Sunday’s Oriental Watch 55th Anniversary Sha Tin Trophy day was great. Our former Horse of the Year Designs On Rome produced his trademark long spurt to clinch a remarkable victory in the Sha Tin Trophy over Blazing Speed, who showed a touch of his best in the past over a distance far short of where he has been most successful recently. Both horses have such tenacity, but you simply cannot deny that Designs On Rome has tremendous heart, to seemingly make a big run and then hold off his rivals the length of the stretch. Joyful Trinity ran on well in his first significant test against some of the best in Hong Kong and should take plenty out of his fourth placing.
Relative to the impact of this race on the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, I found Beauty Only’s performance to be quite impressive in defeat, finishing third. He is well on track to mount a strong home defense. While Contentment disappointed, Sun Jewellery was promising first-up and should improve for the run.
The Premier Bowl appeared to be more straightforward as Lucky Bubbles made sure his first-up of the season a winning one, comfortably holding off the late charge of Amazing Kids to win this quality sprint event. It was also a great surprise to see Aerovelocity in his racecourse return following a health setback last spring, running a terrific third, only running out of fitness in the final 200 metres. Thewizardofoz was particularly disappointing, but was later found to have significant blood in the trachea and lameness, which was an explanation for his poor performance. Blizzard also was quite wide yet again. Overall, I am very optimistic for our home team in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint.
Today we are announcing the entries for the 2016 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, and I must say that it is amongst the most-accomplished, high-quality entries we have had for the event. Horses from 13 jurisdictions are entered with a multitude of international Group 1 winners, including a formidable group from Europe, Japan and Australia. There is still much time between now and the big day on 11 December, but it is very easy to get excited looking ahead to the big day.
Sunday’s meeting was quite special as Volitation and Anticipation brought Hui Sai Fun – one of the most experienced horse owners in Hong Kong – his 94th and 95th win. These two horses looked very promising and there is every possibility that they could help Mr Hui achieve a personal century mark of wins very soon in the future. That would be quite an accomplishment.
Racing returns to Happy Valley this evening, which will be the final night of our Oktoberfest themed races this season. We also have a cracking affair on our card as some quality gallopers will square off against each other in the Class 1 Hong Kong Country Club Challenge Cup.
It’s run as race 6 and is a Class 1 with a rating band of 110 to 90 over the distance or 1650m. We run today on the C+3 course which normally favours horses in the front of the field. In this respect, the position and pace of the race are even more important than usual – the pace should be good to slow which further favours horses on the pace.
When Basic Trilogy wins, he is often behind the pace, but as there is not much speed in this race and he has led in the past, he is probably going to lead here. Twin Delight could also go forward again after his upset win last time. Super Lifeline should have a handy position in the run. Harbour Master, now with Joao Moreira on board, is likely to be ridden more patient with All You Wish near the back, along with Ambitious Champion and Helene Super Star.
I think Twin Delight will be well-positioned and is working well for our own King of the Valley, Caspar Fownes. With Zac Purton on board, Twin Delight is my favourite. My second choice is Super Lifeline, who is in good form and finished third in his first-up over course and distance and should also get a good trip. Another for a win and place chance is Sichuan Dar, who is in fantastic form already with two wins over course and distance, and is also trained by Caspar Fownes too, though he will have to come from behind midfield. Harbour Master and All You Wish are handicapped by having to come from the back of the field and I see them more as place chances at best.
Comment
