With little more than seven weeks until the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (LONGINES HKIR) at Sha Tin on 10 December, I am delighted with the quality of entries for our showpiece meeting.
The importance of international racing to Hong Kong remains a key part of the Club’s operations and also our branding as a global racing entity. As such, it is fantastic that LONGINES HKIR has again been strongly supported by both overseas and local owners and trainers.
After the stunning success of the 2022 LONGINES HKIR, we have set a high bar but, with the support of our overseas friends who are once again sending champion horses to Hong Kong to duel with the best of our gallopers in the four Group 1s, which offer a combined record HK$118 million in prize money, we are confident of another highly successful meeting.
Entries for the four Group 1 races – the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$32 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) – feature 55 individual Group 1 winners and, of the 189 nominations, 68 are from Japan.
Outstanding horses from four different regions – Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia – highlight a decorated entry list with the nominations of GOLDEN SIXTY, ROMANTIC WARRIOR, LIBERTY ISLAND, PADDINGTON, MR BRIGHTSIDE, HIGHFIELD PRINCESS, LUCKY SWEYNESSE, WELLINGTON and RUSSIAN EMPEROR.
The depth and quality of the entries is a testament to the hard work of our international racing team in attracting the interest of ambitious overseas and local racing figures and LONGINES HKIR again shapes as a spectacular event. I take this opportunity to wish all entrants the best of luck.
Reflecting on last Sunday’s Hong Kong China’s Asian Games Medallists Celebration Raceday, it was a great event which was highly praised by the participating athletes and HKSAR Government officials.
The day presented not only a chance for Hong Kong’s public to pay homage to the city’s wonderful athletes, but it was also allowed multiple stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the beauty of the thoroughbred as well as our world-class jockeys and their athletic prowess.
I would like to congratulate Brenton Avdulla on his wonderful ride on SIGHT SUCCESS in winning the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) for John Size, defeating Hong Kong’s reigning Champion Sprinter LUCKY SWEYNESSE. Brenton’s tactical execution allowed SIGHT SUCCESS, with 121lb, to narrowly defeat LUCKY SWEYNESSE (135lb), who shifted ground late under pressure.
It was also great to watch Keagan De Melo ride his first double in Hong Kong on a day when eight different jockeys – Hugh Bowman (two), Karis Teetan, Andrea Atzeni, Harry Bentley, Jerry Chau, Lyle Hewitson, Brenton and Keagan – rode winners.
At Sha Tin on Wednesday night (25 October), the Class 2 Hebe Hill Handicap is run over 1650m for prizemoney of HK$3,120,000 at 10.15pm. The pace is expected to be good with natural front runner TELECOM FIGHTERS going forward from gate five. ALL FOR ST PAUL’S races on the speed and will be prominent from his rails draw, with YOUTHFUL DEAL and TRUE LEGEND also in the leading division.
HANDSOME TWELVE is a surface and distance specialist, winning three races last season and finishing runner-up on three other occasions. HANDSOME TWELVE settled back and ran home well behind THE GOLDEN SCENERY when resuming over 1400m on Turf on 10 September. He will have benefitted from his time at Conghua since that race and, having been placed in Class 2 over the course and distance, is my first choice as a win and place chance for Zac Purton.
ERIMO has won his past two starts on this surface and has been impressive in two recent trials in preparation for his seasonal debut. Alexis Badel should have ERIMO in a good position from gate six and, based on his form and pedigree as well as his trackwork, he is a place chance but he has to prove himself in Class 2.
YOUTHFUL DEAL has an outstanding record on this surface having won four of his six races but all over the sprint trip, including three on the bounce last season. While he is proven in Class 2 over 1200m, it is the first time YOUTHFUL DEAL extends to 1650m and his sire DEEP FIELD is an outright sprinter but YOUTHFUL DEAL has trialled well since his first-up run behind VICTOR THE WINNER on the turf and is a still place chance from his good draw.
This is a deep race with a number of runners having claims including CHANCHENG PRINCE and SPIRITED EXPRESS who will ride for luck from wide gates and RISE BRETHREN who, in contrast, has drawn well in gate three and has trialled well heading into this race.
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