So many important themes of Hong Kong racing have come to the fore over the last few days.
Many congratulations to Tony Cruz for saddling the 1200th winner of his career in the Centenary Vase at Sha Tin on Sunday. He has brought Exultant out of the shadow of Pakistan Star to become a genuinely high-class stayer and his new rating of 129 means he is now Hong Kong’s second highest rated horse behind only Beauty Generation.
However, the spotlight now switches to another of our greatest stars as thousands of passionate fans at get a chance to salute Douglas Whyte on his final night in the saddle at Happy Valley.
It is amazing to think that some of the young men and women who pack the Beer Garden at the Valley each Wednesday were not even born when Douglas first came to Hong Kong in 1996.
The final farewell will be at Sha Tin on February 10, but Douglas has ridden 572 winners at the Valley and there have been some notable achievements along the way, including a memorable five timer back in 2004 with two winners trained by John Size and the others by Peter Ho, David Ferraris and Danny Shum.
Three International Jockeys’ Championships in 2002, 2007 and 2008 showed his skills against top-class riders from all over the world, and it is only right that we mark the Durban Demon’s final night at the Valley in the appropriate manner so that everyone can salute a true great of Hong Kong racing.
Wednesday’s card also sees the penultimate round of the Hong Kong Airlines Million Challenge, which awards HK$1 million in prizes for the horses who score most points based on finishing positions in Class 3 and above at the Valley.
This has been a closely fought and exciting contest all year and a number of the leading challengers are in action on tonight’s card.
Valley specialist Super Chic could get back among the leaders if he wins Race 6 but Red Warrior is above him in the placings at present and also lines up in good form.
The speedy Telecom Brothers is currently joint second in the standings with Red Warrior. He returns to the Valley for Race 8 but Country Star is the current leader of the series on 51 points and he is a good win and place chance in what will be a strong finale.
The sixth race is the Class 2 Hong Kong Club Challenge Cup over 1800 metres with Circuit Glory expected to dictate the pace as the clear leader in a field of nine runners. The pace will be on the slow side which will allow Glorious Artist and Red Warrior to be closer than usual. The slow pace will make this a tactical race and it can be a tougher assignment for horses coming from the back.
Red Warrior has a good record at Happy Valley and can take home an $850,000 High Achievement Bonus by virtue of a Class 2 win before the end of his four-year-old season. He has a realistic chance to do so and I make him a win and place chance in his current form. He will have first run at the leader and might prove tough to run down once he hits the front.
Super Chic must carry top weight but he is a horse for the course and I am willing to forgive his last race at Sha Tin. He should bounce back with an improved effort at Happy Valley and is a place chance. Circuit Glory will benefit from an uncontested lead and is also a place chance along with Packing Dragon, a horse that will come from the back.
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