The tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po has had a profound impact on the entire Hong Kong community and I extend my deepest condolences to all those affected.
My thoughts are with those who have lost family members and friends and also with those who have been injured, hospitalised and displaced in this terrible event.
The Club is deeply saddened by the loss of so many lives at Tai Po and is committed to providing ongoing support, including financial donations to assist with relocation to short-term housing or youth hostels, food assistance, bereavement and psychological support, educational support, carer support and the distribution of medications.
The Club has so far donated HK$100 million through Jockey Club Emergency Relief Fund, which was established in 2010 to provide rapid assistance to victims of natural disasters, accidents and epidemics and enables the Club’s Charities Trust to respond quickly and flexibly to those in immediate need.
Additionally, all gross income from Sunday’s (30 November) race meeting, estimated to be around HK$70 million, will be donated to support those affected by the tragedy, in consultation with the Government. This brings the Club’s total contribution to around HK$170 million.
Out of respect for those affected by the fire, the race meeting will be held behind closed doors with only Owners and their connections as well as Stewards and Voting Members as part of the Club’s governance and there will be no sponsors.
The Stewards of the Club, Officials, Trainers and Jockeys will observe a minute’s silence at 12.20pm in the Parade Ring before the first race. All jockeys will wear black armbands as a mark of respect and there will be no live music.
At this time of mourning, I again wholeheartedly extend my sympathies to those who are suffering.
At Sha Tin on Sunday, the Class 2 Turf Handicap is carded as Race 7 and will be run over 1600m at 4.10pm. The speed will be good to fast.
PRAY FOR MIR (Matthew Chadwick) likes to lead and will go forward from gate 14 and VOYAGE SAMURAI (Derek Leung) will be prominent from gate five. SKY HEART (Alexis Badel) will settle close to the speed and STEPS AHEAD (Zac Purton) and SOLEIL FIGHTER (Andrea Atzeni) will also be in the leading division.
Brazilian Group 1 winner SAGACIOUS LIFE (James McDonald) made his local debut with a brilliant win over STEPS AHEAD and STUNNING PEACH over this course and distance on 26 October and he is a win and place chance.
STEPS AHEAD finished fifth to LIGHT YEARS CHARM over 1400m on 9 November and Zac should have STEPS AHEAD in a good position from gate six and he is also a win and place chance.
LO RIDER (Vincent Ho) won impressively at Happy Valley on 17 September, beating ENCOUNTERED and SOLEIL FIGHTER before finishing unplaced behind SPEED DRAGON on 15 October. LO RIDER shaped well in a trial last week and is a place chance.
HONG LOK GOLF (Harry Bentley), SKY HEART, MICKLEY (Karis Teetan) and CHIU CHOW SPIRIT (Hollie Doyle) are all place chances, while SHANWAH (Keagan de Melo) will improve off his first-up effort will appreciate stepping up to 1600m.
The Japan Cup will be run over 2400m at Tokyo Racecourse at 2.40pm (Hong Kong Time) on Sunday. As one of the leading 2400m races in the world, the Japan Cup is part of our simulcast programme.
The Japan Cup contains several International Group 1 winners, including CALANDAGAN, DANON DECILE and TASTIERA, who finished third to ROMANTIC WARRIOR in the 2024 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and won the the 2025 G1 QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.
Including TASTIERA (Damian Lane), the field features three G1 Japan Derby winners – DANON DECILE (Keita Tosaki), and CROIX DU NORD (Yuichi Kitamura).
MASQUERADE BALL (Christophe Lemaire) impressively won the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) and is a rising star. He has drawn awkwardly in gate 15 but the expected strong pace should allow him to find a good position and he is a win and place chance.
CALANDAGAN (Mickael Barzalona) is going for his fourth Group 1 win in a row and has drawn perfectly in gate eight and is also a win and place chance.
CROIX DU NORD, DANON DECILE, ADMIRE TERRA (Yuga Kawada) and TASTIERA are all place chances.
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