This week our Japan Nights continue at Happy Wednesday. The relationship we share with our colleagues in Japan is incredibly strong, and their accomplishments as a racing and breeding centre are remarkable. Japanese runners have enjoyed tremendous success in their Hong Kong visits over time, most notably in 2001 when enjoying a Group 1 treble at the Hong Kong International Races with Agnes Digital winning the Cup, Stay Gold taking the Vase and Eishin Preston landing the Mile.
Among the most celebrated Japanese winners in Hong Kong had to be Lord Kanaloa, whose two LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint wins were sensational, particularly his second win in 2013 when he stormed off to a five-length success over a very accomplished field. That margin of victory still stands as the largest in the history of the HKIR. Last year’s HKIR double of Noriyuki Hori trainees Satono Crown and Maurice was also special. Maurice joined Jim And Tonic as the only horses to win the Mile and Cup, and of course, he earlier added a Champions Mile title to his CV.
Our own Hong Kong horses have enjoyed a fair bit of success when going to Japan – Fairy King Prawn’s Yasuda Kinen win was a notable first in 2000, followed by a Hong Kong double in 2005 and 2006, with Silent Witness taking the Sprinters Stakes before Bullish Luck landed the Yasuda Kinen later that season. Ultra Fantasy and Aerovelocity each won Group 1 sprints in recent years too, along with a host of other notable placings and solid performances.
This time next week, we will be revealing the invited runners for the 2017 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, and surely there will be several big names in from Japan aiming to add to their past titles. I’m sure our racing fans are looking forward to the selection announcement and the big day itself on 10 December.
Until then, tonight’s Japan Racing Association Trophy goes as the seventh race on the card and is run over 1,650m of the C course. The pace is projected to be slow without an obvious leader in the field, which should help those horses settling near the front. Dr Win Win could go forward and take up the running with Red Marvel likely to slot behind and chase. Top Laurels might be caught wide, but should be behind the pacesetters with Lotus Breeze and Gold Land in midfield. Victory Boys should slot in behind midfield while Chater Legend and Photon Willie are likely to settle at the back.
Dr Win Win is likely to race forward and might provide him a tactical edge on this field. He has been in very good form this season with our current leading trainer, Frankie Lor, and has maintained solid trackwork in the morning. He is my main win and place chance. Red Marvel is another with a very good chance for me and well drawn with Joao Moreira aboard, is very likely to be in the first two at the finish. Victory Boys, who is working well a freshening, and Chater Legend are both placing chances, as is Super Form, who might need some luck in running with a wide barrier draw.
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