three divisions – sprint, mile and 2000m.
Uncompromising integrity is of paramount importance to Hong Kong racing, its participants and our customers. Accordingly, the Club devotes significant resources to ensure the highest integrity standards are observed.
On Friday, Stewards conducted an inquiry into the conduct of licensed Club jockeys Vagner Borges and Silvestre de Sousa following a report from the Club’s Department of Racing Integrity and Betting Analysis.
In deciding the matter of penalty against Jockey Borges (12 months disqualification) and Jockey de Sousa (10 months disqualification), the stewards took into consideration that it is fundamental to the integrity of racing that jockeys are not permitted to bet or have an interest in a bet.
As both jockeys have until Monday (15 May) to appeal, the Club will not make any further comment.
The signing this week of a Memorandum of Understanding to provide technical support for the equestrian events at the upcoming 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou is another important example of the Club’s commitment to equine development on the Mainland.
The Club is honoured to be invited by the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Organising Committee (HAGOC) and the Hangzhou Municipal Government to provide technical support for the equestrian events at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
As one of the largest equine organisations in the world, the Club is dedicated to a sole purpose – the betterment of society – and with our internationally renowned expertise and experience, we believe we can make a significant contribution to one of the most important international sporting events to be held in China.
The Club’s contributions will include providing advice in areas such as biosecurity, venue operations, horse transportation, stable management, veterinary and farriery services and international stakeholder engagement.
At Sha Tin on Saturday, the Class 1 Hong Kong Macau Trophy Handicap (1400m) will be staged for the first time since 2019 following the removal of COVID restrictions and we welcome Macau entrants Star Of Yiu Cheung, Out To Win and Fifer.
Carded as Race 7 at 4.05pm, the pace should be good with Circuit Stellar, who has drawn gate three the likely leader. Both Star Of Yiu Cheung and Fifer race on speed and will be in the forward division with Keefy and Red Lion also likely to settle handy to the pace.
Beauty Eternal is an emerging talent who was narrowly beaten into third as favourite in the BMW Hong Kong Derby on 19 March. He switched back to 1400m at his only run since and dug deep to beat Circuit Stellar in the last few strides. It was a narrow but impressive victory and, ideally drawn in gate four, Beauty Eternal is my win and place selection for John Size and Zac Purton.
Circuit Stellar won two races on the bounce over this course and distance when leading recently. He had a strong kick at the 300m and fought on gamely to beat all but Beauty Eternal on 30 April. Circuit Stellar should get a relatively easy lead from the draw and is a place chance.
Fantastic Treasure is racing well without winning and, following consecutive runner-up performances, ran home well from back in the field to finish fourth to Beauty Eternal and Circuit Stellar at his last run and is a place chance.
Star Of Yiu Cheung, trained by Joe Lau, is Macau’s highest-rated horse and a winner of 15 races. He was slightly disappointing at his most recent start over 1200m on 12 March. Out To Win has finished in the top three at all of his eight starts this season, winning four. These two horses represent the best place chances for Macau.
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