Following our LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, the Club, in partnership with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) hosted the International Conference on the Equine Disease Free Zone (ICEDFZ) on Tuesday. We welcomed key government officials from Hong Kong SAR and the Chinese Mainland, along with industry experts from 18 countries and regions. We welcomed Mrs Carrie Lam, Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive, who opened the ICEDFZ with remarks that stressed the importance of the EDFZ to so many parties. Four memoranda of understanding were signed, reinforcing the policies and procedures governing the operation of the biosecurity zone in Conghua and the various horse movement arrangements between the Conghua Training Centre and Hong Kong.
While the working sessions were informative and the conversations fruitful, many of the ICEDFZ participants then travelled on to Conghua and enjoyed a site visit on Wednesday at CTC. The feedback was superb from these global experts, praising the design of the site, the attention to detail and focus on biosecurity.
My thanks to all those who took the time to join us for this vital session, key to the world’s understanding of the EDFZ and the development of our dual-site operations.
Quite a number of horses that might be on the road towards the BMW Hong Kong Derby are in action on Sunday at Sha Tin, which is Lukfook Jewellery Day. For Sunday’s races, my attention is turned to Race 10 which is the Lukfook Jewellery Beloved Collection Handicap, a Class 2 event over 1400m. The expected pace will be good to slow and Pingwu Spark could be the leader here, having sat just off the lead when a course and distance winner at his last start. Good Standing could track them with Eastern Express working forward from the outside along with Big Bang Bong. Limitless might be in midfield, behind Little Dragon and Penang Hall. Zilong, Baba Mama and Doctor Geoff are all likely to settle behind midfield.
Both Pingwu Spark and Doctor Geoff are working very well and are the main two chances in my opinion. Doctor Geoff has improved from his first start in Hong Kong which was impressive and he is one of the upcoming horses for the Hong Kong 4YO Classic Series. He is my first choice despite his draw in gate 12.
Baba Mama, Big Bang Bong, and World Record are chances for a place and I would keep an eye on Limitless returning back to the turf.
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