I expect many of you watched our Melbourne Cup Day simulcast yesterday and were as delighted as I was to see Brett Prebble achieve a career highspot by claiming his first Melbourne Cup aboard Australian runner Green Moon. I know that it will have been extra-special for Brett to secure this famous win at Flemington, being a native of Victoria himself.
Brett's success follows Gerald Mosse’s victory aboard Americain in the 150th Melbourne Cup two years ago. Both are currently our Club Jockeys, and it's a great advertisement for Hong Kong racing that these two top riders choose to be based and compete here.
Among the placegetters, UK-based Jakkalberry ran a hard-fought third and has been nominated for the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase. So have Luca Cumani-trained Mount Athos and My Quest For Peace who finished 5th and 10th, as well as last year's ultra-close quinella Red Cadeaux and Dunaden, who were both affected by the slow pace and ran 8th and 14th respectively. It is good to know that they are keen to come to Hong Kong, but it all depends on how they recover after the race and which other horses are competing for invitations. In a fortnight’s time we will know that among these Melbourne Cup runners, which of them will show up at Sha Tin, questing for more fame and glory for their connections in our internationals.
We'll soon be staging some big races in Hong Kong ourselves. On Sunday week, three G2 Jockey Club Race events – which are premier lead-up races to the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races in December – will take place at Sha Tin, and we announced the entries for them on Monday. We’ll also be welcoming back James McDonald, who finished second in the Melbourne Cup aboard Gai Waterhouse-trained Fiorente, as he’s making a special trip here to ride Captain Sweet in the Jockey Club Sprint and Dominant in the LONGINES Jockey Club Cup, both for trainer John Moore.
It’s not the first time New Zealander James has made flying visits to Hong Kong, and on the last occasion he rode Xtension to victory in the Champions Mile in May, so let’s see if he can repeat that success this time. He also did a short regular stint here at the end of last season. However, James was suspended in an interference incident in the Melbourne Cup race and he has raised an appeal. Let's see if he could make the trip to Hong Kong next week.
Before that, let us turn our focus to Happy Valley first, as apart from an exciting eight-race card, we will host the finale of our Oktoberfest celebrations there this evening. As well as enjoying chilled German beer and delicious Bavarian food treats, you can come to watch our special Gangnam Style dance competition in the Beer Garden. The team that performs the best horse dance can win free tickets to Seoul and hotel accommodation there.
For the feature race, the Hong Kong Golf Club Centenary Cup, it will be run over the distance of 1650m. This Class 4 event is expected to be run at a good to slow pace on the A Course, which should give a slight advantage for horses in the front of the field. Fortune Bravo, who has been outstanding this season, should be able to take the lead, with Real Dragon also likely to be in the front, too. Both horses have shown an equally impressive form early season. Both of them are my main picks in this race. Hong Kong Fat will be ridden by Tim Clark instead of Brett Prebble tonight. Having shown good form in Class 5, he will have to show his ability in Class 4 and is a place chance for me. Intellectualstride closed off well after being blocked at about 400m in his last start. He has to overcome the slight disadvantage coming from the back, but is another place chance for me.
The Fakei Cup is run as a Class 3 over 1650m. The expected good pace should give every horse a fair chance. My Goal will take the lead and with his good form, he is a place chance in this race. Medallist should be well placed in midfield behind the pace and is working very well. He was unlucky in his last run and should give his jockey Andreas Suborics, who steps in for Prebble, a very good chance to win! Zachary has to overcome Gate 9 to find a good spot in the front, he is a place chance for me, as is Noble De Best who is working well and should come from the back of the field.
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