With just over four weeks now until LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), there is building sense of anticipation as we rapidly approach the 10 December showpiece at Sha Tin with key results on four different continents over the past week.
In the US, the performance of WARM HEART to finish second behind INSPIRAL in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2000m) catapulted Aidan O’Brien’s filly deeper into calculations for the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) or the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
SHAHRAYAR ran brilliantly when third behind the outstanding AUGUSTE RODIN in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf (2400m), while WAR LIKE GODDESS’ is also being considered for the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase after finishing seventh in the same race.
SOULCOMBE, who finished second in the G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday (7 November), is also entered for LONGINES HKIR, while Andre Fabre has indicated the win of JUNKO in the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern (2400) could set the scene for a tilt at the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.
Those performances, coupled with that ENCOUNTERED’s fine G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap victory for Manfred Man at Sha Tin last Sunday (5 November), all point to another compelling staging of LONGINES HKIR with the four Group 1 races offering a record HK$118 million in prize money.
It was also a pleasure to meet young Japanese trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka, who visited Sha Tin at the weekend to inspect the facilities and hopes to be represented at LONGINES HKIR by LEBENSSTIL and ROUSHAM PARK.
The fields for the four elite LONGINES HKIR features will gradually take shape over the next few weeks and I look forward to welcoming our overseas friends with their top horses to take on Hong Kong’s best in the ‘Turf World Championships.’
Reflecting on Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Raceday, the atmosphere was fantastic and the fashion and glamour complemented the excellent racing, which was highlighted by Karis Teetan’s treble and doubles for trainers John Size, Pierre Ng and David Hayes.
At Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the feature race is the Stanley Handicap carded as Race 9 at 10.50pm for Class 2 horses over 1200m for prizemoney of HK$2,840,000.
The pace in the race will be strong with XPONENTIAL going forward from gate four to lead. CAMPIONE has an inside draw and will settle right on the speed, with BUNDLE OF CHARM going forward from the widest gate.
NORDIC DRAGON has drawn wide and was disappointing when seventh on 15 October to LUCKY WITH YOU at Sha Tin. Returning to Happy Valley after two unplaced efforts at Sha Tin, NORDIC DRAGON has five wins from seven attempts over this course and distance. He can improve significantly on his last run with Zac Purton taking the ride and is a place chance.
Champion trainer John Size goes into the race with BUNDLE OF CHARM and REWARD SMILE and both have strong claims.
BUNDLE OF CHARM had his second start for the season and was beaten only a neck when third to LUCKY WITH YOU at Sha Tin on 15 October. BUNDLE OF CHARM’s previous wins have come at Sha Tin, but he is a place chance on the strength of his latest run.
REWARD SMILE got back in the field and chased hard in the straight but was no match for the very talented SEASONS Wit when runner-up over 1000m here two weeks ago. Alexis Badel takes the ride and REWARD SMILE should be suited by the fast pace and will be running home strongly. He is a win and place chance.
SON PAK FU won four races on the bounce at this course and distance last season and was narrowly beaten at his seasonal reappearance beaten by Copartner Ambition on 18 October. SON PAK FU steps up to Class 2 but with his light weight is a place chance.
XPONENTIAL has a very good record at this track and settled on speed and was able to hold off SUGAR SUGAR to win on 13 September. At his only run since he led and faded in the concluding stages when unplaced at Sha Tin on 15 October in the race won by Lucky With You. XPONENTIAL comes back to his favourite course and has drawn well. Douglas Whyte and Lyle Hewitson have a good strike rate together and XPONENTIAL is a place chance.
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