The HKIR is upon us!

Australian ace jockey Hugh Bowman made it third-time lucky when he won his first LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship title at Happy Valley on Wednesday.  He rode a winner and a second to edge Ryan Moore for the top accolade that evening, capping off a great year of 2016 in which he also partnered super mare Winx for six G1 wins. Our racing fans from Hong Kong and many overseas visitors turned out in a big way on Wednesday, with more than 29,000 in attendance, the highest mark since 1999.  My sincere thanks to all for their support.

In our partnership extending ceremony earlier this week, our HKIR partners LONGINES also displayed a set of genuine and original chronographs that they manufactured in the 19th century. The chronograph possessed great historical value as it was widely used in American racetracks for the purpose of race timekeeping at that time.  It’s also a symbol for LONGINES and was their very first connection with racing and equestrian sports.

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Certainly we now do it in a more electronic way and the LONGINES timers have been set up near the finish line of Sha Tin and Happy Valley for our races this week.  It will also be used for the important timing task when our top-class runners battle out in the four G1 races at Sha Tin tomorrow.

The draw on Thursday was generally favourable to Hong Kong runners in the Sprint, as most of our runners were drawn to start from low barriers. For our Japanese friends, they should be happiest in the Cup as most of them were drawn ideally.  Media and racing fans in Japan will also pay extra attention tomorrow as the JRA will simulcast the four HKIR races for betting in their homeland for the very first time. As always, I have enjoyed meeting and mingling with all the overseas connections, industry professionals and media here this week. It is a banner day on the global racing calendar and I’m sure you will join in the assessment of just what a remarkable day of racing lies ahead.

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The LONGINES Hong Kong Vase which is run over 2400m is normally the domain of European horses and with Highland Reel on an international rating of 123, should stay that way. The good-to-slow pace should enable him to take a position in midfield, or if necessary, further upfront to dominate the race with the French-based, Grand Prix de Saint Cloud winner Silverwave as his main danger. The Japanese runner Satono Crown, and especially Nuovo Record, have to come from last and are place chances, as is Helene Happy Star whose form is improving.

The LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, run over 1200m, is likely to be run with a good-to-fast pace. Peniaphobia, from gate one, should lead with Takedown while Aerovelocity and Not Listenin’tome will be positioned behind the speed. Lucky Bubbles, who is working very well, should be in an ideal position behind the speed and is my first choice to win the Sprint with Aerovelocity as a place chance. Amazing Kids is improving and has to come from the back and I see him as a place chance too. The big danger comes from the two Japanese contenders, Red Falx and Big Arthur, who has to overcome an outside draw in 13. However, my discussion with his trainer Kenichi Fujioka suggests he does not see this as a problem. He will be ridden by Ryan Moore, which makes him an even bigger threat. In his last start, Big Arthur was shuffled back and was untested. Red Falx has to come from the back, and this a strength of his jockey Mirco Demuro.

The LONGINES Hong Kong Mile is a fantastic race with an expected good-to-slow pace. Neorealism can lead or sit on the speed, and was hampered and checked for an unlucky third in the Mile Championship with Beauty Flame joining him in the lead. Sun Jewellery, whose work is improving, will be ideally positioned with Contentment while Logotype and Romantic Touch follow them. Beauty Only, who was my best Hong Kong chance in the race before the draw, has to come from the back as has Helene Paragon and Satono Aladdin who was running on in the Mile Championship in Kyoto, but was impeded badly. Able Friend has to come from last due to his draw but is working very well. If he would have three weeks more, I would be confident he would win the race, but his preparation had to be rushed and I see him still as a place chance and with some luck in the run, he could go close. Neorealism, with Ryan Moore, is a win and place chance as is Satono Aladdin while Beauty Only, Sun Jewellery and Helene Paragon are more for a place.

The LONGINES Hong Kong Cup is the richest 2000m race on turf in the world and has attracted some of the highest rated turf horses in the world. A Shin Hikari, who seems to have shaken off his mixed-form since travelling to Ascot, and should make use of his good draw from gate one to lead under legendary Japanese jockey Yutaka Take. He is working extremely well and will likely try to dictate the pace with Horse Of Fortune following him. Blazing Speed is likely just behind as is Lovely Day. Maurice, who looks and works like a champion, can sit midfield or be closer to the pace, depending on Ryan Moore’s choice as to how he wants him ridden. Elliptique, who is working very well, should be behind him with Staphanos and Queens Ring, who could be forced wide farther back from gate 11. Designs On Rome will, as usual, have to come from the back. How much ground he will need to make up depends on how fast A Shin Hikari travels. Our dark horse Secret Weapon will be midfield.

If last year’s A Shin Hikari turns up on Sunday, he would give Maurice a run for the money, but looking at Maurice’s last impressive win and combining it with Ryan Moore’s confidence, I still prefer him over A Shin Hikari. I would not have been surprised that even the next places could all be taken by Japan, with Elliptique a placing chance. Of course, I hope that Designs On Rome can once again show his class for a place, but we can see now how much our Horse of the Year, Werther, is missed in this challenge against our overseas competitors.

We also have some phenomenal supporting races which include some horses that might hope to have an impact in the HKIR in the future. Jing Jing Win, undefeated in two starts, will lead off in our first race while Champion Griffin Mr Stunning is one of the top choices in the ninth race, and the viral sensation Pakistan Star will give all of our racing fans something to await in Sunday’s finale. Our highest-rated 4 year-old Rapper Dragon is due to make his return in the sixth race, but he is, in my opinion, not at full fitness and will likely improve for the run. There is a great day ahead and I wish everyone a fantastic time at the HKIR!


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