Firmly established on the international stage as an elite race, the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) has long drawn the very best of Hong Kong’s premier horses and this Sunday’s (10 March) edition is no exception with the presence of LUCKY SWEYNESSE, the world’s highest-rated sprinter.
Promoted to Group 1 status in the 2014/2015 season, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup was last year recognised as the world’s top 1400m race in the LONGINES World’s Top Group 1 races, returning a rating of 119.5 with LUCKY SWEYNESSE’s victory over CALIFORNIA SPANGLE and WELLINGTON.
The race’s honour roll features an impressive collection of Hong Kong’s world-class horses from ABLE FRIEND, BEAUTY GENERATION – who won the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup three times from 2018 to 2020 – WELLINGTON, AMBITIOUS DRAGON and SILENT WITNESS.
With nine quality horses headed by CALIFORNIA SPANGLE and BEAUTY ETERNAL challenging LUCKY SWEYNESSE tomorrow as he attempts to win his second Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, the stage is set for another exciting renewal of the race.
James McDonald has made winning a habit in Hong Kong this season with 20 wins, including three victories in the seven Hong Kong Group 1 races decided so far in 2023/24, and his return to Sha Tin on Sunday to ride LUCKY SWEYNESSE in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup is another great opportunity for him to show his wares.
As a winner of the 2022 LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award, James is held in the highest regard on the international stage and his displays in Hong Kong this season have shown why.
He has already succeeded in Hong Kong this campaign at the highest level on ROMANTIC WARRIOR (G1 2023 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and G1 2024 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup) and VOYAGE BUBBLE (2024 G1 Stewards’ Cup) and this weekend he will bid to win a second Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on LUCKY SWEYNESSE.
James thrives in Hong Kong’s famously competitive racing environment and it is clear with his popularity with trainers and owners that he would be a natural fit in our city if he ever decided to move to here on a more permanent basis.
Nothing can ever be taken for granted in Hong Kong, however, and with the presence of Zac Purton, Hugh Bowman, Karis Teetan, Andrea Atzeni, Derek Leung, Luke Ferraris and others, James is well aware only the very best is sufficient to succeed.
The 2024 G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m is carded as Race 7 at 4.05pm at Sha Tin on Sunday and carries prizemoney of HK$13 million and features a cast of quality horses headed by the world’s highest-rated sprinter LUCKY SWEYNESSE.
LUCKY SWEYNESSE is one of six horses in the field – BEAUTY ETERNAL, BEAUTY JOY, HEALTHY HAPPY, TAJ DRAGON and RED LION are the others – with multiple wins over the course and distance, while CALIFORNIA SPANGLE is also a winner over 1400m at Sha Tin.
The pace in the race should be good. CALIFORNIA SPANGLE can take up his usual role as pacemaker and lead. RED LION can take advantage of an inside draw and get into the trail. BEAUTY ETERNAL likes to race on the pace and he should get a good run just behind the speed. HEALTHY HAPPY might struggle to get across in the early stages from barrier seven to get outside the leader and he could likely be trapped wide. LUCKY SWEYNESSE should get a good run one off the rail and in the small field, he will not be too far away. BEAUTY JOY should go back from the outside gate.
LUCKY SWEYNESSE has won all three starts over 1400m and won this race last year when he sat off the pacemaker CALIFORNIA SPANGLE, before challenging in the straight and coming away for a dominant victory.
At his most recent start, LUCKY SWEYNESSE settled in the back half of the field on the rails and never looked a winning chance in the straight, running home to finish a well beaten sixth to VICTOR THE WINNER in the Centenary Sprint Cup over 1200m on 28 January. James McDonald has ridden LUCKY SWEYNESSE just once before, when he won this race last year. LUCKY SWEYNESSE should bounce back to his best form and is my win and place selection.
LUCKY WITH YOU has been outstanding at his last two runs at Group 1 level, firstly in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint behind LUCKY SWEYNESSE and then making good ground in the straight and fighting on strongly to beat all but VICTOR THE WINNER in the Centenary Sprint Cup. LUCKY WITH YOU extends to 1400m here, which in the past has been a challenge, but he is in great form for Andrea Atzeni and is a place chance from his good draw in gate five.
CALIFORNIA SPANGLE has struggled at his past four starts, but is one of the best horses in the world at this trip when producing his best form. He was disappointing when he led and was headed at the 400m, fading to run fourth to VOYAGE BUBBLE in the Stewards’ Cup over 1600m on 21 January. Brenton Avdulla rides CALIFORNIA SPANGLE for the first time and he should get an unchallenged lead from gate three and is a place chance.
BEAUTY ETERNAL continues to perform well at the highest level and moved to a new peak international rating of 116 when he challenged CALIFORNIA SPANGLE at the 400m in the Stewards’ Cup and then fought strongly to the line for second to VOYAGE BUBBLE. BEAUTY ETERNAL comes back in distance to the 1400m for the first time this season, a trip over which he has an excellent record and he is one of the leading chances for Zac Purton.
There are a number of talented horses in this race, such as TAJ DRAGON, SON PAK FU, GALAXY PATCH and last start winner RED LION, who may appear not to be suited at set weights against LUCKY SWEYNESSE, but have the ability to run well in a really exciting renewal of the race.
Comment
