Sports fans experienced a bounty of live action at the weekend. Rugby football lovers enjoyed the exciting party atmosphere at the Hong Kong Sevens at Hong Kong Stadium, while racing fans were not disappointed by the 10 local races staged at Sha Tin and the Takamatsunomiya Kinen simulcast from Japan on Sunday.
As usual I chatted with some local racing media after Sunday's races. A few of them asked me why the Club – in view of the direct clash between the racing and the rugby – decided not to arrange the local meeting on Saturday rather than Sunday.
As you probably realise, every season’s racing fixtures have to be planned well in advance and submitted for Government approval. The current season's fixtures were actually mapped out well before the end of last season. We took many factors into consideration, including the dates of major events in Hong Kong like the Rugby Sevens and also top overseas races like the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, the 2nd leg of the Global Sprint Challenge. As there existed a possibility that Hong Kong runners might contest this Group 1 sprint event in Japan – such as Sacred Kingdom who targeted the race in 2010 though had to withdraw moments before departure due to a medical emergency – we were keen to match the race with our fixtures, and bring home live racing action from Japan to our local racing fans who are following the performances of overseas and local runners in this Challenge.
With the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in mind, I must say that I was suitably impressed with the performance of Japanese sprinting queen Curren Chan in this G1 event. She handled the new track at Chukyo very well and her victory confirmed the form of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint last December – the race in which she finished 5th behind Lucky Nine.
I believe that if Lucky Nine had run in that race, and settled well on his second visit in Japan, he would have been a strong opponent to the Japanese runners. Anyway, it was an understandable decision by his connections to send him instead to Dubai to challenge for the Dubai Golden Shaheen, one of the most important events on the Dubai World Cup Day. Lucky Nine is now in Dubai but latest news suggested that the horse has injured his hoof after his arrival. I hope he will be fine for his tilt at Saturday’s race.
Other reports from Dubai also suggest that the five other Hong Kong runners have settled in well, although the first three who departed on Thursday - Ambitious Dragon, Joy And Fun and Eagle Regiment – had a longer journey as their scheduled flight was delayed by four hours. Most of them have earned decent draws in their races on Saturday, the exception being Lucky Nine who is a bit unlucky to start out wide in the Golden Shaheen. This should give a great boost to our runners’ chances and I look forward to learning more about their condition and final race preparations later this week.
Before we turn our attention more fully to Dubai, we have another local race meeting at Happy Valley tonight, where we will be staging the Phoenix TV Cup to celebrate the 16th anniversary of this major television broadcaster in the Greater China region, as well as the first anniversary of its Hong Kong Channel. The Club always endeavours to work closely with local, mainland and overseas media to promote the sport of racing in Hong Kong, so I’m delighted that Phoenix TV has become the latest media group to enter into a close partnership with us. Not only will its News Channel carry live coverage of the Phoenix TV Cup this evening, but the station will also carry delayed broadcasts of selected key races later this season. This is certainly a welcome move and I hope they enjoy some memorable moments at their signature race meeting tonight.
We will also be hosting an Easter Comes to the Valley themed racenight this evening at which you can all get in the mood for the upcoming Easter holidays by participating in various on-course games and attractions. You will also have the chance to win free chocolates and gift basket prizes. So please come along with your friends and have fun at the Valley tonight.
In the Phoenix TV Cup, it is expected to be run in a good to fast pace, which will give horses coming from off the pace a better chance to make a strong run in the final stage. Reason for the fast pace is that regular leaders Dr Super and All Victory have to go fast early to overcome their wide draws. Adding to that, there are four other frontrunners who have drawn inside of them, which will add difficulties for both horses in winning this race. Dr Super is working very well and despite these circumstances, he remains to be a good win and place chance for me. But he will face some strong opposition, including Mr Vigorous who is a course and distance specialist and was only beaten by Dr Super in his last race by one and a half lengths. He should get a lovely run from his gate just behind the leaders. Glenealy Star is another runner who with his draw of 4, and with the claim allowance from apprentice Alvin Ng, has a good chance for me to make a close finish. Ultimate Winners has a lovely draw in Gate 1 and has trialled in Happy Valley before. If he can produce another performance similar to his second to Go Baby Go last month, he will be an interesting place chance for me tonight.
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