With just over three weeks left until LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), there is an unmistakable sense of occasion as a string of Hong Kong’s leading horses accelerate preparations for our December flagship by competing at the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Race Day at Sha Tin on Sunday (19 November).
Bank of China (Hong Kong) has been a fantastic supporter of Hong Kong racing and it is fitting that every horse – 21 in total – running in this weekend’s three Group 2 contests – each worth HK$5.35 million – has been entered for LONGINES HKIR.
As dress rehearsals go, few race days are more critical than tomorrow’s quality programme and I wish to express my gratitude to Bank of China (Hong Kong) for its generous, ongoing support.
The G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint is carded as Race 7 at 3.30pm and is run over 1200m.
The pace in the race should be good with VICTOR THE WINNER leading from his middle gate, WELLINGTON holding the rail and trailing the leader and LUCKY SWEYNESSE going forward to sit outside the leader.
LUCKY SWEYNESSE won this race last year and is now the world’s highest-rated sprinter on an international mark of 125. He has finished runner-up at his last two runs behind VICTOR THE WINNER and SIGHT SUCCESS, respectively, under handicap conditions and is better suited at set weights here. While a little bit disappointing in his last two starts, LUCKY SWEYNESSE seems to be back to his best and is the horse to beat. Zac Purton should have him in a striking position from his draw and LUCKY SWEYNESSE is my win and place selection.
WELLINGTON returns to racing after finishing 10th in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June when things went wrong at the start and he failed to make an impact. WELLINGTON has had extended time at Conghua since his return and trialled nicely leading to his reappearance here. Alexis Badel takes the ride for new trainer Jamie Richards and WELLINGTON is a place chance.
SIGHT SUCCESS had a weight advantage over LUCKY SWEYNESSE in the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap and under a determined ride from Brenton Avdulla scored in a tight photo finish. SIGHT SUCCESS is a top-class sprinter and despite drawing widest of the seven runners is a place chance.
DUKE WAI gets back in his races and will be running on and will be suited if there is a strong pace throughout. Andrea Atzeni has his first ride on the horse and DUKE WAI is a top three chance.
The BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile is carded as Race 8 at 4.05pm and is run over 1600m.
CALIFORNIA SPANGLE should set a solid pace, with HEALTHY HAPPY behind the leader from his rails draw and VOYAGE BUBBLE on his outside.
CALIFORNIA SPANGLE will concede 5lbs to his four rivals but it is difficult to see him being beaten under the race conditions and his international rating of 123 makes him one of the elite milers in the world, behind GOLDEN SIXTY. CALIFORNIA SPANGLE was incredibly impressive in winning the G2 Sha Tin Trophy over this distance on 15 October and, with Matthew Chadwick taking the ride, he is my win selection.
VOYAGE BUBBLE won the Hong Kong Classic Mile in January and then was superb in winning the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in March. He was off the scene with an injury and has spent an extended period at Conghua but he has looked impressive in trials and in trackwork since returning to Sha Tin and VOYAGE BUBBLE can present a serious challenge to CALIFORNIA SPANGLE. He is a place chance.
BEAUTY ETERNAL has finished in the top three in all his 11 career starts and returned to racing when third to CALIFORNIA SPANGLE in the Sha Tin Trophy last month. BEAUTY ETERNAL started race favourite and will derive good fitness improvement from the race and is a place chance for Zac Purton.
HEALTHY HAPPY and BEAUTY JOY are both capable of running well and, although this is a small field, it is an intriguing contest.
The BOCHK Jockey Club Cup is carded as Race 9 at 4.40pm to be run over 2000m.
The speed in the race will be moderate with MONEY CATCHER the obvious leader. SWORD POINT and NIMBLE NIMBUS both have inside draws and should land in the leading division. SENOR TOBA will be in the front half of the field with RUSSIAN EMPEROR going back from his outside gate.
The potentially moderate speed may make the task here difficult for RUSSIAN EMPEROR but he is a world-class stayer and will improve sharply off his first-up performance behind CALIFORNIA SPANGLE. RUSSIAN EMPEROR has been to Conghua since that run and is a place chance with Matthew Chadwick taking the ride for the first time.
MONEY CATCHER is consistent and led and held on well last start when fifth to Encountered in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) on 5 November. This is his third run this preparation and, with improved fitness levels, MONEY CATCHER is a place chance.
SWORD POINT ran well through the 2023 Four-Year-Old Classic Series and finished last season on a winning note over this course and distance on 1 July. He resumed when sixth to Rising From Ashes over 1800m on 22 October. That was a bunched finish and SWORD POINT has an ideal draw here and is a win and place chance for Zac Purton.
FIVE G PATCH finished stormed home in that race from near last on the final turn to finish third beaten less than a length. FIVE G PATCH is a stayer of promise and in a smaller field here is also a win and place chance at good odds for Alexis Badel and trainer Tony Cruz.
Several other horses like STRAIGHT ARRON, LA CITY BLANCHE and NIMBLE NIMBUS all have claims as they try to grab a spot in the fields for LONGINES HKIR next month.
Hong Kong Champion Middle-Distance Horse ROMANTIC WARRIOR has now returned from quarantine to Danny Shum’s stable after his wonderful W.S. Cox Plate win and while I fully understand the decision not to run him this weekend due his demanding trip to Australia, his absence is a pity and throws this race wide open.
Comment
