The 2023/24 Hong Kong season is only four meetings and 36 races old, but there are already exciting trends emerging – and confirmation of the quality of the city’s world-class racing.
Hugh Bowman has started the season in supreme form with nine wins, including two trebles across the last two meetings, to lead the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship from six-time champion Zac Purton (five wins), Karis Teetan (four), Angus Chung (three) and Luke Ferraris (three).
While the season is still in its formative stages, Hugh’s blinding start is evidence of the Australian’s intent, confidence and fitness. At 43, Hugh remains among the best riders in the world and, as a previous winner of the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey award, Hugh’s class is unquestioned.
His six winners across the past two fixtures have contained a trademark mix of patience, strength and skill. Zac will undoubtedly react with typical competitiveness and professionalism to Hugh’s excellent start, while Karis is always a formidable competitor.
One of the most encouraging aspects this season has been the efforts of our younger riders including Angus, Luke, Ellis Wong and Jerry Chau to make the most of their opportunities.
From the perspective of exciting equine talent, HELENE FEELING produced an outstanding win at Class 2 level at Happy Valley on Wednesday (20 September). Still only a three-year-old, HELENE FEELING showed telling courage and class with his win over 1650m to collect a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million as well as prizemoney of HK$1,747,200.
Starting from barrier 11 under Karis, HELENE FEELING was three-wide leaving the home straight and initially had few favours in the run but, even with only 117lb, his effort to race away from proven Happy Valley performers such as NEARLY FINE and horses rated as high as 100 showed he will be a leading BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) contender in March.
Danny Shum has shown with ROMANTIC WARRIOR that he understands the process of nurturing exceptional talents and it will be fascinating to watch HELENE FEELING’s progress over the rest of the season.
The first Group race of the Hong Kong season is always a momentous time and the G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) is carded as Race 3 at 2pm, with prizemoney of HK$4.2 million.
The pace in the race will be good to slow with the likely leader HEALTHY HAPPY. CIRCUIT STELLAR and ENCOUNTERED will be in the leading division ahead of BEAUTY JOY and THE GOLDEN SCENERY with STRAIGHT ARRON at the back.
CIRCUIT STELLAR was a model of consistency last season and ran twice at G3 level, finishing second both times to rising star BEAUTY ETERNAL. CIRCUIT STELLAR ran on the final day meeting when runner-up to ENCOUNTERED over 1600m when they made the run together in the straight with a neck between them at the finish. Zac Purton takes the ride and will have CIRCUIT STELLAR stalking the speed and he is my first choice as a win and place chance.
HEALTHY HAPPY was runner-up in this race last year to CALIFORNIA SPANGLE, who led and controlled the race from the front. Alexis Badel will be hoping to do the same this year on HEALTHY HAPPY and he should get an easy lead from gate one. HEALTHY HAPPY has been in Conghua and trialled well there last week and is a place chance.
BEAUTY JOY, who will be ridden by Hugh Bowman, is a win and place chance, too, despite being the top weight with 135 pounds.
STRAIGHT ARRON made significant improvement last season as well as producing an excellent trial at Happy Valley recently but in a 1400m race run at a good to slow pace, he will likely not have the ability to run as fast last sectionals over this distance compared to horses like BEAUTY JOY and CIRCUIT STELLAR, who can clock 21.71s or 21.72s for the last 400m, respectively, and who are also distance specialists.
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