After months of meticulous planning, the dreams and aspirations of the connections of 14 horses selected to compete in the 2024 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 24 March are one step closer to “once in a lifetime glory” after the official selection process was completed this week.
With only eight days until the running of the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby, the anticipation and excitement levels are palpable with the best of Hong Kong’s Classic generation pressing for the ultimate four-year-old achievement next weekend.
On Thursday (14 March), the official BMW Hong Kong Derby selection announcement took place at Happy Valley – the Classic’s original site – with a special ceremony which showcased a fleet of BMW’s finest vehicles and set the stage for the running of the 147th Derby.
It is clear from the enthusiasm and passion of all connections that their hopes and dreams are very strong. Without exception, all the owners have invested considerable time and resources to acquire the best available talent to run in the BMW Hong Kong Derby.
The history of the Derby shows it takes an outstanding horse to succeed and the honour roll is crammed with champions who advanced to Group 1 glories on the international stage, not least GOLDEN SIXTY and ROMANTIC WARRIOR while last year’s winner VOYAGE BUBBLE is now also a Group 1 winner, franking his effort to win the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby from barrier 14 on a rating of 93.
VOYAGE BUBBLE is now rated 125, while several horses who chased him home in the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby have also surged in the handicaps. BEAUTY ETERNAL has progressed from 94 to 119 and is a Group 2 winner and Group 1 place-getter. STRAIGHT ARRON has advanced from 81 to 117 and is also a Group 2 winner, while ENCOUNTERED has moved from 83 to 113 in the handicap as a Group 3 winner.
The 2024 BMW Hong Kong Derby field contains two runners with triple-figure ratings – GALAXY PATCH (103) and HELIOS EXPRESS (102) who, as winner of both the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), is bidding to match the achievements of RAPPER DRAGON (2017) and GOLDEN SIXTY (2020) in winning all three legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series by triumphing in the Derby.
The two top-rated horses face a strong group of intriguing challengers headed by HELENE FEELING (95), CHILL CHIBI (86), ENSUED (85), CHANCHENG GLORY (84), MASSIVE SOVEREIGN (82), BEAUTY CRESCENT (80), SPEED DRAGON (80), UNBELIEVABLE (80), KA YING GENERATION (78), ELLIPTICAL (76), SIMPLE HEDGE (76) and STAR MAC (74).
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all connections the very best in the Derby.
On Saturday (16 March), the Class 2 Sheung Yeung Shan Handicap is carded as race nine and will be run over 1400m at 5.10pm for prizemoney of HK$2,840,000.
The speed in the race will be good from the outset with front runners FLAMING RABBIT (Matthew Chadwick) and I GIVE (Angus Chung) both looking to find the front. FLAMING RABBIT led early last start before sitting behind the leader and could concede I GIVE the front and take the trail. KEEFY (Derek Leung) races close to the pace.
The good speed should allow Karis Teetan to get YOUNG CHAMPION across from gate nine to a position, one off the fence, just behind the lead pack, but he is still at risk of being trapped wide. YOUNG CHAMPION had good form in Ireland and was impressive winning at his second start here for John Size. Ridden by James McDonald, YOUNG CHAMPION jumped well, landing fourth, before showing excellent acceleration to take the lead in the straight and easily hold GREEN AND WHITE in the run to the line over 1400m three weeks ago. In my view, YOUNG CHAMPION is a great talent and has great potential with good finishing speed, running the last 400m last start in 22.64s, which makes him my first choice for a win and place in a very competitive race.
BLUE MARLIN (Harry Bentley) also moves up in grade on the back of his last start win over MAGNIFICENT NINE over this trip on 3 March. BLUE MARLIN settled midfield in that race, making ground along the rails before to the turn, before angling out in the straight to find the front, fighting on bravely to win narrowly under top weight. BLUE MARLIN has drawn perfectly in gate two and is a place chance.
LUCKY ENCOUNTER continues to race well after winning his first two runs of the season. Last start, he stalked the speed and stayed on well to finish fifth to HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE over 1200m on 12 February. LUCKY ENCOUNTER extends to 1400m for the first time, but has trialled well for Andrea Atzeni since his last run and is a place chance.
Brenton Avdulla has been in great form and takes the ride on DANCING CODE for the first time. DANCING CODE has spent time at Conghua since his last run and trialled well there recently. His recent efforts at Sha Tin have been sound and with average luck in running DANCING CODE is a place chance.
While YOUNG CHAMPION and BLUE MARLIN look the logical two favoured runners, this is a very competitive contest with horses like THE GOLDEN SCENERY, FANTASTIC TREASURE, KEEFY and I GIVE all good enough to place on their best form.
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