The Hong Kong, China’s Paris 2024 Olympic Team Celebration Raceday last Sunday (13 October) was one of the highlights of the season so far as Sha Tin hosted our incredible Olympic stars as well our world-class equine athletes.
There was a tremendous vibe at Sha Tin as we gathered to acclaim our Olympic Team in recognition of its record-breaking feats in Paris, while at the same time enjoying the performances of outstanding equine athletes.
Feedback from the athletes indicated they very much appreciated the race-day atmosphere at Sha Tin, along with the world-class qualities of our horses, jockeys and trainers.
The large crowd in attendance for the cheque presentation ceremony for the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme (JCAIAS), through which the Club granted a total of HK$17.625 million in cash incentives to the medallists and athletes who finished in fourth to eighth position at the Olympics, certainly showed their admiration for our Olympic representatives.
Our athletes, who won an unprecedented two gold medals and two bronze medals in Paris, embody Hong Kong’s ‘Can do spirit’ and relentless quest for excellence – qualities they have in common with our world-class horseracing participants – and it was wonderful share Sunday’s race meeting with them.
With just over seven weeks until the staging of the 2024 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), there was an unmistakable sense of anticipation and excitement at Sha Tin on Sunday with the appearance of several world-class horses.
Pitted against Group 1 winners VOYAGE BUBBLE and BEAUTY ETERNAL, GALAXY PATCH confirmed his exceptional talent with a very impressive win in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) for Pierre Ng and Vincent Ho.
GALAXY PATCH demonstrated his versatility and talent last season with wins from 1200m to 1800m, a Group 1 second placing over 1400m and also being runner-up in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in his first preparation in Hong Kong.
With Pierre now focused on the HK$36 million LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on 8 December, GALAXY PATCH showed his prowess at 1600m against two international G1 mile winners in VOYAGE BUBBLE and BEAUTY ETERNAL, clocking 22.11s for the final 400m sectional while still not fully extended.
There were several other good performances in the race, including VOYAGE BUBBLE (second), CHANCHENG GLORY (third) and STRAIGHT ARRON (fourth) and there is little doubt BEAUTY JOY (fifth) and BEAUTY ETERNAL (sixth) will improve significantly from the run.
Most of Sunday’s field will target our flagship LONGINES HKIR meeting, where the four Group 1 features carry record prizemoney of HK$126 million, and I wish connections the very best over the next few months.
John Size’s faculty for developing high-class horses has been a hallmark of his Hong Kong career and WUNDERBAR is continuing the trend with six wins from seven starts. His Class 2 win over 1200m, which crowned a marvellous Hong Kong, China’s Paris 2024 Olympic Team Celebration Raceday, was another important step in his career.
He not only earned a PPG Bonus of HK$1 million, plus HK$1,590,400 in prizemoney, for his owners, but he confirmed his outstanding potential against a field of very talented young sprinters.
The first three horses across the line – WUNDERBAR, BOTTOMUPTOGETHER and GORGEOUS WIN – are all four-year-olds and I look forward to their progress into the future.
Our Oktoberfest festivities continue at Happy Valley on Wednesday night with a celebration of German food, beverages and music. I will be joined in the Beer Garden tonight by Mr Stefan Bredohl, the Consul General of Germany to Hong Kong and Macau, for the ceremonial tapping of the first barrel.
Happy Wednesday at Happy Valley is a destination of choice for many Hong Kong residents and visitors from abroad with its wonderful atmosphere and a mix of world-class racing and fantastic entertainment.
On-track at Happy Valley, the Class 3 LONGINES Cup Handicap (1200m) is carded as Race 6 at 9.45pm. The LONGINES Cup signals the start of the LONGINES Night Races as a kick-off event for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on 8 December.
Regarded as the ‘Turf World Championships’, LONGINES HKIR features four elite contests – the HK$40 million LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$36 million LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$26 million LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and HK$24 million LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
The pace in the LONGINES Cup tonight should be good with RIDING HIGH leading from barrier two, while HAPPY FAT CAT, HEALTHY HEALTHY and MEGA BONUS all likely to be prominent.
HEALTHY HEALTHY has won three races over this course and distance, including the 2023 LONGINES Cup, and finished strongly last-start to finish fourth. Zac Purton takes the ride and he is a win and place chance.
BRAVE STAR (Vincent Ho) is also a three-time course and distance winner and was impressive in winning last start, but will need luck from barrier 11. He is a place chance along with BEAUTY INFINITY (Brenton Avdulla), who showed promise last season, and LUCKY ARCHANGEL (Matthew Poon), who is a seven-time course and distance winner and ran on strongly for third when resuming on 11 September.
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