The action is certainly coming thick and fast at present. Congratulations to Karis Teetan, who recorded his fastest ever half century of winners with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday, and also well done to Wishful Thinker, who may well be flying the Hong Kong flag on Dubai World Cup night next month after his latest dramatic sprint success.
But this week is now all about a fantastic card at Sha Tin on Sunday that features champions of the present and possibly also of the future.
Beauty Generation will be the star attraction yet again in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup. His progress since he got the better of a great finish with Beat The Clock in this race 12 months ago has been tremendous to watch and the runner-up is fresh from his first Group 1 success as he prepares for the rematch.
The fact that this race is over 1400m rather than Beauty Generation’s regular distance of a mile makes for a fascinating tactical battle and it’s also important to note that John Moore’s gelding tries to repeat last year’s success after winning six consecutive Group races.
That sort of feat is incredibly hard to achieve in the fierce competition of Hong Kong and, for me, it is fitting that the last horse to do it was Able Friend, who was right in the middle of his winning streak when he won this race in devastating style for John four years ago.
Some of Hong Kong’s most famous horses – including Indigenous, Viva Pataca, Military Attack and Designs On Rome – have won the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and then come back to win it again the following year.
Time will tell whether the mercurial Time Warp can add his name to that illustrious list on Sunday, but perhaps the most intriguing puzzle of the day revolves around the Hong Kong Classic Cup.
If you take a sample of the last decade then history indicates that it is more likely than not that this year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby winner will be in action here.
Ambitious Dragon, Designs On Rome and Rapper Dragon all won the Classic Cup on their way to Derby glory, while Werther, Super Satin, Fay Fay and Akeed Mofeed all used the race as a springboard to their Derby success.
Add in the fact that the exciting Derby candidate Waikuku is also in action on the supporting card and it becomes very clear that we have a superb day’s racing in store.
The three feature events alone are worth a combined HK$30 million in prize money and, all going well, this has all the makings of a fantastic showcase for Hong Kong racing as a whole.
The first of the three major races is the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m with Beauty Generation to take up his usual position setting a good pace. Pingwu Spark will also go forward and Vincent Ho has a decision to make with Little Giant, drawn widest in ten. To see out the trip, I expect Little Giant will try to slot in and find cover as opposed to pressing forward to take on the Horse of the Year.
As is often the case, this will be tactical and one of the most interesting races of the season. Beauty Generation is the world’s best miler at the moment and is working well in pursuit of a perfect season. His last three wins have been relatively easy against top company but I do believe this could be a real test for him back at 1400m.
Beat The Clock will be well placed close to the leaders from his inside draw and comes off a good Group 1 win in his last start over 1200m. He is very consistent and if any horse can possibly beat Beauty Generation, he looks the one.
He is capable of running very strong sectionals and therefore I make him a win and place chance. Conte and Rattan are both going well but Winner’s Way is also a place chance at a long price.
In the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000m, the pace will be good as familiar rivals Time Warp and Glorious Forever are one dimensional and need to go forward. Simply Brilliant and Southern Legend will be close up in their first attempts over this trip.
Exultant has shown his talent and versatility in winning the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase over 2400m then returning last month to win a G3 over 1800m in impressive style despite receiving massive interference soon after the start. He is in career-best form and is a win and place chance to come from the back and continue winning ways.
Southern Legend should be better than midfield in a position to get first run on the early leaders. Eagle Way and Glorious Forever also have high-class form but I have not given up on Pakistan Star, who is a place chance and could surprise everybody if he gets into a rhythm at the back early on.
The last of the three exciting races is the Hong Kong Classic Cup, the middle leg of our four-year-old series over 1800m, and this looks a very exciting group of four-year-olds with a lot of depth.
Ka Ying Star, Helene Leadingstar and Mission Tycoon are the likely leaders with the pace expected to be slightly slower than standard.
Trainer Frankie Lor has a strong hand coming in with the two highest rated horses – Dark Dream and Classic Mile winner Furore – and both are solid win chances.
Dark Dream clearly had a tough trip when fourth in the Classic Mile. He will be better over 2000m and needs a bit of luck to get a run from his position in the field and the way that Furore quickened to win the Classic Mile impressively suggests that he may just have the edge.
Mr So And So had no clear run early in the straight in the Classic Mile. He should get every chance with Ryan Moore aboard and is a place chance along with Harmony Victory, who will appreciate the step up in distance and was checked in his last run at about 300m, and the improving Ho Ho Khan.
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