The challenges involved in international competition are many and varied and there were obvious issues for Wellington in finishing 10th in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday.
The incident soon after the start which saw Ryan Moore suffer an accidental blow to the face was unfortunate but, for me, the greater problem for Wellington was his inexperience running up the straight.
The 1200m straight course at Royal Ascot is not easy and Wellington’s lack of familiarity with racing over straight courses told on the undulating course and, even though he made some ground late, he was not able to produce the finish we are accustomed to seeing at Sha Tin, where he has won his four Group 1s.
Overall, Royal Ascot was again a tremendous success and I would like to congratulate Aidan O’Brien on winning his 12th top trainers’ award and Ryan for winning the top jockey award for the 10th time. I would also like to congratulate Frankie Dettori for riding four winners during the week and finishing his last Royal Ascot meeting with a total of 81 wins.
Our simulcast programme continues on Sunday with the running of the G1 Takarazuka Kinen, which is run over 2000m at Hanshin Racecourse at 2.40pm and is carded as S2-1.
Equinox is the highest-rated horse in the world on 129 and, despite meeting a big field full of class horses, will start an overwhelming favourite.
The pace will be strong throughout with the race run on the inner course at Hanshin with a relatively short final straight.
Equinox got his high mark from his dominant victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March, setting a new track record when easily beating Westover. The son of Kitasan Black finished 2022 with wins in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Arima Kinen and searches for his fourth win on end here. Equinox will race for the first time at Hanshin, but Christophe Lemaire should have him in a striking position from gate five and he is my win selection.
Danon The Kid and Geraldina both return to racing after finishing unplaced in the FWD QE II Cup behind Romantic Warrior. Both horses were in good form before that and have place claims.
The strongest test for Equinox may come from Justin Palace who comes back in trip off his comfortable victory in the Tenno Sho (Spring) over 3200m on April 30 when he easily beat Deep Bond. At his previous start, Justin Palace won the Hanshin Daishoten in March and has a good record at the track. He is a place chance.
Deep Bond was brave behind Justin Palace and has a fantastic record at Hanshin as a two-time winner of the Hanshin Daishoten and runner up twice in the Tenno Sho (Spring) when run at the track. Deep Bond is also a place chance.
At Sha Tin the G3 Premier Cup Handicap is carded as Race 3 at 5pm, over 1400m for prizemoney of HK$3,900,000.
Small fields can sometimes lead to slowly-run races but there should be genuine speed here with Kurpany and Healthy Happy likely to contest the front and Circuit Stellar also in the leading division. Beauty Eternal should be in a commanding position for Zac Purton from his rails draw, with Beauty Joy and Red Lion the last pair.
Red Lion has been very impressive winning his last two starts, beating Beauty Eternal and Circuit Stellar easily on 13 May and then running home strongly from the back of the field on the final turn to beat Erimo on 28 May. Red Lion meets Beauty Eternal and Circuit Stellar worse at the weights from when they last met but is an emerging talent and is my win selection for Alexis Badel.
Beauty Eternal posted his sixth win of the season when getting a perfect run, third one off the fence and finishing too well for Circuit Stellar and Beauty Joy in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy on 4 June. Beauty Eternal comes back to the 1400m here and is the hardest for Red Lion to beat.
Circuit Stellar is racing in good form, Beauty Joy won this race last year and made good ground late when third to Beauty Eternal on 4 June and both have place chances.
The G3 Premier Plate is carded as Race 7 at 7.05pm and is run over 1800m for prizemoney of HK$3,900,000.
The pace in the race will be moderate with Packing Award likely to take up the front. Panfield and Tourbillon Diamond should also settle in the first half of the field.
Tuchel has finished in the top four at his past 12 starts. He finished strongly to beat Flaming Rabbit over 1600m on 21 May and then was slightly disappointing when he wasn’t able to run down the leading pair, Bourbonaire and All for St Paul’s as favourite over this trip last start. Zac Purton should have him in a striking position from his draw and Tuchel drops significantly in weight from his past two runs. He is my win and place selection.
Spirited Express was a narrow winner over 1600m three starts back, beating Amazing Victory and at his most recent start settled in the second half of the field from a wide gate and closed well late to be fourth to Tuchel over 1600m on 21 May. Spirited Express has a light weight and is a place chance.
Panfield has yet to finish top three in seven starts this season, all at Group level, but has been competitive with fourth in the Hong Kong Vase and fifth in the Hong Kong Gold Cup beaten less than three lengths in both races. At his last run he settled just behind the speed and stayed on in the last 100m to finish sixth to Russian Emperor in the Champions and Chater Cup over 2400m, again not beaten far from the winner. Panfield looks well suited here and is a place chance for Karis Teetan.
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