I hope most of you will feel refreshed after the week-long break from local racing. I have taken this opportunity to recap the local races I missed in the past week, as well as some of the important local racing news. I am sure most of you would have learnt about the retirement of former champion sprinter Sacred Kingdom, with our formal announcement being made on Thursday.
The eight-year-old made his last racing appearance in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy last Sunday but finished only 10th of the 11 runners in that HKG3 event. Despite his lean spell in the past year, this outstanding four-time champion sprinter in Hong Kong and three-time highest-rated turf sprinter in the world won a whopping total of 17 races for his six seasons in training in Hong Kong. When Silent Witness started to fade out, it was Sacred Kingdom that firmly grasped hold of the former champion’s baton by winning two Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprints in 2007 and 2009, thus playing an important role in maintaining the dominance of Hong Kong sprinters in global racing. This top status earned him huge respect from racing fans and many consider him their all-time favourite. Such high esteem is perfectly justified for a horse that always impressed me with his huge heart and honest determination which, allied to his blistering speed, made him one of the sport’s true champions.
I believe many racing fans like me will well recall his success in Singapore when he defeated home favourite Rocket Man and cruised to victory in the 2009 KrisFlyer International Sprint, setting a record time at Kranji in the process. That emphatic win came after his recovery from leg injuries in the summer of 2008, which had prevented him from taking up a planned assault on the Sprinters Stakes in Japan, and the Hong Kong Sprint in the same year. Immediately after his Singapore success, Sacred Kingdom headed to the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and this warrior earned plenty of respect as he fought gallantly to finish fifth in this G1 event.
It was fortunate that Sacred Kingdom’s life was saved two years ago by his stable staff and Club vets. The champion was struck by a bout of colic before he was about to depart for Japan and a tilt at the Takamatsunomiya Kinen was abandoned. But he showed his great character after recovery when finishing third in the HK Sprint before getting his 17th career victory, and his 7th G1 success in the Centenary Sprint Cup last year.
Though he failed to add to his win tally in his last nine career starts and fell one victory short of the 18-win record achieved by Silent Witness and another past champion Super Win, I believe that Sacred Kingdom’s achievements give him paramount status as a brilliant champion. Now, with his Owner Mr Sin and trainer Ricky Yiu preparing their beloved horse for a well-deserved retirement in Australia, I am sure many racing fans will be very supportive of the connections’ decision, and be pleased to offer their best wishes to this popular champion.
Our colleagues are now making his quarantine and logistics arrangements and we will also see when we can arrange a ceremony for you all to bid farewell and express your appreciation to this great champion before his departure. You may learn more about related details from our future announcements.
Before then, local racing action will resume at Sha Tin tomorrow when we will host an 11-race programme including a griffin race. The main feature race is the 1200m SKOL Cup and 12 runners will head to post for this All Weather track event. With regular pacesetters like China Power and Final Answer the pace is expected to be good, which gives all horses a fair chance to show their best. Final Answer was disappointing last time but had a tough trip. With his good work, he will be one of the main chances in this race. My favourite in this race will be Regency Luck, who should get a good position behind the two leaders from his gate 2. New Glory with Olivier Doleuze on board is by Giant's Causeway whose many progenies handle the dirt track well. Starting from Gate 4 he should be in a good striking position and is at least a place chance. Flashing Aura despite his gate 11 and going back in distance, with Douglas Whyte as rider he should be an interesting outside chance in this event.
In the last race of the day - the Pak Sha O Handicap – it’s a Class 3 event with an extended rating band of 85 to 60, which makes the prediction of the race result being more difficult. The good to slow pace should favour slightly horses on the pace. Usual pacesetter Xilai Xianzi will have to overcome his gate of 14, and lead with Phaedo and Eight Plus Nine. G-One Winning should get an ideal position behind the pace and is the horse to beat. Victory Master is expected to be positioned in midfield and is one of the main opponents for G-One Winning, as is Keen Wongchoy who has to overcome Gate 12 and has to come from the back of the field for a place chance. Racing Hero will be making first start for his new trainer Richard Gibson. He is an interesting candidate for a top-three finish, too.
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