January is not only a month of fresh beginnings on the international calendar, but in Hong Kong it also marks one of the most exciting phases of the horseracing season with the emergence of several exciting young horses.
With the first leg of the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 1 February – now only 25 days away, the focus on our Classic Generation intensifies with virtually every meeting.
Last Sunday (4 January) was no exception with the strong win of SAGACIOUS LIFE for Pierre Ng and Zac Purton in the Class 2 Leighton Handicap (1600m) against several other four-year-olds as well as older horses, while carrying top weight of 130lb.
SAGACIOUS LIFE is now rated 97 in the four-year-old standings – second only to sprinter COLOURFUL KING (99), who was most unlucky in running second to STELLAR EXPRESS in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m) – and shapes as an ideal horse for the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, especially having won a Group 1 over 2400m in Brazil before he was imported to Hong Kong.
This Sunday’s (11 January) Sha Tin meeting could prove decisive for several other talented young horses with the running of a Restricted Four-Year-Old Class 3 Handicap over 1600m.
The entries include quality gallopers such as INVINCIBLE IBIS (83), BEAUTY BOLT (82), DARYL FLASH (78), NATURAL NUMBERS (76), CLASS (71), URANUS STAR (71) and HOTT SHOTT (70), while fellow four-year-olds LITTLE PARADISE (87), PUBLIC ATTENTION (83) and INFINITE RESOLVE (81) are entered to take on older horses in a Class 2 over 1400m.
With all horses attempting to enhance the hopes of their owners and trainers of being selected in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 1 March and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March, this weekend’s meeting shapes as one of the most important of the season.
Rarely a meeting goes by without a milestone, but we are on the cusp of several significant landmarks with Francis Lui needing only two more wins to reach 1,000 Hong Kong victories as a trainer.
Fellow home-grown Group-1 winning talent Danny Shum requires only two more wins to reach 900 wins, while four-time Hong Kong champion trainer Caspar Fownes is only seven wins away from his 1200th victory.
There are several other trainers and jockeys poised to achieve professional milestones, but I am especially delighted for Francis, Danny and Caspar, who all learned their craft here in Hong Kong and have advanced to become world-class trainers who are respected on the international stage.
Crowd favourite Rechelle Mansour returns to the Happy Valley Beer Garden tonight (7 January) for our Happy Wednesday Winter Wonderland series.
Rechelle’s world-class singing and dancing highlights the Winter Wonderland entertainment, which also includes wonderful food and beverage options in the world-famous beer garden, which has been transformed with distinct winter-inspired decorations and furnishings.
Attendees can enjoy the festive surroundings, while watching nine world-class races at our iconic city venue.
The Class 3 Des Voeux Handicap is the competitive highlight and is carded as Race 9 and will be run over 1650m at 10.50pm with prizemoney of HK$2,050,000.
The pace will be good with BEAUTY GLORY (Angus Chung) going forward to set a solid tempo. CORLEONE (Maxime Guyon) should be prominent from barrier four, with ANOTHER ZONDA (James Orman) and LO PAN SPIRIT (Derek Leung) looking to take up close positions from wide gates.
KING LOTUS (Lyle Hewitson) has a good record at this track, winning twice over 1200m. Last start, KING LOTUS drew wide and had to work early to sit outside the leader. He hit the front 100m out but was run down late by THE BOOM BOX, who won impressively. KING LOTUS has been to Conghua since and, from gate six, is a win and place chance.
CORLEONE comes into this race after successive Class 4 wins over this course and distance. He received a perfect ride from Ryan Moore last start when winning a leg of the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship on 10 December, going forward to lead from an inside draw and holding off ACE WAR and FORTUNATE SON in the closing stages. CORLEONE should get a perfect run and is a place chance.
A AMERIC TE SPECSO (Andrea Atzeni) returned to form last start when settling midfield for James McDonald on 17 December and finishing well to beat CHILL KAKA and MIGHTY STEED. John Size has given A AMERIC TE SPECSO an easy time at Conghua since and he is a place chance, despite the awkward draw.
ANOTHER ZONDA is racing well and was held up for clear running in the straight last start when sixth to SILVERY BREEZE on 10 December. His previous run over this course and distance was good when third to SUPER UNICORN and he is again a place chance.
FANTASTIC FUN (Karis Teetan) is capable of sharp improvement from his last-start seventh to A AMERIC TE SPECSO on 17 December when he went back from a wide draw and made ground in the straight. FANTASTIC FUN is also a place chance.
This is an important race from the perspective of the DBS x MANULIFE Million Challenge, which will have its finale on 4 February and several horses have the chance tonight to improve their positions on the leaderboard to try to ultimately win the HK$1 million bonus.
KING MILES (36 points) and REGAL GEM (36) are currently the joint leaders from HELENE FEELING (28.5), while A AMERIC TE SPECSO (25) could take the overall lead tonight if he wins and collects the maximum 15 points for a victory.
TRIUMPHANT MORE (21) and STORMING DRAGON (21) can also make significant gains in Race 8, while HARMONY N BLESSED (15) and BLUE ILLUSION (15) could also improve their overall positions in Race 7 by finishing in the first four.
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