The official selection of runners for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) on 8 December has generated tremendous interest around the world and the arrival this week of two of the overseas-trained contenders is confirmation our flagship meeting is almost upon us.
DOCKLANDS, trained by Great Britain’s Harry Eustace, and LAZZAT, prepared by Frenchman Jerome Reynier, safely arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday (19 November) and, from next Tuesday (26 November), they will be joined at Sha Tin by a steady stream of champion horses.
The G1 Japan Cup, which is carded as S1-1 and will be run at 2.40pm on Sunday (24 November), is one of the most important races in the world and this year is no exception with GOLIATH and FANTASTIC MOON – who are entered for the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin on 8 December – trying to break Japan’s grip on the race.
It has been 19 years since an overseas horse has won the Japan Cup and this year, with AUGUSTE RODIN representing Aidan O’Brien, there are three overseas horses trying to end Japan’s winning streak that started in 2006 with champion racehorse and sire Deep Impact.
In my view, GOLIATH is one of the best chances to achieve this.
GOLIATH is the highest-rated horse in the field and his rider Christophe Soumillon won the Japan Cup on EPIPHANEIA in 2014. GOLIATH has drawn the inside and likes firm ground and is a win and place chance.
AUGUSTE RODIN is by Deep Impact and will retire to stud after this race, having won six Group 1s leading into tomorrow’s race. Ryan Moore won this race on VELA AZUL two years ago and should have AUGUSTE RODIN in the front half of the field from his middle draw and he is a place chance.
FANTASTIC MOON represents Germany and won the Deutsches Derby last year and two starts ago the Grosser Preis von Baden for Rene Piechulek. FANTASTIC MOON finished ninth on soft ground in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe behind BLUESTOCKING and he prefers quick ground.
The local team is headed by DO DEUCE, whose major wins include the Japan Derby and Arima Kinen and last start was impressive beating TASTIERA in the Tenno Sho Autumn (2400m) on 27 October. His rider Yutake Take first won this race in 1999 and is chasing a fifth win with DO DEUCE and he is a win and place chance.
CERVINIA is Japan’s outstanding filly this year, winning the Japanese Oaks and beat BOND GIRL and STELLENBOSCH in the Shuka Sho (2000m) on 13 October. Christophe Lemaire is also chasing a fifth win in the race and CERVINIA looks to join GENTILDONNA and ALMOND EYE as three-year-old fillies to win the race. She is a place chance.
JUSTIN PALACE, DANON BELUGA and SHIN EMPEROR are also all strong chances.
Apart from being a race of tremendous prestige, the Japan Cup could also decide the outcome of the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award for 2024. On current standings, James McDonald (160 points) leads Ryan (150).
These two amazing jockeys have had incredible seasons. James has ridden nine winners of LONGINES Top 100 Group 1 races with 11 minor placings, while Ryan has ridden eight winners at the highest level with 11 minor placings.
If AUGUSTE RODIN wins the Japan Cup at his farewell race appearance, Ryan will earn 12 points for the victory and collect a fifth LONGINES World’s Best Jockey award.
At Sha Tin on Sunday, the Class 2 Chevalier Cup is run over 1600m at 4.10pm for prize money of HK$3.12 million.
The pace will be good with TELECOM FIGHTERS adopting his usual leading role for Britney Wong. VOYAGE SAMURAI (Keith Yeung) should settle behind the leader from his rails draw with TOP GUN (Matthew Chadwick) close to the speed. HEALTHY HAPPY (Alexis Badel) has drawn wide but will go forward and race on the pace.
GREEN N WHITE is unbeaten in two runs this season and beat an exceptionally strong field last start, downing PACKING HERMOD and DROMBEG BANNER in the Panasonic Cup (1400m) on 9 November. Matthew Poon should have GREEN N WHITE in a perfect position from gate four and he is my win and place selection.
VOYAGE SAMURAI is building an impressive record, winning four times with three minor placings from seven starts. He was second up this season when he jumped well, racing in second place before coming off the rails before the turn and holding the finishing run of SILO over this course and distance on 9 November. VOYAGE BUBBLE rises in class but with his light weight and rails draw, should be in a striking position in the straight and is a place chance.
KARMA won the HKJC 140th Anniversary Cup two runs ago over this distance, storming home to beat HELENE FEELING and PATCH OF THETA. He then stepped to 1800m and Group company when ninth to ENSUED in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse on 3 November when he raced at the back of the field and made good ground in the straight without threatening. Vincent Ho goes back aboard KARMA and he is a place chance.
PATCH OF THETA stepped to the 1600m for the first time last start when he drew the outside gate and raced wide throughout, fighting on well to finish third to KARMA on 20 October. PATCH OF THETA is incredibly consistent finishing in the top three at all of his 12 career starts. He has drawn to get a perfect run from gate two for Derek Leung and is a place chance.
This is an outstanding race with many chances and horses like HELENE FEELING, YOUNG CHAMPION and SUNLIGHT POWER will all run well.
ROMANTIC THOR is a quality import, who was placed at Group 2 level in Europe and at his final start won the Dee Stakes at Chester in May when prepared by Aidan O’Brien. ROMANTIC THOR is headed towards the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in March and will take benefit from his first up run.
Constant innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence are key to the Club’s longstanding quest to meeting changing customer demand and the official opening of the new Happy Valley venues The Beat and Vantage, which offer a fresh digital horse-racing experience for younger fans, on Wednesday night (20 November) is example of that.
The Beat and Vantage feature a “one-stop” racing and racecourse experience supported by AI animation, tailor-made for customers familiar with using big data for race research and analysis.
Among the many features at The Beat is an LED wall showcasing a digital Parade Ring with simple and gamified information. AI Technology allows guests to formulate interactive horse selections based on parameters such as fitness, barrier draws, jockeys, trainers and track and distance.
The Beat and Vantage also offer sweeping views of the live racing action, complemented by music from a live band in The Beat and a rotating selection of top DJs in Vantage, as well as gourmet food, signature cocktails and craft beers, with Vantage also home to its own curated wine list.
To sustain our world-class racing as an international brand for Hong Kong, we must stay close to the fast-changing aspirations of our customers in the digital age and The Beat and Vantage are exciting additions to the Club’s suite of entertainment options.
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