For me, this is always one of the most exciting phases of the Hong Kong racing season both on and off the track.
Already this week we have seen a fantastic list of international riders revealed for the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley on 5 December.
And next week we look forward to revealing the list of equine stars who will be coming from all over the world for the LONGINES Hong Kong International races on 9 December.
But first we have a special Sunday at Sha Tin to look forward to – and what a day it promises to be.
Looking down the list of declared runners for our three feature events, we have nine different horses who have won at least one G1 race in Hong Kong.
And, perhaps even more remarkably, Sunday’s three BOCHK-sponsored contests have fulfilled their intended purpose in the calendar perfectly by attracting every single one of Hong Kong’s twenty highest rated horses.
It seems fitting that Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year Beauty Generation gets things under way when he bids to confirm himself as the world’s leading specialist turf miler against some old rivals in the Jockey Club Mile.
Pakistan Star, Time Warp and his younger brother Glorious Forever take up the baton when they meet in a fascinating Jockey Club Cup, while Mr Stunning is up against no fewer than five of his former stablemates from the John Size barn as he tries to repeat last year’s win in the Jockey Club Sprint.
We are sure to learn a lot with regard to the LONGINES HKIR races, starting with the Jockey Club Mile (R6). This is a G2 in which winners of G1 races in the last year – namely Beauty Generation and Seasons Bloom – have to carry 128lb while all the others get a 5lb allowance.
Beauty Generation showed marvellous ability in making all to win the Sha Tin Trophy when beating Singapore Sling with a 16lb weight difference on his latest start and, as The Golden Age is also a natural front runner, the pace is expected to be good to give all eight starters a fair chance. Thewizardofoz may be on speed with Pingwu Spark and Southern Legend staying in midfield, while Singapore Sling, Seasons Bloom and Beauty Only will come from the back.
Beauty Generation is the clear favourite and the horse to beat. He is working very well and is flexible either to lead or let The Golden Age, who comes back from a June operation to remove a chip, go forward.
Singapore Sling ran well in his last start when finishing second to Beauty Generation. It was his first start of the season and he made up two and a half lengths on the winner in the straight.
He is fitter now and is my second choice but turning around the result from the last start will not be easy. Southern Legend and Pingwu Spark should have improved from their seasonal debuts and are place chances.
The BOCHK Jockey Club Cup is also a G2, scheduled as R7 over 2000m. The same penalty conditions apply with Pakistan Star and Time Warp carrying 5lb penalties for G1 wins and the pace is expected to be good with Time Warp and Glorious Forever taking each other on again. Pakistan Star and Werther could stay around midfield, with Eagle Way, Gold Mount and Exultant at the back.
Time Warp made a surprising return to form in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse and is working well. It will be interesting to see if Glorious Forever, who missed the start last time, will try to put more pressure on his big brother.
Time Warp can react to being put under pressure but he can also run very strong sectionals is still the horse to beat, with Glorious Forever being my second choice. Exultant, who is working very well, will appreciate the extra 200m and is at least a place chance as is Eagle Way.
Pakistan Star is capable of beating nearly every horse in the world over 2000m when he is in the mood and at his best.
He is still not fully fit after a long break and his two runs this season have been disappointing, especially last time when he was distressed after the race. However, Tony Cruz has already turned Time Warp around this season so let’s see if the real Pakistan Star shows up.
Last but not least of the G2 Races is the Jockey Club Sprint over 1200m (R8) in which Ivictory, Mr Stunning and D B Pin carry128lb as recent G1 winners while the other top-class sprinters carry 123lb.
The pace is expected to be good to slow, which should give a slight advantage for the horses in the front of the field, and Hot King Prawn should bounce out in front with stablemates Ivictory and Premiere tracking him. Mr Stunning and D B Pin should be around midfield, with Beat The Clock, Fifty Fifty and Born In China coming from behind.
Hot King Prawn was very impressive in his last start over course and distance. He benefitted from a significant weight advantage having to carry only 122lb while Ivictory and Mr Stunning had to carry 133lb.
Hot King Prawn, now 6lb worse off, is working very well and will be ridden by Moreira. He has a good chance to win again but I would not underestimate Mr Stunning, who is also working very well and should have improved from his last start.
Ivictory is much better drawn in 1 than in his last start when he was ridden hard to get a position outside Hot King Prawn from gate 8 before but fading in the last 300m. He will be much better positioned this time and is a win and place chance too.
It will be interesting to see how D B Pin looks in the paddock after his long injury break. The same applies to Beat The Clock but perhaps both will need this start to gain full fitness.
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