Before our race meeting at Happy Valley in midweek, we announced that on top of the HK$2 million emergency relief donation we made earlier that day, we would donate the net operating surplus from Wednesday’s race meeting to help victims of Qinghai earthquake. I am happy to tell you the sum reached HK$15.4 million, surpassing our best expectations, so I'd like to thank all for your great support.
But please don’t forget we will continue our public fund-raising drive at all our off-course betting branches and clubhouses today, as well as at both racecourses tomorrow when we host our spring international meeting at Sha Tin. So while you are enjoying our races, please give your support and contribute generously to this very worthy cause.
The racing world's focus will be on Hong Kong tomorrow as we stage two International Group 1 events on home turf, the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Champions Mile.
Both races promise to be as exciting as ever, although our preparations have not gone without some hiccups this year. As you will know, the ash cloud created by the volcanic eruption in Iceland has caused serious disruption to air traffic across much of Europe, and this has meant the late withdrawal of French APQEII Cup representative Chinchon and Champions Mile contender Cat Junior, as they can no longer reach Hong Kong in time for the races tomorrow. I know that a few of our European-based media friends have also been forced to abandon their journeys to Hong Kong.
I’m glad to hear, though, that the situation is gradually improving, and one of our visiting European jockeys, Christophe Soumillon, has already reached Hong Kong, arriving safely last night. Reigning British champion Ryan Moore has also secured a flight and should arrive here tomorrow in time to partner Presvis and Thumbs Up in the APQEII and Champions Mile respectively.
Despite the enforced withdrawals, both international races still have strongly competitive fields and should be very entertaining. In the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup, we have Luca Cumani’s Presvis back to defend his crown, as well as Lizard’s Desire who finished agonisingly close for second in the Dubai World Cup. Add those two top contenders to our Hong Kong Derby winners Collection, Super Satin and Viva Pataca, I think it should be quite a match-up to watch.
Meanwhile, the field for the Champions Mile – the 3rd leg of this year's Asian Mile Challenge – includes all the race’s past three winners, namely Sight Winner, Good Ba Ba and Able One. They will be up against prominent overseas raiders Dao Dao from Australia and Imbongi from South Africa. With other top local milers such as Beauty Flash, Egyptian Ra and Fair Trade also looking for good results in this race, as a prelude to contesting the Yasuda Kinen in Japan in June, I think we should see a very heated challenge in this event.
As usual, I’ve done my own analysis on these two top races. I think the APQEII Cup is a quite open race, but I will fancy the chance of Collection in this HK$14 million event. The way he won the Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup in his penultimate start was emphatic. With his proven performance records at the distance of 2000m, I think this John Moore-trained runner will be the horse to beat. For other runners, Luca Cumani’s Presvis was caught into traffic on the straight in his last start in the Dubai Duty Free, I think he possesses the credential to bounce back from that disappointing run and he will be a tough opponent for Collection. Evergreen stayer Viva Pataca and the ever-consistent galloper Mr Medici will also have chance to finish close in this race.
For the Champions Mile, Paul O’Sullivan’s Fellowship is in top form this season as he captured his maiden Group One victory in the Stewards’ Cup, and a very close second last start in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup. He was drawn Gate 7 and I think it’s pretty ideal for this strong finisher. I’ll see if this gelding can become an International Group One winner tomorrow.
Mick de Kock’s improving miler Imbongi, and Michael Hawkes-trained Dao Dao, have both settled very well since arriving Hong Kong last week. In particular, Dao Dao has performed very well in trackwork and is currently in great form. I believe these two prolific milers will pose severe threat to the home team. For Thumbs Up, trainer Danny Shum chose to skip the Chairman’s Trophy earlier this month in prepare for this race, he’s also capable to finish in the money tomorrow.
By the way, let me also remind you that the first race will start at 12.45pm. So please come earlier to the racecourse tomorrow and not to miss any exciting racing actions. See you there!
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