On Wednesday we unveiled the list of selected runners for the Champions Mile on 5 May. Again we still have a very strong field of runners as for our home team flagbearers we have Stewards’ Cup winner Glorious Days and impressive Chairman’s Trophy hero Packing Whiz, who have both been in promising form recently. The race has added interest too as Xtension will be aiming to make history as the first horse to win the race three years in a row.
A lot of people were taken by surprise at the inclusion of our brilliant champion Ambitious Dragon. The surprise is understandable as if all goes to plan, he will feature in two international G1 events in two consecutive Sundays – a rare and most exciting possibility. Whether “The Dragon” will ultimately contest the race or not, it would remain to be as exciting to see our top milers to take on the stiff assault from up to three top runners from Australasia and the UK, namely King Mufhasa, Shoot Out and Penitent, in this race – one of the top international racing events in Hong Kong. The trio are all quality gallopers and you can see for yourself how Shoot Out performs today in our simulcast as he will encounter Australia’s superstar three-year-old Pierro in the G1 Doncaster Mile, which will be shown live Hong Kong this afternoon.
With the increasing globalisation of racing over the years, more horse connections are now willing to send their top horses aboard and contest top Group 1 events. These globetrotters act as ambassadors of international racing. From a sporting perspective, this trend is great for horseracing and I’m sure racing fans would agree that the chance to watch elite international runners from overseas performing here in Hong Kong always adds an extra buzz of excitement.
Horseracing is no different in this regard to any other major global sport, whether football, tennis, golf, rugby – the list could go on. Many top sports stars travel the world to test themselves against the best in major tournaments or exhibition matches. It is not only about the competition either as the presence of these star athletes also helps draw attention to their respective sports, drawing in the crowds and helping spark interest and even participation in sports.
Over the years the Club has provided great support to local sports development. Huge work has been done in different areas including the promotion of sports for all, nurturing young athletic talents, supporting elite sportsmen and backing disabled sports programmes. The Club is a significant contributor to the sporting landscape in Hong Kong providing sponsorship and donations allocated for large-scale sports infrastructure projects such as the HK Sports Institute, HK Stadium, Kau Sai Chau Jockey Club Public Golf Course and local public horse riding schools. Since the 1950s, the Club has pledged no less than HK$7.5 billion of donations and funds in supporting different hardware and software projects related to sports and recreation.
At the Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy raceday at Sha Tin racecourse this afternoon, sports development will be our main theme and we will be giving our special dedication to the sport sector for the great achievements over the years. We have invited many of our close partners and friends from the government, social groups and non-governmental organisations. Of course, taking pride of place will be important figures from the sports sector, as well as top athletes and their coaches. They all will be joining us for the occasion. I’m sure you’ll agree their accomplishments are as fine an endorsement as we could wish for of the support and contributions given by the Club to the sports sector over the past few decades.
I look forward to seeing the guests from different sectors of the community and I hope they will enjoy their time in the racecourse and the exciting sport we are staging this afternoon. For the HKJC Community Trophy, it will be a Class 4 event over 1400m. The pace should be good with two genuine leaders in Apollo Cavalier and Double Dragon. Some pressure will be coming from Multiexpress and City Delight, who will both try to overcome their awkward draws. Mr Gnocchi and T-Bolt can be well placed with Flying Supreme, Man And Ming and even Plain Red Banner from Gate 5 are at risk to be trapped wide. Forever Ahead and Thanksgiving should find good spots in midfield.
Thanksgiving goes back to 1400m and is working well and he will be a place chance in this race. Forever Ahead is the choice of Douglas Whyte who comes back from a suspension. This four-year-old horse is working well and has a win and place chance. T-Bolt is in good form and his work has been good. He is my favorite in this race. Plain Red Banner who was closing well in his race on Wednesday. Mr Gnocchi steps up in distance to 1400m and is a likely to improve with a chance to be placed.
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