The safeguarding of equine welfare and shifts in societal expectations are two of horseracing’s most important challenges and both issues will be thoroughly examined at the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities in Paris on Monday (2 October).
As racing purists celebrate the staging of Europe’s greatest race, the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and Hong Kong prepares for National Day Raceday at Sha Tin on Sunday, Monday’s conference is vitally important to our sport.
Organised by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), the conference will examine both immediate concerns and forward-looking initiatives to protect and promote equine welfare.
The wellbeing of equine athletes must always be at the forefront of the decisions we make and I look forward to sharing with the membership and key stakeholders the ways in which industry standards and practices are continuously enhanced, particularly through scientific advances in improving existing safeguards. The importance of our sport embracing an even more active role in public discourse on the issue and ensuring that our sport remains as a fully engaged and integral part of our communities cannot be understated.
The conference will also address several other topics, including horse racing’s position in an evolving society and strategies for equine sport to proactively respond to changing societal expectations and ways the sport can continue to support its equine athletes.
Experts from around the world will share their views on how best to protect the sport’s equine athletes and leaders from racing administration and veterinary science will share their perspectives and insights on this critical topic.
The conference will also focus on effective public engagement and response, particularly in relation to the issue of equine welfare and promises to provide fascinating insights into a crucial area of our sport.
While the weekend’s main racing focus is on Sunday, I will be keen to monitor the performance of my horse NOW WE KNOW, who runs in the Qatar Prix de la Place Concorde over 1600m at ParisLongchamp on Saturday.
NOW WE KNOW is trained by Nicolas Clement and will be ridden by Stephane Pasquier and with a win last season over 1800m at ParisLongchamp, I am hoping he will show his best form over a mile under handicap conditions.
At Sha Tin on Sunday, the National Day Cup Handicap is carded as Race 8 at 4.40pm. The Group Three contest is run over the straight 1000m course and carries prizemoney of HK$4.2 million.
The speed in the race will be good throughout with KURPANY setting the pace, with WHIZZ KID prominent and STOLTZ and SIGHT SUCCESS in the leading division.
KURPANY led throughout when resuming over this course and distance with a hard-fought win from WHIZZ KID and CARROLL STREET two weeks ago running 56.07s. KURPANY was ridden by apprentice Ellis Wong in that race and leading rider Vincent Ho takes the mount here. While KURPANY’s win took some by surprise, it was full of merit and he is a place chance.
STOLTZ is an impressive short course sprinter who sat just off the leaders before lifting under pressure to beat CARROLL STREET over this course and distance on 28 May, also posting a winning time of 56.07s. He went even quicker at Happy Valley when he easily beat KURPANY and WHIZZ KID at his latest run on 6 July. STOLTZ has spent time at Conghua since and looked good in a recent trial and is my win and place chance with Zac Purton aboard.
SIGHT SUCCESS represents the class in the race and, at his last run over the straight course, came down the grandstand rail under 133lb to beat REWARDING EFFORT and SKY FIELD in the Group Three Bauhinia Sprint on 8 January. SIGHT SUCCESS ran well in the Group One Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in March, finishing fourth as favourite. John Size has given SIGHT SUCCESS an extended stay in Conghua leading to his return to racing and is also a win and place chance for Hugh Bowman.
Of the other runners WHIZZ KID fought hard when resuming with a close second to KURPANY on 17 September and is a place chance along with REWARDING TOGETHER, who was a close second to SIGHT SUCCESS in the Bauhinia Sprint in January at his only run over the course and distance.
In Paris on Sunday night, the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be run over 2400m at 10.05pm and is carded as S1-3. The going is expected to be good.
The pace in the race early will only be moderate but will get stronger through the middle stages of the race. MR HOLLYWOOD will be one of the frontrunners with HAYA ZARK. PLACE DU CAROUSEL and FANTASTIC MOON will also settle near the front. Leading chances like HUKUM and WESTOVER will be in the first half of the field along with BAY BRIDGE and ACE IMPACT.
The three-year-old division this year looks particularly strong led by Prix du Jockey Club winner ACE IMPACT, who showed an impressive turn of foot to easily defeat BIG ROCK in the French Derby. His trainer Jean-Claude Rouget won the Arc for the first time in 2020 with SOTTSASS and ACE IMPACT is a win and place chance.
CONTINUOUS was equally impressive in winning the English St Leger at his most recent outing when he came from the back and won running away showing good acceleration at the end of the race. It is unusual for a St Leger winner to strike a blow in the Arc but with Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore combining I make CONTINUOUS a place chance.
FANTASIC MOON, the Deutsche Derby winner comes into the race off an easy win in the Prix Niel over this course and distance on 10 September, beating FEED THE FLAME. His rider Rene Piechulek won the race two years ago on TORQUATOR TASSO.
HUKUM as a six-year-old would become the oldest horse to win the race since 1932 if successful. He has won both his runs this year and fought hard to beat WESTOVER in the King George at Ascot on 29 July when they came away from the rest of the field. HUKUM is a place chance for Jim Crowley and trainer Owen Burrows.
WESTOVER was gallant in defeat behind HUKUM and at his previous run was a dominant winner at Saint Cloud. WESTOVER could manage only sixth in the Arc last year behind ALPINISTA on soft ground. WESTOVER should get better ground here given the forecast and is a win and place chance.
Japan continues its quest to win the Arc with THROUGH SEVEN SEAS. She was runner-up to the superstar EQUINOX in the Takarazuka Kinen in June and is a place chance.
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