I am glad that the Independent Review Panel appointed by the Board of Stewards of the Club has identified and announced the likely causes for the partial collapse of the Married Inspectors’ Quarters of the former Central Police Station Compound happened at end of May this year. This is an important step for this heritage project to move forwards. The Club is committed to completing this project for the benefit of the community. Our Project Management Team is working on the most practical recovery plan for the partially collapse building and will continue the site works with safety as top priority.
On racing, a treble at Sha Tin on Wednesday took our in-form, home-grown trainer Chris So to the second position in the trainers’ premiership. At 17 wins he’s just one win behind the current table topper, his former mentor Caspar Fownes.
There are many happenings overseas this weekend, and it includes quite a few runners who could come to Hong Kong for our big meeting, which is now just five weeks away. A few horses that are under consideration for the HKIR ran earlier today in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington. Several others will be participating in the second day of the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita overnight.
Arc winner Found, last year’s Hong Kong Vase winner and this year’s Arc runner-up Highland Reel, as well as other top horses such as Limato, Tepin and California Chrome will all be running and I will keep an eye on their performances tonight.
Back home at Sha Tin there will be an elegant and sensational race day tomorrow, as we host the annual Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day. I must offer a special word of thanks to Simon and Eleanor Kwok for their tremendous support for racing in Hong Kong. Sa Sa’s sponsorship of tomorrow’s meeting helps us reach customer segments that we would typically not, and their overwhelming promotion of Ladies’ Purse Day makes it one of the must-visit meetings of the season.
Our popular merchandising counters, make-up corners, and all other on-course attractions will be ready for our many customers and I hope you enjoy this special, festive and storied race day tomorrow.
The G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap is certainly our theme race of the day. A few runners in the field are also targeting for our international races next month. I think this 1800m Group 3 event will be a key stepping stone for horses targeting the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase. The pace will be good to slow and the three likely leaders are Romantic Touch, Horse Of Fortune and Basic Trilogy. Helene Super Star showed some decent form at Happy Valley and likely should track the leaders. Last out winner Harbour Master could also settle ahead of midfield if he gets some luck.
The C+3 course over which this race is run favours horses towards the front, and coming from the back of the field is not always easy, especially because coming up the inside requires luck, while going around the field often gives the leaders a big start.
Anticipation and Eastern Express are both working very well and are for me win and place chances even though they are outside the handicaps – with Helene Paragon topping the ratings on 123 with Anticipation and Eastern Express on 97 and 89. Anticipation has the benefit of a winning run this season and looked very impressive doing it. He seems to have settled in now.
Basic Trilogy is another lightweight with a good chance and ran well last time out too. Helene Paragon has to come from last and likely needs the run to get to full fitness but am expecting an improved performance.
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