Last Sunday’s Centenary Vase saw an enterprising ride from Chad Schofield work to perfection as he took advantage of a slow mid-race pace to sweep to the lead and his mount, Supreme Profit, was not for the catching. This success marked the peak in this gelding’s career to date, having been purchased at our Hong Kong International Sale in December 2012. Three seasons ago, Supreme Profit began with a rating of 39, but he has won nine races in his 30 starts since, and capped it with a new high, landing the Group 3 event. He is now rated 101, completing a big swing from Class 5 up to Group-race winner. It is also a good reminder of our upcoming 2017 Hong Kong International Sale, held this year on 17 March. As you probably recall, last year’s sale produced the likes of Pakistan Star and Jing Jing Win, two of our rising stars. It will be exciting to see this year’s prospects coming to Hong Kong in the next few weeks before the HKIS.
As I mentioned last week, the Club is a Founding Member of the Hong Kong edition of the LONGINES Masters, the three-day event which kicks-off Friday at AsiaWorld-Expo. We will be hosting several of the world’s leading equestrian riders tonight at Happy Valley and I take this chance to wish all the best for the big competition ahead.
Tonight also begins the first of our three Wines In the Valley race meetings at the city course. The beer garden will have a bit of extra flair with some special food and wine pairings and it should be quite enjoyable for our racegoers.
Tonight’s seventh race is the Volunteer’s Challenge Cup, a Class 3 handicap over 1650m. The pace is expected to be good to slow which favours horse on the speed and from the inside, Bullish Smart should get a bit of a soft lead. Unique Happiest is another chance to go forward while Big Bang Bong will likely track the lead as Victory Machine settles behind him. World Record should land in midpack with Mr Pele and the returning Young Ranger. Imperial Gallantry, Chater Legend and Digital Generation are all likely to be near the back after settling.
Bullish Smart is working very well and should likely be well positioned in the race. His last race, when second over course and distance, makes him a clear win and place chance. His main rival is, in my view, Big Bang Bong, who ran fourth in the same race as Bullish Smart. In that race, he was bumped after the start and lost some ground which forced him to switch out approaching the home bend to come wide and he ran on steadily. He is working well and is a win and place chance despite the fact Joao Moreira has switched from riding him in favour of Victory Machine who has been a bit disappointing, but has improved in track work and is switching to a longer distance in today’s start. An interesting newcomer to Happy Valley is World Record who ran well in his last start and I see him as a place chance. Another placing hope is Chater Legend, a last-out course and distance winner, who has to overcome the handicap to come from the back but he has maintained his good track work fitness.
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