At Sha Tin today (Sunday 19 May), we celebrate Members Day for the 15th consecutive season with the running of the Class 3 Members Cup Handicap (1600m) and a variety of associated activities for Club Members.
Since 2005/06, Members Day has been a significant event on Hong Kong’s racing calendar, serving as a platform for Members to gather and connect through horse racing. For the long-term sustainability of racing in Hong Kong, it is essential to have Members who have racing and ownership interests.
Many of our Members are passionate horse racing enthusiasts and I hope they can enjoy today’s meeting at Sha Tin filled with an afternoon of competitive racing, exclusive privileges and celebratory activities especially designed for them.
The Members Cup Handicap is carded as Race 7 at 4.10pm and VOYAGE SAMURAI has been very consistent in his Hong Kong career so far for Frankie Lor with two wins and two second placings. To be ridden by Derek Leung, he is my first choice for a win and a place.
CHING, for Hugh Bowman, HELENE WARRIOR, under Lyle Hewitson, and ELLIPTICAL, for Keith Yeung, are all place chances.
The feature race at Sha Tin today is the Class 1 Racing Heritage Handicap, which is carded as Race 3 and run over 1400m at 1.45pm for prizemoney of HK$3,720,00.
The pace should be good to slow with HEALTHY HAPPY leading from barrier five for Alexis Badel. PACKING TREADMILL is likely to be prominent from gate two for Lyle Hewitson, with WONDER KIT next under Andrea Atzeni. SUPREME LUCKY is expected to settle midfield for Matthew Poon along with TAJ DRAGON and Ellis Wong. ATULLIBIGEAL is likely drift to the rear of the field under Zac Purton, but should not be far away in this field.
TAJ DRAGON returns to handicap conditions after finishing sixth in the G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) behind BEAUTY ETERNAL on 28 April, when he was not suited by the yielding conditions. He will carry 126lb after Ellis’ claim and is a win and place chance.
ATTULLIBIGEAL has two course and distance wins this season and has been remarkably consistent. He is well weighted and, under Zac, is expected to finish strongly and is a place chance.
HEALTHY HAPPY is a three-time course and distance winner and will control the tempo from the front and will appreciate the class drop after racing in Group company. He is also a place chance along with PACKING TREADMILL, who continues to race consistently.
Only a short head separated SUPREME LUCKY and WONDER KIT last start over 1400m at Sha Tin on 28 April and, while rising in class, both are racing well.
We can see a recent increase in travel of world-class horses and it is great that our last Group 1 of the season – the HK$13million Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on 26 May – has attracted multiple international Group 1 race winner in REBEL’S ROMANCE.
The winner of four Group 1s – two in Germany, one in the United States and, most recently the G1 Sheema Classic (2400m) in Dubai on 30 March – REBEL’S ROMANCE will clash with the best of Hong Kong’s stayers, including RUSSIAN EMPEROR, who is bidding for a third successive Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup.
Hong Kong is also represented in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup by BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner MASSIVE SOVEREIGN, LA CITY BLANCHE, FIVE G PATCH, STRAIGHT ARRON, UNBELIEVABLE, SENOR TOBA and MOMENTS IN TIME.
We are grateful for the support of REBEL’S ROMANCE’s owner Godolphin and his presence adds an intriguing dimension to next weekend’s feature.
Hong Kong racing fans enjoy watching world-class racing overseas and especially in Japan, which is of special interest with many Japanese horses participating in our international races.
Our simulcast programme continues on Sunday with the G1 Yushun Himba (2400m) from Tokyo Racecourse. Also known as the Japanese Oaks, the race is carded as S3-1 and will be run at 2.40pm.
STELLENBOSCH won the G1 Oka Sho (1600m) last start and is expected to be favourite to win the second leg of the Japanese Triple Tiara after drawing barrier seven for jockey Keita Tosaki. STELLENBOSCH is yet to race beyond a mile but I make her my first choice as a win and place selection.
CERVINIA was luckless in the Oka Sho when she did not have a clear run late and she is expected to be suited by the extra distance for Christophe Lemaire, who has won this race three times. I also make her a win and place chance.
SHONAN MANUELA led the field in the Oka Sho and may do the same again, although she will have to overcome barrier 16. CATFIGHT should also be prominent, while both LIGHT BACK and SWEEP FEET caught the eye late in the Oka Sho and I make them place chances as they step up in distance.
QUEEN’S WALK and TAGANO ELPIDA are also place chances.
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