We’re midway through the Hong Kong summer break, but certain professional horsemen have started their own preparations ahead of the 2024/25 season which commences on 8 September at Sha Tin.
Four-time Tony Cruz Award winner Vincent Ho is one of those who continues to work hard.
Indeed, Vincent has routinely dedicated the off-season to self-improvement with forays into overseas jurisdictions, and he has again proved successful abroad this summer.
His win at Pontefract for young English trainer Charlie Johnston was followed by placings at Glorious Goodwood and also the G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana – German Oaks (2200m) on LADY MARY for jockey-turned-trainer Andreas Suborics.
Vincent has also enjoyed some fantastic off-track experiences during his time overseas, including a trip to the Olympic Games to watch the equestrian events. Vincent was a keen showjumper before establishing himself as a jockey, and he has a strong interest in understanding the mindsets of top athletes in many different fields, which once again shows his determination to improve both physically and mentally.
While Vincent will soon head to Japan to participate in the World All-Star Jockeys series alongside Karis Teetan, Joao Moreira, Damian Lane, Yuga Kawada, Christophe Lemaire and Yutaka Take, Hong Kong-based Harry Bentley has made his mark back in England with a double at Newmarket. Harry posted a career-high 39 wins in Hong Kong last season, and I believe his current riding foray will lay the foundations for another successful campaign in 2024/25.
The same is hoped for Lyle Hewitson, who is currently riding in Australia, and Keagan De Melo, who has been riding back in South Africa.
Our World Pool and simulcast programme continues on Sunday (11 August) with a quality double-header featuring Group 1 racing with Grosser Preis von Berlin Day in Germany and Prix Jacques le Marois Day in France.
Four races will be shown from Hoppegarten Racecourse in Berlin from 7.23pm, with the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin (2400m) carded as S1-4 and run at 9.43pm.
The Grosser Preis von Berlin has attracted seven runners, including Joseph O’Brien’s AL RIFFA, who finished second last start to CITY OF TROY in the G1 Eclipse Stakes (1990m) at Sandown on 6 July.
To be ridden by Dylan McMonagle, AL RIFFA is considered a serious G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) challenger by Joseph, and he is a win-and-place chance.
Godolphin’s KING OF CONQUEST is attempting his third win in a row for Charlie Appleby and Adrie de Vries. Charlie won this race in 2022 with REBEL ROMANCE, who we saw win the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin in May.
I make him a place selection. There are several other chances in a select field, including BEST OF LIPS for Andreas Suborics and three-year-old NARRATIVO, who is trained by Peter Schiergen.
The beautiful seaside setting of Deauville Racecourse will host eight races from 8.33pm, with the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois (1600m), scheduled as S2-3 at 10.04pm, being the feature of the meeting.
An elite contest for Europe’s finest milers, the Prix Jacques le Marois has attracted eight runners, including last start Royal Ascot winners CHARYN and HAATEM, Group 1 winners MARHABA YA SANAFI, BIG ROCK and METROPOLITAN as well as INSPIRAL, who bids to become the first horse to win the straight mile contest three times.
CHARYN impressed with an easy victory in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) in June and is having an outstanding season for trainer Roger Varian. He is a win and a place chance.
INSPIRAL has failed to fire in two runs in preparation for this assignment and was sixth last start to AUGUSTE RODIN in the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (2005m). The engagement of Ryan Moore to ride INSPIRAL, a winner of the past two editions of the race, is significant. I also make her a win chance.
BIG ROCK is high class, but his best form is on rain-affected ground. At his best, he is a place chance despite his recent results. Meanwhile, HAATEM is a rising star for Richard Hannon and showed his class in winning the G3 Jersey Stakes (1400m) at Royal Ascot.
QUDDWAH is an interesting runner for Simon & Ed Crisford. Unbeaten in four runs, he steps up to Group 1 company for the first time and is a place chance along with the three-year-old METROPOLITAN.
The first race of the French simulcast will be the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (2000m), scheduled as S2-1 at 8.33pm, which is quite open — even with a small field of five runners. The Pascal Bary-trained FEED THE FLAME has been consistent with two thirds and one second in his three recent Group 1 events, including a runner-up finish to DUBAI HONOUR in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on 30 June. The four-year-old colt should be the one to beat in this Group 3 race, with Jean-Claude Rouget’s course and distance winner, AL HAKEEM, being the primary danger.
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