As I said in my midweek blog, I spent some great time with more than a dozen top local athletes at the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme ceremony on Wednesday. It was enjoyable to meet all these top sportsmen on the same occasion and offer them the congratulations they thoroughly deserved. I wish them every success in their future competitions and hope can bring even more international honours for Hong Kong.
On racing it’s going to be a very important weekend in Europe, also an eventful one in Japan and Hong Kong. While our first full-card simulcast was today, with the Epsom Handicap meeting from Australia, tomorrow the European racing community will put all their attention to Chantilly Racecourse in France, as they will stage the annual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
It is a pinnacle event for all classic distance gallopers in Europe and this year’s edition is no exception. Most racing fans will be watching the performance of dual Oaks winner Enable. This brilliant three-year-old filly has won her last four appearances at G1 level, with a combined winning margin of 20 lengths. A win will definitely secure her bid for the European Horse of the Year this year. At the same time, it could bring her jockey Frankie Dettori a fifth Arc success, which would see him surpass legends including Freddy Head and Yves Saint-Martin to become the winningest jockey in this prestigious race. You may join us to catch all the live action from Chantilly in our simulcasts tomorrow.
My clear favourite is Enable especially after her good draw in gate two. My only concern is if she can hold her form, having started that early in the year by preparing for the Classics. I recommend to observe the ground conditions too because the Japanese starter Satono Diamond was struggling on the soft ground last time out and if the ground stays on the soft side, with the forecast of more rain, he will not appreciate it. Meanwhile, the German bred/trained and Hong Kong owned Dschingis Secret loves the soft going and was very impressive in his last course and distance win in the Prix Foy.
Elsewhere in Japan, they will stage the first G1 event of autumn racing season, the Sprinters Stakes at the Nakayama Racecourse. Blizzard will be our representative and this Ricky Yiu-trained gelding had a solid first-up run in his seasonal debut at Sha Tin in the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup earlier this month. His preparation has been fairly smooth since arriving in Japan and look forward to seeing if he could bring Ricky a second Sprinters Stakes trophy. Blizzard has drawn gate 12 which is tough and will make his tasks no easier. He has trained well and hopefully he can overcome the gate to have a chance for a place with Red Falx as my favourite and Dance Director as my second choice.
Tomorrow will also mark the start of our pattern season, with the G3 National Day Cup and G3 Celebration Cup among our 10 races on the card at Sha Tin. Top horses such as Beauty Only, Contentment and Mr Stunning will all return to races. They will be facing some progressing horses who are well-handicapped in the field, and will provide some early clues towards the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races in December.
The National Day Cup is an intriguing Group 3 contest run under Handicap conditions over the straight 1000m course. The pace is expected to be good with Peniaphobia likely to go to the front as he did in his recent barrier trial. Fabulous One should also go forward. D B Pin is likely to settle just behind the speed, but could go forward under the light weight. Mr Stunning is expected in mid-pack with Amazing Kids near the rear. Mr Stunning and D B Pin are both working very well, and with the 17-pound weight advantage, I prefer D B Pin ridden by Karis Teetan over Mr Stunning, who is the choice of Moreira. Peniaphobia and Amazing Kids seem likely not fit yet and I would not be surprised if some of the other starters, such as Strathmore, could be placed.
The Celebration Cup is run as a Group 3 under handicap conditions over 1400m and has attracted a very good field too. The pace should be good to slow with Time Warp going forward. New Asia Sunrise and Winner’s Way are likely to track with Giant Treasure. Contentment, Romantic Touch and Seasons Bloom should settle in the middle of the field, though Contentment could be wide from his draw in 12. Beauty Only will likely settle rear of midfield with Western Express and Booming Delight.
Seasons Bloom, Winner’s Way and Beauty Only are working very well. Beauty Only carries top weight of 133 pounds, giving 12 pounds away to Seasons Bloom and 16 to Winner’s Way. Adding in that it is also his first start of the season, while the other two have already had the benefit of a start, Beauty Only is still a place chance. My first choice is Seasons Bloom while Winner’s Way is my second choice. Booming Delight and Western Express are interesting contenders, but I see them more as place chances.
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