We are heading to the final two months of our current racing season and there are just 15 race meetings remaining. However, the intensity level in the contest for the Champion Jockey title reached a new level after Zac Purton collected a brilliant four-timer at Sha Tin on Sunday.
It was a terrific result for Zac, as he now trails our three-time premiership winner Joao Moreira by just four wins. I am sure that many racing fans will continue to follow closely the mounts of these two top riders in the upcoming race meetings.
We are also set to host the final Group 1 event of the season in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin this weekend. British raider Chemical Charge arrived at Sha Tin on Sunday and he will become the first overseas runner in the history of the race. This is his second trip to Hong Kong in the last five months as he was beaten less than three lengths in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase in December, finishing just ahead of fellow race entrant Gold Mount. It will be exciting to see how he performs against our small, but very talented field.
There is much to look forward to on Saturday, with the running of the Sha Tin Vase as well, but many eyes will be on Pakistan Star aiming for his second Group 1 win in a month. I will offer my thoughts on the races in my next blog.
Before that, we will stage the last of the three Le French May themed meetings at Happy Valley tonight. I look forward to meeting some of our French friends, as I did in Seoul last week as well, as the France Galop Cup is one of the feature races of the evening.
It’s a Class 2 1200m handicap and is in the seventh race of the card with Moment Of Power and Fortune Bo Bo expected to go forward as both horses are speed oriented and are stepping up in trip following wins last month at 1000 metres. Both have good records at Happy Valley but have shown a preference for the shorter distance. E-Super and California Fortune will also join the early mix to ensure a lively pace.
Gunnison is one of five runners in the race looking to win a lucrative $750,000 High Achievement Bonus and though he is making his first start over the course, he was impressive in his Happy Valley trial and should be in the box seat or in close contention over the early stages. He looks to be a win and place chance with Moreira riding for leading trainer John Size.
Zac Purton rides the in-form Fortune Booth, another win and place chance for me, after finishing well to be second against similar opposition over 1400m at Sha Tin last month. He is proven over the course and distance, has drawn a good gate, and will be closing ground from a position slightly worse than midfield. The pace scenario should work to his advantage.
Kingsfield has been a pace presence in his last two starts against top horses such as Ping Hai Star and What Else But You, but doesn’t have the speed to match up here. Still, he is in top form and is a place chance from midfield with the services of 10 pound apprentice Victor Wong. Team Fortune, a horse that may benefit from the pace, can finish with interest and is also a place chance. This is a good race as well as a good fortune race with no less than four horses carrying fortune in their name – California Fortune, Fortune Booth, Team Fortune and Fortune Bo Bo.
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