The National Day Raceday at Sha Tin on Tuesday (1 October) is one of the most important occasions on the Hong Kong racing calendar as we gather to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China with a wide range of wonderful cultural and entertainment programmes as well as world-class racing.
The G3 National Day Cup Handicap is the sporting highlight at Sha Tin with nine quality sprinters poised to battle for supremacy, while our customers can attend the races today free of charge in the public enclosures at both Sha Tin and Happy Valley and immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere of the various off-track activities to celebrate National Day.
With the gates to open at 11am, the opening ceremony starts at noon with the appearance of renowned tenor Zhang Yingxi and performances from a group of young martial artists led by Tsui Chun Kit and drum music by GEKKO.
Apart from the world-class racing throughout the afternoon, customers have the opportunity to enjoy performances from Miranda Lee, Ramon Lo, Micgo Ngan and Faye Chang, who will entertain racegoers with fabulous musical culture during the National Day celebrations.
To mark this special raceday, patrons can access themed culinary delights, visit the Photo Hotspots Mural Wall and also shop for commemorative goods, where National Day-themed merchandise will be available.
The National Day Cup Handicap is carded as Race 7 at 4.05pm. The Group 3 contest is run over the straight 1000m course and carries prizemoney of HK$4.2 million.
The speed in the race will be good throughout with NERVOUS WITNESS likely to have enough gate speed out of barrier seven for Andrea Atzeni. MAGIC CONTROL has drawn alongside NERVOUS WITNESS and will sit just off him and both WHIZZ KID and STOLTZ will be prominent.
MAGIC CONTROL was a Group winner in Australia and at his seasonal reappearance sat outside the leader over this course and distance on 15 September and came away to win easily from STELLAR EXPRESS in 55.74s. MAGIC CONTROL is a long way out of the handicap but is on the limit weight and is a win and place chance for Matthew Chadwick and trainer Cody Mo, who is saddling his first runner in a Group race.
STOLTZ is a highly talented sprinter who has only run six times over the past two seasons, winning three races, all at this distance. He won this race last year when sitting just behind the leader before beating ADIOS and KURPANY in fast time. He reappeared in June when fifth to KA YING RISING in the G3 Sha Tin Vase (1200m) when he was beaten four lengths from the winner. STOLTZ has been in Conghua since that run and trialled well there on 16 September. Zac Purton takes the ride, having ridden STOLTZ in all his six wins and he is a place chance.
INVINCIBLE SAGE won his first three starts last season over this course and distance and progressed through to Group 1 company, winning the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) from CALIFORNIA SPANGLE and MUGEN on 28 April. INVINCIBLE SAGE was well beaten at his only run since behind KA YING RISING in the Sha Tin Vase in June. INVINCINBLE SAGE gives weight to all his rivals but has drawn well and is a place chance for Hugh Bowman.
NERVOUS WITNESS, BEAUTY WAVES (Alexis Badel) and CALL ME GLORIOUS (Lyle Hewitson) are all talented short course sprinters who have the ability to be placed and WHIZZ KID won the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy in January over this course and distance and will run well fresh.
David Eustace has taken a deliberately patient approach since arriving in Hong Kong and will have his first starters since joining the Club’s world-class roster of trainers when NOBLE WIN and JUMBO FORTUNE run at Sha Tin on Tuesday.
At 32, David is the youngest trainer in Hong Kong and will look to employ the skills which saw him rise to prominence in partnership with Ciaron Maher in Australia, where the pair enjoyed record-breaking success and frequent triumphs in that nation’s biggest races.
David has the opportunity to parade his talent under his own banner in Hong Kong and I am sure his eye for detail and impressive work ethic will lay the platform for success. I wish him all the best as he starts a new and exciting career chapter in Hong Kong.
A major Triple Trio jackpot of more than HK$24.9 million will be offered at today’s meeting with an estimated dividend for a single HK$10 winner of HK$43 million followed on Wednesday (2 October) by a National Day Snowball Draw for the Mark 6 with the First Division Prize Fund estimated to reach HK$75 million for a single HK$10 unit.
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