Apart from the great importance of the feedback you raised with me through this blog, I believe face-to-face contact and communication with racing fans is always the most effective way for me to hear everyone’s views. That’s why since I become Club’s CEO, when my work schedule allows me to do so; I would visit the Off-Course Betting Branches in different local districts. This enables me to meet our racing customers there and listen to their personal opinions and suggestions about the different products and services provided by the Club.
During the Caulfield Cup simulcasts last Saturday, I made visits to the two betting branches in Tuen Mun, including the Jockey Club Theatre of the Tuen Mun Town Plaza betting branch. Quite a number of racing fans were there that day as the theatre was opened to customers to watch the simulcast races for free.
This was my very first visit to the Tuen Mun Town Plaza betting branch and its theatre, which is the largest betting branch in Hong Kong and an important venue serving the population and community in the northwest part of the New Territories. Personally, I was very impressed with its well-decorated and equipped auditoria, especially when watching races live through the two large TV screens, each measuring 4.6 metres by 3.6 metres, or 230 inches when using the same system of measurement we do on our home TV sets. These provide fans with great live racing action together with updated betting information. During non-racedays, members of the public also have chances to come to this multi-purpose theatre as it’s regularly used by community groups in staging different community events there.
A few racing fans, who visit the theatre regularly during racedays, also came to me and praised the facilities and cozy environment of the theatre. I’m glad to see our fans like that and enjoy their race watching experiences there. I would also like to thank the branch managers and their teams in both betting branches for providing very good customer service, which is not coming from me but more importantly from our customers.
I’ve also discussed with our team that when we get the license required, we would like to show football matches in the theatre. I’m sure our customers in Tuen Mun would enjoy this arrangement, too.
Apart from following up on customers’ feedback over various Club services, with the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races and its lead-up series starting next month, I’m also alert to recent news of some potential overseas runners.
A piece of news that raised my eyebrows last week was the one that came from Singapore, as sprint sensation Rocket Man made all the running in his victory in the Singapore Group 3 City Garden Trophy last Friday, defeating his opponents by four and a quarter lengths.
It was the 11th career victory from 14 starts for this Dubai Golden Shaheen and Krisflyer International Sprint runner-up, and he showed that he’s ready to take his upcoming challenge in Hong Kong. I look forward to seeing him in the Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Sprint and Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint in November and December.
Meanwhile, I learnt from my colleagues that we received similarly emphatic response in the first nomination stage of this year’s international races, as the events have attracted the interest of many top performers from different major racing jurisdictions. We will be soon making a formal announcement and you can see whether your favourite overseas runners have been named in the nomination lists of our showpiece international events.
I’m pleased that our racing fans have given great support to the Oktoberfest at Happy Valley Racecourse as there were more than 16,000 racegoers came to enjoy races at each of the previous two Wednesday nights. If you still haven’t been there yet, I hope you will catch the opportunity tonight to enjoy that German atmosphere on-course.
For the eight races on tonight’s card, I think the Ho Pui Handicap (2nd section) is a quite interesting race. With the expected good to slow pace, Flashing Guy should be able to take up a good position and lead. Though he just finished 8th and beaten by 2 3/4 lengths in his last start, I still expect significant improvement from him. The three-year-old Fun And Fast should be Flashing Guy’s main opponent, as he is working very well and I think he has room for further improvement. Other competitors such as strong finisher Asian Citrus, and Same Same, who has trialled at Happy Valley and was ridden by Douglas Whyte, are also capable to finish close in this race.
In the Tai Tam Handicap, this six-furlong event is expected to be run at good pace. Vintage Hussler from Gate 1 should be able to lead. However, I’ll still be watching how Horse Galore performs. This consistent runner made a nice start in his seasonal debut, finished fourth behind Jumbo Gold despite it was not an optimal run. Although he was drawn wide and will start tonight’s race from Gate 10, I think he remains to be a key contender in this race. Perfect Sprint is another runner that is worth of attention, as this four-year-old has been working very well after changing stables. With the Caspar Fownes’ stable now in great form, he can also give a challenge in this 1200m event.
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