On Wednesday we hosted our first group race of the season, the HKG3 National Day Cup. The result was a bit of a surprise as Bundle Of Joy defeated the likes of Amber Sky and Sterling City to claim the prize, giving his jockey Vincent Ho a first group race victory. Certainly the light weight Bundle Of Joy carried in the handicap was a major factor in the horse’s success, although it still stands as a fine effort. Despite their defeats, the performances of Amber Sky and Sterling City were not too bad. Hopefully it will be a good pipe opener for them and they can build on this in their next starts.
Another of our top sprinters, Rich Tapestry, will be running in the G1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship in California this weekend. It will be a big test for him as he will face last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Secret Circle, and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents in a field of six. It will certainly be an exciting race to watch, but it’s a pity that due to our limited number of permitted simulcast events in local season, we cannot cover this event in our simulcast programme. The horse will take on a very strong opposition and I will see how he adapts to the US racing environment. I’m also grateful for the support given by the owners and trainer to run Rich Tapestry without Lasix to demonstrate our medication free racing approach. Anyway, you all will know how he got on after the race on Sunday morning.
I’ll also follow the action, but from France, as I have already arrived in Paris for the IFHA annual conference and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe this weekend. Apart from discussing latest international racing issues with various of the world’s top racing figures during the conference, I’m also very much looking forward to watching this year’s Arc at Longchamp on Sunday. With a large field of 20, I would say it is one of the most open Arcs in recent years. At least a third of the field hold terrific form coming into this race, such as Epsom and French Oaks winners Taghrooda and Avenir Certain, Prix Niel winner Ectot, and British St Leger winner Kingston Hill.
Team Japan finished runners-up three times in the Arc in the past four years. They are still seeking their first ever win in the Arc and this year they will rely on the world’s highest-rated horse Just A Way, his talented stablemate Gold Ship, as well as the top three-year-old filly Harp Star. Here in France I will also meet JRA’s new President & CEO Mr Masayuki Goto. Actually I know Goto-san for more than 20 years, but it will be the first time for me to see him after he assumed his office last month, so I believe a landmark victory will come as a great omen for him and excellent news for everybody in Japan, too. This 5 million Euro contest, as well as the Prix de l’Opera on the Longchamp card, are our first simulcast races of the season. So you all can capture the live action of these world-class horses from Longchamp via our broadcast tomorrow.
Tomorrow at Sha Tin a host of local champions will also make their season debuts. The list of runners includes the likes of last season’s Horse of the Year Designs On Rome, Champion Miler Gold-Fun and Champion Stayer Dominant, as well as two-time Hong Kong Cup winner California Memory and Blazing Speed. With it being a handicap event it will be interesting to see whether those established stars at the top of the weights or those carrying light weights will fare better in tomorrow’s contest.
It’s good to see these top horses back in the Celebration Cup. One cannot deny that most of them have not reached full fitness at the moment and this race, being a handicap event, will make it not easy for them to win. This is more likely a first stepping stone for them to peak in the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races in December.
The pace is expected to be good to slow. Helene Spirit should go forward to overcome his draw and lead with both Secret Sham and Bubble Chic being well placed. Gold-Fun may be taken back from his awkward barrier and would join Designs On Rome who is not only carrying top weight but also not fully fit yet, at the back of the field. Secret Sham is working well and he’s my first choice with Helene Spirit. Gold-Fun is looking the one to be in better condition among those top horses at the moment and he is a place chance for me in this race.
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