Our racing focus is firmly fixed on the annual showpiece event for four-year-olds – Sunday’s HK$18 million BMW Hong Kong Derby. While I will offer my thoughts on the race from a form perspective in my weekend blog, I thought it would be a good time to look at some of the notable items for this year’s race.
Over the last 30 years, horses bred in the northern and southern hemispheres have claimed 15 Derby wins each. More recently, over the last 10 runnings, six winners have come from the southern hemisphere while four were bred in the northern hemisphere. Seven of the last ten winners of the Derby were private purchases that had raced overseas while three (Luger – 2015, Fay Fay – 2012, Ambitious Dragon – 2011) were unraced griffins when starting their careers here.
As for this year’s selected runners, eight hail from the northern hemisphere while six are from the southern hemisphere, and all but two, top-rated Nothingilikemore and Richard Gibson’s four-time winner Rattan, are private purchases.
Among them is one of the most interesting horses to run in the Derby in recent years, Tony Millard trainee Singapore Sling. His first two races in Hong Kong were very solid given the horse endured a long transit from South Africa due to the quarantine situation they face at present when exporting horses. He took a step forward winning the Hong Kong Classic Cup last month and would be the first South Africa-bred horse to win the Derby should he be first past the post on Sunday.
Owner Albert Hung would be seeking a memorable, and incredibly rare, Derby double should Ruthven claim the prize this Sunday. His Rapper Dragon was a scintillating winner last year when becoming the first horse to sweep the Four-Year-Old Classic Series and Ruthven seems to be progressing over the longer trip. Of course, Albert’s son Kevin has Rocketeer, who is also a winner over 2000m at Sha Tin.
Douglas Whyte, our 13-time Champion Jockey, has not missed the big race since he moved to Hong Kong, and will be riding in his 21st Derby when he is expected to partner Good Omen for trainer Dennis Yip. Douglas has three Derby wins, which is tied for second in the professional era (with Gerald Mosse, who is due in to ride Patriot Hero), behind only Tony Cruz who has four wins as a jockey.
It’s set to be an intriguing raceday and I suggest paying close attention to the final pieces of trackwork from these horses via our website. Nothingilikemore had a solid 1200m trial on the dirt yesterday and looks to be in good order following a troubled fourth in the Hong Kong Classic Cup. The excitement is building and the big day is almost upon us.
Before then we will have eight races at Happy Valley tonight and the eighth race is the Arsenal Handicap, a Class 3 event over 1650m of the B Course. The pace is expected to be good-to-slow with High Volatility a likely early leader, chased by Red Marvel and Thunder Stomp. Chater Legend should settle midfield with Circuit Glory and a possibly wide Top Laurels. Litterateur should be near them with Ten Flames, while Lucky Girl and Marvel Joy are likely to be rear of midfield. Heroic Guru and Beauty Trust should settle out the back.
High Volatility is working very well for this, as is Litterateur, and they are both well drawn in gates six and seven, respectively. While they have different styles, and High Volatility will carry just 113 pounds, 20 less than Litterateur, I see both as serious win and place chances. Interestingly, Chater Legend has two wins and one third, which was just two starts back beaten only a neck, when he is drawn in barrier one over the 1650m trip at our city track. He once again has drawn the rail for Neil Callan, who partnered Chater Legend in all three of those efforts, and he is also a major chance.
Marvel Joy improved when stretching out to the two turns at Happy Valley last time. His trackwork has been good and he could take another step forward into the placings tonight. Circuit Glory makes his first start at the Valley, and first start in Class 3, and should be competitive, although he has not trialed over the course.
Also, I wanted to remind you that the Hong Kong Flower Show opens to the public starting this Friday and runs through 25 March. As in previous years, the Club’s Charities Trust is again a major sponsor of the event. The theme of the show this year is “Joy In Bloom” and I trust the many visitors to the Flower Show will enjoy the gorgeous arrangements and landscape displays.
Comment
