Earlier this week, the Licensing Committee announced the granting of a trainer’s licence to long-time assistant Frankie Lor for next season. Frankie has worked in the local racing industry for many years, initially as a jockey and more recently as the assistant trainer with John Moore and John Size, where he accumulated significant training experience with some of Hong Kong’s most accomplished horses. It’s terrific to see another home-grown horseman rising to a new stage of his career. Frankie will meet the media next week to discuss his personal approach to training and I’m sure our racing fans will be quite interested to learn more about him then.
And in midweek, Joao Moreira missed our race meeting due to illness, but has been cleared for a return to the saddle tomorrow, and he has a full book of rides, which includes the group-level debut of Mr Stunning in the G2 Sprint Cup and the return of BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Rapper Dragon. The horse who became the first to sweep our 4YO Classic Series is dropping back in trip to 1600m, possibly setting him on a course for the Champions Mile on 7 May. These two headlining races offer significant pointers for our forthcoming spring features.
In fact, tomorrow’s field in the Chairman’s Trophy includes the last three winners of the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup, a Hong Kong Mile winner, the dual Stewards’ Cup and Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup winner from this season, last year’s Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup winner, and the aforementioned Derby champion. Needless to say, this is an incredibly exciting race with many variables and should be incredibly exciting for our racing fans who have come to expect such world-class excellence from our top races.
The Sprint Cup is run as race seven and over a distance of 1200m.The pace is expected to be good to slow with class performer Peniaphobia gets in without a penalty and should go forward. Bad Boy is also expected to show speed from a wide barrier and Mr Stunning is likely to settle just behind the speed with Lucky Bubbles nearby. Blizzard and Lucky Year are likely to be outpaced and should be near the rear in the early running.
Lucky Bubbles is working very well and should be perfectly positioned which is helpful on the C track we are racing on tomorrow. Lucky Bubbles is the horse to beat in my view and, with not going to Dubai, is focussed on winning the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in May. Mr Stunning is an upcoming 4-year-old with huge potential and is in great form, but will take on the big boys for the first time on level weights. Despite this significant step up in class to Group 2 level against proven Group 1 horses, he is a place chance.
Peniaphobia and Blizzard are not to be underestimated along with the tremendously talented but unpredictable Thewizardofoz.
The Chairman’s Trophy is an international Group 2 over 1600m but could easily qualify for Group 1 status. This race has attracted the best older horses in Hong Kong over distances between 1600m to 2000m. The pace should be good to slow as Horse Of Fortune with Kei Chiong is the very likely leader and will aim to soften the pace. Contentment is a reliable type who should go forward into the second spot with Rapper Dragon likely to slot in behind. Blazing Speed is likely to race midfield with Beauty Only further back. Werther and Helene Paragon are likely to be off the pace too with expected early back marker Designs On Rome.
Rapper Dragon is working very well and despite going back in distance from 2000m to 1600m, which is not what I would prefer, he is the horse to beat. He should be well placed and has the amazing ability to accelerate. I don’t underestimate Helene Paragon, Beauty Only and Werther, but Rapper Dragon gets five pounds from them which will likely make it difficult for the older brigade. Helene Paragon is working well too and is, with Beauty Only, the main danger to Rapper Dragon while Werther needs, in my view, a little bit more than the 1600m. Contentment is working well again and I see him as a place chance too.
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