The 2024/25 season has already scaled spectacular heights with the amazing deeds of our champion horses, trainers and jockeys and, with more Group 1 competition and the BMW Hong Kong Derby looming, Hong Kong’s world-class racing continues to enthrall and entertain.
As we enter the second half of the season, the extraordinary feats of ROMANTIC WARRIOR, KA YING RISING and VOYAGE BUBBLE reflect the incredible quality of Hong Kong racing, at the same time underscoring the professionalism and talent of our trainers and jockeys and the passion of our owners.
Hong Kong is indeed privileged to currently have three horses of international renown spread across three specific categories with outstanding sprinter KA YING RISING, elite miler VOYAGE BUBBLE and global middle-distance champion ROMANTIC WARRIOR.
It is exciting to think all three horses will be back in action next weekend with KA YING RISING and VOYAGE BUBBLE spearheading our Sha Tin Group 1 double-header on 23 February with the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m), a day after ROMANTIC WARRIOR contests the G1 Saudi Cup (1800, dirt).
More immediately, a host of horses this weekend will attempt to bolster their positions ahead of the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 2 March and the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 23 March, all hoping to join VOYAGE BUBBLE and ROMANTIC WARRIOR on the Four-Year-Old Classic Series honour roll.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR (2022) and VOYAGE BUBBLE (2023) both won two legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series with success in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and BMW Hong Kong Derby and have since followed differing paths to Group 1 glory.
At the same time, several other horses who have won or ran well in the Four-Year-Old Classic Series have subsequently excelled as sprinters and milers, notably CALIFORNIA SPANGLE who ran second to ROMANTIC WARRIOR in both the Hong Kong Classic Mile and BMW Hong Kong Derby but won the Hong Kong Classic Cup.
These results demonstrate the Four-Year-Old Classic Series caters for horses of varying types beyond their Classic season and it is one of the reasons the Series is so important to the future of Hong Kong racing, as well as being lucrative for owners with combined prizemoney of HK$52 million.
This weekend, no fewer than 27 BMW Hong Kong Derby aspirants feature in five of the 11 races at Sha Tin on Sunday (16 February). Victory tomorrow will provide vital ratings boosts for some of the lower-ranked horses, while success for those already more prominent in the order will fill connections with confidence.
The Class 2 Heung Yee Kuk Cup is carded as Race 8 and is run over 1600m at 4.05pm for prizemoney of HK$3.12 million and features BMW Hong Kong Derby nominees MID WINTER WIND, MICKLEY, JOHANNES BRAHMS and ROMANTIC THOR.
The pace will be good with VOYAGE SAMURAI (Derek Leung) likely lead from barrier 7. MONEY CATCHER (Alexis Badel) and FLAMING RABBIT (Karis Teetan) will also be prominent. TOURBILLON PRINCE (Matthew Poon) likes to race in the leading group and will go forward from gate 11.
MID WINTER WIND (Luke Ferraris) won at Group 3 level over 1400m in South Africa and could not have been more impressive in winning on debut in Hong Kong on 31 January, defeating SUNNY DA BEST over 1200m. MID WINTER WIND will be even better suited by the additional distance here and is my win and place selection.
SUNLIGHT POWER continued his rise in the ratings when he beat YELLOWFIN and KARMA over this trip on 26 January. SUNLIGHT POWER had plenty in hand in winning and he is also a win and place chance with Hugh Bowman taking the ride for the first time.
MICKLEY ran well in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), finishing fifth to MY WISH after drawing wide. Antoine Hamelin will have to ride for luck from barrier 14 and MICKLEY is a place chance.
KARMA (Tom Marquand) was third in SUNLIGHT POWER’S race making ground late after over-racing. The speed in this race is expected to be more genuine and KARMA will again be finishing strongly and is a place chance.
SPEED DRAGON bounced back to winning form last start when he finished fast to beat CALIFORNIATOTALITY and will run well for Matthew Chadwick. C P BRAVE (Harry Bentley) and VOYAGE SAMURAI are also capable of running well and ROMANTIC THOR (Hollie Doyle) is also capable of much better than his last start run behind NOISY BOY over 2000m on 19 January.
The Class 3 Rose Handicap, which is carded as Race 11 and run over 1600m at 5.45pm, is also important from a Four-Year-Old Classic Series perspective with ALLCASH, BUNDLE AWARD, DRAGON JOY, EMBRACES, SKY HEART, MORGAN SUCCESS, BEAUTY VIA, SPANISH FLAME, EVERYONE’S STAR, ANOTHER WORLD and WINNING WING engaged.
BUNDLE AWARD has drawn barrier one for Brenton Avdulla and was an impressive last start over 1400m, while DRAGON JOY who has already shown his talent with two wins from his past three starts but again has gate 14 for Matthew Poon.
I would like to welcome back to Hong Kong Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand, who have nine and eight rides, respectively, on Sunday. Hollie and Tom have agreed to travel to Hong Kong on short notice because of the unavailability because of injuries of Zac Purton, Vincent Ho, Angus Chung and Keith Yeung and I wish them all the best across the next two meetings.
Developing expertise in equestrian sports is one of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s key priorities and, as a strong supporter of international sport, we are delighted to be associated with the LONGINES Hong Kong International Horse Show (LHKIHS) being held this weekend at the Asia World-Expo.
The event features world-class show jumping, equestrian displays and performances and the Club is serving as Founding Partner, providing technical support on bio-security, veterinary matters and stable management.
The Club is committed to developing equestrian sports nationally and regionally and the LHKIHS provides a wonderful bridge for equestrian athletes and fans from the Greater Bay Area and across the Mainland to connect with the international community.
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