Jockey Zac Purton experienced a wonderful weekend as he rode a hat trick in Macau, including Romantic Touch’s victory in the Macau Hong Kong Trophy, before returning to Hong Kong on Sunday and winning the 18 Districts Cup aboard Chung Wah Spirit, which was also his 700th win in Hong Kong. This is a great landmark for his fabulous local career over the past 10 seasons.
Most would agree that it’s a phenomenal feat for a jockey to consistently stay at the top of his game and Zac has proven time and time again how strong he is at the world-class level.
One global superstar on the track is hoping to make a name for himself in the stallion barn, and it was quite exciting to see that Frankel has produced a classic winner in his first crop, and this event occurred in Asia! Soul Stirring took the Japanese Oaks in Tokyo last Sunday, adding to the first G1 win she brought her great sire last December. Having researched her pedigree, I must say this filly came from a blue-blooded family as her dam was French prolific mare and six-time G1 winner Stacelita (who was also eighth beaten less than three lengths in the 2010 Hong Kong Cup by Snow Fairy), and the dam sire is champion German sire Monsun.
Frankel never raced over a mile and a half in the past, but the outlook seems promising for him to produce more Classic winners at that prime distance so early in his career as a stallion. While his progeny made this early breakthrough, it will be interesting to see if any of his sons or daughters can do the same in the upcoming European classics, many of which we will be simulcasting soon.
While we will offer the Japanese Derby this weekend, the French Derby is in our simulcast plan next month. Before then, we have the final of our French-themed midweek meetings at Happy Valley tonight and the highlight of the night is the Sauternes Cup in Race 6, a Class 3 handicap over the C course. There has been significant rain around Hong Kong and it could lead to some softer conditions tonight. The pace of this race is projected to be slow, which should benefit horses closer to the pace. A Beautiful could go forward with the step-up in trip. Thunder Stomp and Giant Turtle, who led over 1800m last time, should sit off the lead. Ten Flames is well drawn and should track the lead with Unicorn to his outside and Acclaimed Light behind. Litterateur is likely to settle midfield or worse with The Sylph near the back with Little Island, who is at risk of being caught wide, and Energetic Class.
Several horses in this race have run well on softer tracks, with wins from Ten Flames, Energetic Class and A Beautiful on good-to-yielding or yielding going in Hong Kong, which could possibly be to their benefit tonight. Both Litterateur and Giant Turtle are working well and enjoy decent draws from barriers five and four, respectively. I rate them each win and place chances with the narrow edge going to Litterateur who has improved considerably since adding cheekpieces and seems better acclimatized now. However, my main selection is Ten Flames, who is now much better drawn and has a win and a close third on good-to-yielding runs of the C course at Happy Valley. He stands to get a good trip and should not be too far behind the early lead. Thunder Stomp is a strong placing chance for me.
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