Ireland has enjoyed a long and successful association with Hong Kong’s world-class horseracing and tonight (18 March) at Happy Valley, we celebrate St Patrick’s Day with the 19th running of the Ireland Trophy Handicap (1200m) at our iconic city racecourse.
Ireland has had profound influence on Hong Kong racing over the years and that link continues with the feats of outstanding horses such as global champion ROMANTIC WARRIOR, the ongoing support of champion trainers such as Aidan O’Brien, while elite jockeys including Michael Kinane rode in Hong Kong with tremendous success.
We currently have the brilliant young rider Dylan Browne McMonagle competing here and showing exactly why he is so highly regarded as potentially the next great European champion with 10 wins so far from his short-term stint.
Tonight’s staging of the Ireland Trophy Handicap – which is carded as Race 5 and will be run over 1200m at 8.40pm – serves a prelude to the running of the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (22 March) as anticipation grows ahead of the “race of once-in-a-lifetime glory.”
The Ireland Trophy pays tribute to Ireland’s long association with horse racing in Hong Kong, China and I am delighted that Mr Jerry Buttimer, Minister of State for Transport and Community Development in Ireland, will present the Ireland Trophy and crystal vase to the winning owner.
Jerry will be joined by Ms Jennifer Bourke, Consul General of Ireland to Hong Kong and Macao, and Mr John Alan O’Sullivan, President of the St Patrick’s Society of Hong Kong, and I look forward to a wonderful night at Happy Valley as we celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
With only four days until the staging of the BMW Hong Kong Derby, the moment of truth is looming quickly for the 14 contenders selected to vie for ultimate Classic glory in the Year of the Horse.
Without a clear-cut favourite, virtually every runner in the field has claims to victory and, in the circumstances, the barrier draw tomorrow (Thursday, 19 March) will be even more crucial for the third and final leg of the Four-Year-Old Series.
We will have a CEO Blog tomorrow to analyse the outcome of the barrier draw.
At Happy Valley tonight, our world-famous Beer Garden will take centre stage as our Neon Nights theme continues as we celebrate St Patrick’s Day in true Irish spirit as racegoers have the opportunity to enjoy Gaelic themes under the neon glow.
The Young Bucks will deliver Irish folk melodies as the momentum builds towards BMW Hong Kong Derby Day at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, while attendees relax over great music, food and beverages and play the BMW Hong Kong Derby trivia game for the chance to win prizes between nine world-class races.
One of the competitive highlights is the Class 2 Daisy Handicap, which is carded as Race 7 and will be run over 1200m at 9.45pm for prizemoney of HK$2.84 million.
The speed will be good, with GUSTOSISIMO likely to go forward from gate 10 with CHATEAUNEUF (Lyle Hewitson) also crossing from barrier nine to be prominent from CRIMSON FLASH and ROMANTIC SON.
COLOUFUL KING has been racing well down on Sha Tin’s straight course, winning in November and then finishing runner-up at his past two starts, including narrow defeat to STELLAR EXPRESS on 22 February in fast time. Zac Purton should have COLOURFUL KING in the back half of the field on settling and he will be finishing fast in the closing stages. He extends to 1200m but was a close second to STORM RIDER over the course and distance earlier in the season and is a win and place chance.
ROMANTIC SON is a three-time winner at this course and distance this season. His most recent win on 4 February won him the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge with victory over CALIFORNIA BLITZ. Harry Bentley will have him closer to the front from gate one and ROMANTIC SON is a place chance.
YOUNG CHAMPION had his first run at Happy Valley on 4 February when he settled back in the field from barrier 10 and was closing strongly late to finish runner-up to BEAUTY WAVES over this trip. YOUNG CHAMPION has drawn gate six tonight, and he is a place chance for Karis Teetan.
CRIMSON FLASH hasn’t run since stepping up to 1600m and fading to finish 11th to LITTLE PARADISE in the Hong Kong Classic Mile on 1 February. CRIMSON FLASH spent a month at Conghua after that run and trialled well last week at Sha Tin in preparation for this race. He has an ideal draw in gate three and is a place chance for Andrea Atzeni.
KAHOLO ANGEL (Dylan Browne McMonagle), GUSTOSISIMO (Angus Chung) and BRAVE STAR (Vincent Ho) all have claims.
Sport – at all levels – forms an integral part of our city’s identity and the performance of our athletes at the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) reflected that passion, ambition and excellence with 11 gold, 23 silver and 26 bronze medals.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a passionate supporter of Hong Kong, China’s athletes and it is wonderful that our NGD athletes were rewarded with a total of HK$6,843,750 in cash incentives under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme (JCAIAS).
I congratulate the team on their ‘can-do spirit’ and thank them for the tremendous pride and credit they have brought upon our city across a variety of sports, including boccia and table tennis.
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