The day of reckoning is almost upon the 14 contenders who will contest the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (23 March) and this year’s Derby shapes as one of the most fascinating Classics in memory.
With the presence of HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) winner MY WISH and HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) victor RUBYLOT in the race along with impressive last-start winners BUNDLE AWARD and BEAUTY ALLIANCE, this is one of the most open Derbies in the race’s long and distinguished history.
Well-performed horses from the Northern Hemisphere – JOHANNES BRAHMS, STUNNING PEACH, MICKLEY and LO RIDER – will do battle with the Southern Hemisphere’s RUBYLOT, MY WISH, PACKING ANGEL, BUNDLE AWARD, NOISY BOY, CAP FERRAT, STEPS AHEAD, CALIFORNIATOTALITY, MARKWIN and BEAUTY ALLIANCE in the ultimate staying test for our four-year-old generation.
In the absence of dominant favourite, a case can be made for virtually every runner in the field and, as ever, the barrier draw on Thursday (20 March) for the BMW Hong Kong Derby could again prove decisive in the third and final leg of the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
The short run to the first turn can shape tactics for the entire race and, since 2000 when the BMW Hong Kong Derby was extended to 2000m, the race has produced some incredible winning rides, notably Alexis Badel on VOYAGE BUBBLE from barrier 14 in 2023, while Zac Purton claimed victory last year on MASSIVE SOVEREIGN from gate 10.
While Zac is unfortunately unable to ride in this year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby as he recovers from injury, the race has attracted the elite of international jockeys with Ryan Moore (MICKLEY), William Buick (MARKWIN), Craig Williams (CAP FERRAT), Christophe Soumillon (NOISY BOY) and Joao Moreira (PACKING ANGEL) competing against the best of the Hong Kong-based riders.
Ryan (PING HAI STAR in 2018) and Joao (RAPPER DRAGON in 2017 and SKY DARCI in 2021) have both previously savoured Derby glory and they will face several other jockeys this weekend bidding to follow suit, including Ben Thompson (BUNDLE AWARD) and James Orman (CALIFORNIATOTALITY), who are having their first rides in the Classic.
While the BMW Hong Kong Derby is a race of “once-in-a-lifetime glory” and the race every Hong Kong owner, trainer and jockey covet most, it is also a truly international event with 26 individual countries and regions broadcasting the 148th Derby.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the connections of all the horses engaged in the BMW Hong Kong Derby because having a runner in the race is an achievement in itself and I wish all of them the very best of luck on Sunday.
At Happy Valley tonight, St Patrick’s Day celebrations continue in the Beer Garden as part of the Neon Nights theme. Apart from Irish music, the Beer Garden will also offer Celtic-themed food and beverages for our guests, who can also enjoy world-class racing at one of the most spectacular racecourses in the world.
The feature race is the Class 2 Sports Handicap, which is carded as Race 9 at 10.50pm and will be run over 1200m for prizemoney of HK$2,840,000.
The pace will be good with AURORA LADY (James Orman) likely to lead from gate one. SUPERB CAPIALIST (Angus Chung) will be prominent from his inside draw with FULL CREDIT (Lyle Hewitson) also settling in the leading group. HARMONY N BLESSED (Ellis Wong) also has early speed and will drive forward from barrier 11.
BEAUTY DESTINY (Andrea Atzeni) has won four of his past five starts and could hardly have been more impressive last start when unleashing a brilliant finishing burst in the last 200m to win easily from KING OF FIGHTERS and AURIO on 19 February. BEAUTY DESTINY has been to Conghua since and, despite rising in class and drawing awkwardly in gate ten, he is again a win and place chance.
SWIFT ASCEND (Matthew Poon) has won three of six starts this season, including over this course and distance in October. SWIFT ASCEND laid in under pressure when fifth to INVINCIBLE SHIELD at Sha Tin on 16 February when he started favourite. SWIFT ASCEND has also been to Conghua since that run and he is a place chance.
AURORA LADY is a four-time winner at this course and distance this season. He was impressive last start when he easily held off PRAWNS ELEVEN and GALLANT VALOUR. With a perfect draw in gate one, AURORA LADY is also a place chance.
BRAVE STAR (Alexis Badel) was in brilliant form early in the season winning three on end over this course and distance. After a disappointing run behind BOTTOMSUPTOGETHER over 1000m here in January, BRAVE STAR fought hard to the line when a close third to SON PAK FU on 26 February. In that race SON PAK FU (Matthew Chadwick) jumped well and sat behind the leader COPARTNER PRINCE before coming off his heels at the 100m mark to narrowly win on the line.
Both SON PAK FU (Matthew Chadwick) and BRAVE STAR are place chances.
This is a competitive race with GUSTOSISIMO (Brenton Avdulla) coming into the race off a last start win and FULL CREDIT, STELLAR EXPRESS (Ben Thompson) and WINGS OF WAR (Harry Bentley) all racing well.
Comment
