We announced our latest football development partnership with Manchester United this week, as their U-16 team will visit Hong Kong for the first time. They will engage in an intense football and cultural exchange with our elite youth players in the JC Youth Football Academy Summit in mid-August. It was a great delight for me to meet United legend Louis Saha, who won two premiership titles and a Champions League medal with his former club, in the ceremony we hosted on Wednesday.
We believe this latest programme will provide our young footballers a great opportunity to widen their horizons and appreciate the culture of young players from other countries. Louis also had his very own cultural exchange experience in the session as he demonstrated a Wing Chun practice and stance along with our Wing Chun master in the session. I must say he did a terrific job and was applauded by all our attendees!
At the moment I am in England for a quick visit. Having attended a few meetings after jetting in early this morning, I will catch the exciting Royal Ascot racing action in person. The G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes is the main feature of the day and you can follow all last-day action at Royal Ascot from our simulcasts tonight. I am back on plane soon after the last race and will hopefully arrive in time for the farewell ceremony for Aerovelocity.
We will also be simulcasting the Takarazuka Kinen from Hanshin which features Kitasan Black in this spring grand prix race. His connections have indicated a plan to bring him to contest the Arc in October, so we may see plenty more of him in our simulcasts next season. Of course, our LONGINES Hong Kong Vase winner Satono Crown is also in this race which should be a great test.
Tomorrow brings us the final pattern races for the 2016/17 season with a Group 3 double in the Premier Cup and Premier Plate. I was reviewing the form on the plane and believe that the despite the slow pace, Pakistan Star should be difficult to beat in the Premier Plate over 1800m.
The Premier Cup is a Group 3 race run under handicap conditions too, but this race is over 1400m and should see plenty of early speed resulting in a good-to-fast pace.
Six of the eight runners in this field have shown some past ability to be on or near the lead, and there seem to be several possible scenarios. Adventurer seems most likely to lead in the early going, with Dashing Fellow and Jolly Banner in the mix too. New Asia Sunrise likely won’t be far behind either. Winner’s Way and Magic Legend are likely to settle mid pack with Thewizardofoz and Sun Jewellery off the pace.
Winner’s Way, Thewizardofoz and Magic Legend are all working very well while the latter has his first attempt over 1400m. Winner’s Way is a very versatile horse and is, with 120 pounds, well rated and my first choice for a win and place. Thewizardofoz was seen as a horse of great potential and has been a little bit disappointing, but despite having to carry top weight, he is still a good win and place chance.
Magic Legend is only three and running for the first time over 1400m and will have to further improve to be successful against strong proven Class 1+ horses. Sun Jewellery runs on and, in my opinion, is at his best distance in this race. He should find this easier than his last assignments which makes him at least a place chance. The same applies to Dashing Fellow, a seven-time course and distance winner.
Comment
