Here in Hong Kong we have 10 or 11 races each race-day at Sha Tin, and eight for every midweek race night. All of those races are incredibly competitive and that’s why it’s a very good day for any trainer or jockey if they manage to get three or four winners at a race meeting. Any more than that would be a particularly special achievement.
If you have followed our races closely, you can perhaps easily recall that jockey Brett Prebble and trainer Caspar Fownes both achieved a six-timer at the same Happy Valley day meeting in June 2010.
Earlier this week in the UK, a jockey notched one more winner than Brett and Caspar’s outstanding single day performances, as Richard Hughes became only the second ever jockey in British racing history to ride seven winners in a day. He achieved this exceptional feat from his eight rides at Windsor Racecourse on Monday, and he wasn’t too far off making it eight from eight as his only losing ride that afternoon finished third. Although six of his seven winners were returned as top favourite or joint-top favourite of their respective races, one couldn’t argue that the jockey showed great consistency and effectively executed his race tactics in fulfilling such a remarkable achievement.
Prior to that, it was golden boy Frankie Dettori who achieved this astonishing feat at Ascot Racecourse back in September 1996. The Italian maestro, then in his prime, won on all seven of his rides that day, a Group One race-day no less, that was hailed and is still well remembered by many as “Dettori’s magnificent seven”.
The ever-popular Dettori’s phenomenal haul that day included the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. As of last year, this major mile event is now held on the same day as the G1 Champion Stakes and these historic championship events form two important races on British Champions Day. Tonight we will simulcast four races from that Ascot event, when some of the best horses in Europe will lock horns. Hughes has rides in three of the four simulcast races tonight, namely the G2 British Champions Fillies’ and Mares’ Stakes, the G2 British Champions Sprint Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. I am interested to see if he can land more big winners to cap what would be a magical week.
But such is the stature of one particular runner that the attention of most racing fans will be fixed most upon the remaining simulcast race of the evening, the Qipco Champion Stakes. Frankel, the horse that has brought so much joy to racing fans not only in Britain but around the world too, will feature in this 2000m event, which is very likely to be his final career start.
Frankel is unbeaten in 13 career starts and won his races by an average of 5.7 lengths. He is also the only horse ever to have twice achieved an official rating of 140. Some are even saying he could be the best horse ever. It is easy to go overboard with hyperbole even over a horse of such immense prowess, so I was interested to hear this week that even veteran horsemen such as legendary French champion trainer Andre Fabre, have been lauding Frankel’s accomplishments. Fabre went so far as to say that Frankel’s “the best there’s been”, even better than the legendary Epsom Derby and Arc winner Mill Reef, a horse he had previously rated as the ultimate thoroughbred. With a true great like Fabre making such a bold statement, let’s see if this Sir Henry Cecil-trained superstar will bag another spectacular victory and maintain his perfect record tonight.
Meanwhile, there are many discussions about the track going issue at Ascot, and there is a slight worry with the possibility that further rain might turn the ground heavy, something that Frankel has not encountered. That concern is especially valid given that his two main rivals – Cirrus des Aigles and Nathaniel – are well-suited to wet conditions, as is Dettori’s mount, the German Derby winner Pastorius. Whatever happens, I believe it will be an historic race!
Under normal circumstances, I believe the Qipco Champion Stakes should be an easy task for the final racecourse appearance of Frankel, whose International Rating of 140 is exactly 10 pounds clear of the next horse, Cirrus des Aigles. Frankel’s last gallop was very good and the only question is whether he can handle a very soft ground which suits Cirrus des Aigles. But I still believe in the superiority of Frankel being the best race horse may be of all time. German Derby winner Pastorius loves soft ground and has an outsider place chance!
Back in local racing, please don’t forget that we have arranged for you the first Happy Valley day-time race meeting of the season tomorrow. In the last race of the day, the Cha Kwo Ling Handicap, it is a very competitive Class 2 over 1200m. With an extended rating band of 105 to 80, it has attracted two horses who has a rating of 105, with it being Legendary Dragon and Time After Time. The pace is expected to be good to fast, which should help especially Time After Time, who comes from the back of the field. His last start was a good second over 1000m which is on the short side for him. With the extra distance, he is my favourite to win the race. Legendary Dragon should be well positioned behind the front runners and he will also be a serious challenger in this event. Go Baby Go has his first start in Happy Valley but should not be underestimated, as well as Turbo King who finished well in 4th in his season debut. Tai Sing Yeh, a former “King of Happy Valley”, is back at his best distance, but he has to show significant improvement from his last start to be considered!
Comment
