Talent identification and career development are key elements of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s approach to constantly enhancing a world-class horse-racing product.
In every way, the Club strives to excel and with that in mind, it continuously seeks to it continuously seeks to provide opportunities for ambitious, committed individuals to develop their talents in a variety of areas.
Cody Mo joined the Club in 1994 as a track rider before graduating in 2008 to become an assistant trainer. On Friday, Cody’s dedication and hard work were rewarded with the Licensing Committee’s decision to elevate him to a trainer in his own right.
After stints with David Hall, David Ferraris, Benno Yung and the legendary Tony Cruz, Cody has been given the opportunity to train against some of the very best trainers in the world and, given his work ethic and enthusiasm, I am confident he will perform well and I wish him all the best.
The Club’s simulcast programme has a Classics theme this weekend with the running of the Derby Stakes at Epsom and the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly on a weekend revered by racing purists.
First run in 1780, the G1 Derby Stakes at Epsom Racecourse is one of the most important races in European racing. It is carded as S1-2 and will be run at 8.30pm.
This year’s renewal is an open affair with pre-post favouritism held by Auguste Rodin for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. He also ran favourite in the 2000 Guineas (1600m) on 6 May but struck trouble early in the race and was well beaten behind Chaldean. Auguste Rodin now steps up to the distance of the Derby.
Frankie Dettori won the Guineas on Chaldean for John and Thady Gosden and they combine here with Arrest. The Frankel colt was very impressive when winning the G3 Chester Vase over this trip on 10 May by a big margin. Frankie is chasing his third Derby win and Arrest is my win and place selection.
Military Order is also by Frankel and unbeaten in two runs this year. William Buick got a dream run through on the rails when he won the Derby Trial at Lingfield on 13 May. Charlie Appleby won the Derby in 2018 and 2021 and Military Order is a place chance.
Waipiro raced on speed and fought on strongly to finish second at Lingfield. He races in the familiar colours of Hong Kong owner Sui Pak Kwan and is a half-brother to recently retired local star Waikuku. Waipiro will be ridden by Tom Marquand and is a place chance at big odds. I wish the connections the very best of luck in the race.
Another key lead up race was the G2 Dante Stakes at York on 18 May, won by The Foxes. White Birch stayed on strongly in that race from the back and Passenger looked unlucky and was closing well to dead-heat for third. Both White Birch and Passenger are place chances.
The G1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) will be run at Chantilly Racecourse on Sunday over 2100m and is carded as S2-1 at 10.05pm.
Marhaba Ya Sanafi was a surprise winner of the French 2000 Guineas on 14 May when he and runner-up Isaac Shelby came away in the concluding stages to finish clear of the rest of the field. Mickael Barzalona takes the ride and he is a place chance.
American Flag was the short-priced favourite in that race and stayed on from the back reasonably well to finish fourth. His previous form was very good and American Flag is a place chance for Stephane Pasquier who takes the ride for the first time.
Christophe Soumillon stays with unbeaten colt Feed The Flame who looked impressive beating lesser fields at Longchamp in April. Trainer Pascal Bary has won the race six times before and convinced connections this week to pay the supplementary entry fee for Feed The Flame to run. Soumillon is chasing his fifth win and I make Feed The Flame a place chance.
Big Rock comes to the race off impressive wins at G3 level and at his latest set the pace and won easily over 1800m at this track. That was on heavy ground but he has won on firmer going and Big Rock is a win and place chance.
Standing in the way of a French-trained victory are Continuous to be ridden by Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori’s mount Epictecus. Continuous was beaten for the first time when third in the Dante at York on 18 May and Epictecus was fifth in the same race. Both have place chances in the race.
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