A fantastic party at Sha Tin racecourse on Thursday night brought an end to the fascinating week that featured the 35th Asian Racing Conference in Hong Kong. As the Club’s Chief Executive I hope all of the 830 visiting delegates will have been pleased with our arrangements and hospitality during their time in Hong Kong. It was a great effort by all of the Jockey Club staff involved in the event’s organisation.
A total of 15 seminar sessions were held over the three days, with 68 speakers from both inside and outside of the racing industry sharing their views and thoughts regarding various racing-related issues and topics. We have identified an action list for follow up on key topics, such as the certification of racing laboratories around the world as well as the quarantine situation in South Africa. In the meantime I believe the discussions we have had will provide all ARF member nations and their delegates some insights and new directions to consider – I’m sure in time we will see useful elements applied and blended into the racing industry not just in Asia but the world over. As we face the challenges and competition from other leisure entertainment industries, it is important for the industry’s leaders and stakeholders to expand and strengthen the co-operation between different racing jurisdictions – after all, we live in a global age.
Some of you may have read in the media that I was elected Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation, a fact that was announced at the end of the closing ceremony on Thursday. I must tell you all that this is a really great honour for me, particularly as I have succeeded my very good friend Dr Koji Sato of Japan. Dr Sato has done an exceptional job in steering the general racing development in Asia and using his vast knowledge, wisdom and diplomacy to guide the ARF’s member nations over the past few years. This can be seen in Asia’s emergence as an ever-rising power in global racing in recent times. It’s a great privilege to have the support of all federation members and I am delighted that they have put their faith in me. I’m very confident that with the great team we have on the ARF Executive Council we can manage the challenges ahead.
An important part of any ARC closing event is the ceremonial passing of the ARF flag. As Thursday night’s party drew to a close, our Club Chairman Brian Stevenson handed the flag to me and I had the pleasure of passing it on to Mr Vivek Jain, the head of the Indian delegation. The next conference will be in Mumbai in early 2016 and I wish our friends in India great success in planning and implementing that event – I am sure it will be as enjoyable, informative and inspirational as ever.
Getting back to the sport of racing rather than the business of racing, the IFHA announced the latest edition of the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, coincidentally, on Thursday evening. There are a total of seven Hong Kong horses on the list among a total of 38 horses with the qualifying standard being an international rating of 118 or above. This reflects the high quality of our top four-year-olds this season as Designs On Rome is rated 123 for his success in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup, which puts him on a par with Military Attack to rank that pair joint 5th in the world for 2014 to date. Able Friend is rated 118 for his runner-up finish in the Champions Mile.
But the weight of attention of course has fallen on Able Friend’s conqueror Variety Club as he is rated 126 after his dazzling four-length victory. The South African runner’s international rating, which ranks him second in the world in this latest edition, is one of the highest ratings ever achieved as a result of victory in an international race in Hong Kong, just behind the 128 given to Lord Kanaloa following his win in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint last year. It says much for the increasing standard of the horses competing in these races that they should produce two such high ratings in that last six months. While some of the world’s top horses get their accolades, in football tomorrow the English Premier League will crown its champion. Currently Manchester City is leading Liverpool by two points. With superior goal difference they will win their second league title in three years if they manage at least a draw at home against West Ham, while Liverpool will need to win against a slightly revitalised Newcastle, and hope that West Ham can do them a huge favour. I’m sure the attention of many football fans will be fixed on these two matches tomorrow night.
For today, we have arranged 10 races in our Chairmen’s Day races at Sha Tin. I will be paying my attention to the Chan Trophy. It’s a Class 2 over 1600m and has attracted a very competitive field with 10 starters being 4-year-olds bought with the classic races especially the BMW Hong Kong Derby in mind. The pace is expected to be slow because there is no definite leader. Dr Good Habit needs to get across from his draw of 8 to lead with Helene Super Star. Tableaux should be well positioned in the front of the field with Sichuan Vigour, Kabayan and Mr Gnocchi from their draws likely taken back. The ground is likely to stay on the yielding side and Kabayan, Santa Fe Sun, Tableaux, Dr Good Habit and Sichuan Vigour have shown their ability to handle a softer surface. In this very competitive field I see eight horses with a good chance to win and my first pick is Santa Fe Sun, despite his draw, with Mr Gnocchi, Kabayan and Dr Good Habit also having a good chance to get in the first three. Tableaux is working well after being gelded in March and has at least a place chance as has Enthusiasm.
Tomorrow is also Mother’s Day and I hope you all enjoy a wonderful day with your families.
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