Hong Kong’s long and celebrated connection with the horse is an integral part of the city’s identity and as we celebrate the Year of the Horse, the LONGINES Hong Kong International Horse Show is a timely reminder of the Hong Kong’s enduring connection with these wonderful animals.
The LONGINES Hong Kong International Horse Show, which officially started on Friday (30 January) at Asia World-Expo and runs until Sunday evening (1 February), is an outstanding event which promotes the spirit of equestrianism, while enriching the cultural and sporting landscape of Asia.
Horse racing has occupied a special place in Hong Kong’s history and remains Hong Kong’s most popular sport with its champion horses, trainers and jockeys as well as passionate owners who sustain our world-class racing, while equestrianism continues to flourish both in our city and on the Chinese Mainland.
Since the Beijing Olympics in 2008, when the equestrian events were staged in Hong Kong, horse riding has boomed on the Chinese Mainland and, in 2023, the Club entered into a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the China Horse Industry Association (CHIA) to develop the equine industry in China.
This collaboration forms part of the National Equine Industry Development Plan established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the General Administration of Sport and it is interesting to reflect on the advance of equestrian sports in both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.
I am particularly excited by the relaunch of our world-class horse racing at Conghua on the Chinese Mainland in October and the Year of the Horse shapes as an amazing celebration with a fabulous series of events to honour the horse and I would encourage everyone to participate in as many activities as possible.
Along with ROMANTIC WARRIOR, KA YING RISING has repeatedly showcased the quality of Hong Kong racing in recent seasons and it is fitting following the recent celebration of Danny Shum’s 900th winner as a trainer in Hong Kong that David Hayes should also enjoy a significant milestone of his own with his 700th victory in Hong Kong with CHINA WIN’s success at Happy Valley on 28 January.
As a dual champion trainer in 1997/98 & 1998/99, David is in his second stint in Hong Kong, having saddled 458 wins across his first 10 seasons. Since returning in 2020/21, David initially discovered the level of competition, particularly among the homegrown trainers, had risen significantly.
But, after finishing runner-up in last season’s championship to John Size, David is currently sitting second only to Mark Newnham (34 wins) with 33 wins as we approach the halfway mark of the season.
I congratulate David not only on the milestone, but also his management of KA YING RISING from an unraced talent to the world’s best sprinter in the space of only 20 starts, with 18 wins and two second placings.
World Pool continues tonight with Cape Town Met Day from Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town, South Africa. The first of 10 races will be simulcast from 7pm.
Apart from featuring the very best of South African racing, there is an interesting Hong Kong connection at this meeting with the presence of jockey Nichola Yuen.
Under an agreement between the South African Jockey Academy and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Nichola is on a six-month placement in South Africa after riding 71 winners in Australia and New Zealand. She has since added seven more winners in South Africa from 84 rides.
Nichola rides WORDLY tonight in the Cape C Stakes, which is carded as S1-2 and is run over 1200m at 7.35pm. Nichola won on WORLDLY for Glen Kotzen over this course and distance on 13 January and, from the good draw of gate two, I wish her all the best.
The G1 Cape Town Met is carded as S1-6 and will be run over 2000m at 10.05pm. The pace is expected to be good.
Champion trainer Justin Snaith has six runners in the 11-horse field and is chasing a fourth consecutive win in this race with his main chances being EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN (Richard Fourie), SEE IT AGAIN (Andrew Fortune) and SAIL THE SEAS (Muzi Yeni).
EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN won this race last year and is the reigning South African Horse of the Year. He was sidelined with sickness and was not at peak fitness when eighth when resuming behind THE REAL PRINCE in the G1 King’s Plate (1600m) on 10 January in his first race since July and, from gate two, is a win and place chance.
THE REAL PRINCE (Craig Zackey) is racing in career-best form and is the hardest to beat, while SEE IT AGAIN and SAIL THE SEAS are also leading contenders.
GARRIX, who will be ridden by Keagan de Melo, won two Group 3 races last season and has been placed at Group 2 and has a good draw in gate 5.
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