The 2024 BMW Hong Kong Derby Day at Sha Tin last Sunday (24 March) showcased the best of what Hong Kong horse racing has to offer, from great entertainment off the track and outstanding sporting performances from our jockeys and equine athletes on the track.
In my view, it was one of the best Derby Days we have had in Hong Kong with an attendance of more than 60,000 racing fans, including 5,000 from the Mainland, while the event itself was televised live into 26 countries. Collectively, BMW Hong Kong Derby Day showcased the uniqueness of Hong Kong horse racing, which brings together human and equine talent from all around the globe.
Featuring in the 14-horse field were seven horses from the northern hemisphere and seven from the southern hemisphere – with Ireland’s MASSIVE SOVEREIGN leading home Australian-bred GALAXY PATCH, Ireland’s KA YING GENERATION and New Zealand-bred CHILL CHIBI.
Similarly, the spread of elite jockeys involved underlined the race’s cosmopolitan flavour – with Australia’s Zac (MASSIVE SOVEREIGN) and Blake Shinn (GALAXY PATCH) fighting out the finish with Italy’s Andrea Atzeni (KA YING GENERATION) and Hong Kong’s own Jerry Chau (CHILL CHIBI). Additionally, the Derby also featured top jockeys from England, France, South Africa and Mauritius.
The 2024 BMW Hong Kong Derby exceeded even the boldest expectations when history was created as MASSIVE SOVEREIGN confirmed his high quality with an unforgettable victory for Dennis Yip and Zac, leaving Hong Kong to savour a perfect racing day.
From a training perspective, the performances of Dennis and Pierre Ng, who saddled both GALAXY PATCH and KA YING GENERATION were first class and, with the fourth placing of CHILL CHIBI for Danny Shum, home-grown trainers again dominated the race.
Dennis’ effort to win the city’s most prized race with a horse having only his second start in Hong Kong was, in many ways, incredible and he deserves the utmost credit in securing a clearly talented horse from Aidan O’Brien’s stable and then delivering with it in such fashion off a rating of 82.
While MASSIVE SOVEREIGN’s feat to clock the fastest time in BMW Hong Kong Derby history – 1m 59.85s – since the race distance was changed to 2000m in 2000 was phenomenal, the efforts of GALAXY PATCH and KA YING GENERATION also were outstanding.
GALAXY PATCH and KA YING GENERATION also bettered the race’s previous best time of 2m 00.15s, set by GOLDEN SIXTY in 2020, and the rides by the first three jockeys across the line were individually exceptional.
Andrea’s daring front-running ride on KA YING GENERATION ensured the Derby was a true test of speed and stamina and he came within three-quarters of a length of achieving ‘Once in a lifetime glory,’ after leading by five lengths at the 400m, while Blake’s patience on GALAXY PATCH before sweeping home to close to within a neck of MASSIVE SOVEREIGN was also another highlight.
The BMW Hong Kong Derby had been a race of some exasperation for Zac with one win – Luger in 2015 – and two seconds, five thirds and two fourths – from 13 previous rides. Those frustrations were erased with a masterful ride on MASSIVE SOVEREIGN, who Zac restrained from barrier 10 at the start, found cover at the tail of the field and then spent the first half of the race conserving energy before trailing HELIOS EXPRESS into the race approaching the home turn.
While HELIOS EXPRESS, winner of the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), ultimately failed to stay 2000m, MASSIVE SOVEREIGN relished the tempo and showed fantastic determination to catch KA YING GENERATION before holding off GALAXY PATCH.
In coming from eighth at the 400m, MASSIVE SOVEREIGN clocked 22.58s to show his quality and Dennis has already suggested the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) on 28 April, and a clash with ROMANTIC WARRIOR and overseas contenders, could be MASSIVE SOVEREIGN’s next objective after the gelding rose 25 points in the ratings to 107.
GALAXY PATCH was fantastic in producing the race’s quickest last sectional of 22.40s in surging from 12th at the home turn at his first run at 2000m and his next target will likely be the G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m).
Overall, I am optimistic about the quality of our four-year-old generation and I hope they will progress to show their competitiveness on international stage. The BMW Hong Kong Derby has launched the Group 1-winning careers of several great horses in recent seasons, notably GOLDEN SIXTY and ROMANTIC WARRIOR, and it will be fascinating to follow the progress of this season’s Classic crop.
While we have increased our prize money and our PP Bonus system is a great incentive, I would like to thank our owners for bringing these world-class talents to Hong Kong.
I would like to congratulate Chan Kam Hung, the BMW Hong Kong Derby winning owner, who has been a long supporter of the Club with almost 20 horses stretching back several decades and it is great to see that his dream of having a Derby winner finally came true.
I would also like to acknowledge the good performance in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) on Sunday of VICTOR THE WINNER, trained by Danny Shum and ridden by Derek Leung, in Japan on unsuitable ground with a display has showcased the quality of Hong Kong sprinters.
At Sha Tin on Sunday, the tone for BMW Hong Kong Derby day was set with the great performance of rising star singer MC Cheung as part of the off-track entertainment and the vibe continued throughout the afternoon when Hong Kong’s equine and human stars took centre stage. It was pleasing to see so many younger attendees enjoying horse racing in ideal weather.
I wish to congratulate everyone who participated on the day and thank all of our teams for their efforts.
At Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the Class 3 Ma Tau Kok Handicap is carded as Race 8 at 10.15pm over 1650m with prizemoney of HK $2,050,000.
The pace in the race will be good with Alex Badel likely to lead on TOURBILLON PRINCE from gate three. SHOW RESPECT (Harry Bentley) has drawn the inside and will take up a forward position with LUCKY EIGHT (Matthew Poon) going forward to settle on the pace. ALL BEAUTY led at his last run, but Karis Teetan might choose to take a sit just behind the forward division from his middle draw.
SHOW RESPECT caused a minor upset when he settled just behind the speed before coming to the middle of the track and taking the lead in the straight to win comfortably from KEEN UNITY. SHOW RESPECT rises in class but should enjoy a good run behind the leader from his rails draw and is a win and place chance.
GALLANT WAKING is racing well, winning over this course and distance three runs back when storming from the back of the field and then made good ground when a close third to RED HARE KING on 6 March. GALLANT WAKING has been at Conghua since that run and will go back from his outside draw and is a place chance with Ellis Wong riding for the first time.
ALL BEAUTY has been consistent this season without winning. At his most recent start, ALL BEAUTY was ridden along early to take up a position and found himself in the unusual role of leader, fighting on strongly in the run to line to finish a close fourth to Red Hare King on 6 March. ALL BEAUTY is a place chance.
QUANTUM PATCH was a winner at the class and distance earlier in the season and wasn’t beaten far when seventh to RED HARE KING, staying on in the straight to be closest on the line. QUANTUM PATCH has spent time at Conghua since that run and is a place chance with Zac Purton taking the ride again.
This is a competitive race with horses such as TOURBILLON PRINCE and STAR CONTACT both running well in the race behind RED HARE KING at their last start and ESCAPE ROUTE is also racing well enough to warrant consideration.
Comment
