A little time always helps provide a clear perspective on our major events and, having assessed all aspects of FWD Champions Day, I believe the occasion lived up to all expectations as a wonderful sporting event that can gradually build into something similar to HKIR.
The timing presents challenges, especially in regard to European horses, but with 15 G1 winners and the two highest rated horses in the world on show we were highly satisfied with the sporting quality on offer.
The Chairman’s Sprint Prize was a fantastic race. Slow early sectionals didn’t help Santa Ana Lane but we saw a terrific winning performance from Beat The Clock and a 1-2-3 showed yet again the depth in the Hong Kong sprinting division.
As for Beauty Generation, it is always amazing to see a champion in full flow and he was superb again in the FWD Champions Mile, recording a final 400m of 22.36s without being extended.
Already the track record holder over a mile (and 2200m) at Sha Tin, he is now the first Hong Kong horse ever to win eight races in a season and has now passed Viva Pataca’s all-time prize money total with career earnings of almost HK$85 million.
He showed exactly why he is currently the world’s highest rated horse and his achievements over the last couple of years have done a huge amount to promote Hong Kong racing all around the world.
Last but not least, the FWD QEII Cup had tremendous depth. Exultant and Lys Gracieux ran right up to the high-class form they showed in the Hong Kong Vase but Win Bright proved too strong for all eight G1 winners and broke the 2000m track record in a remarkable race where the first eight home all dipped inside the two minute barrier.
It was a fifth QEII Cup success for Japan. The presence of some of their best horses adds so much to our major events and the pure joy shown by Win Bright’s connections on their first ever visit to Hong Kong provided one of the most memorable images of a special day.
We have seen in the past with horses like Able Friend that having a dominant champion has an effect on betting turnover, but that is not the main priority on a day like this.
Attracting the world’s best horses for Hong Kong’s best races remains our top priority. Changing perception takes time for a venture like this but I firmly believe that we are on the right track and we look forward to the next stage of Champions Day development with real enthusiasm.
The Class 3, 1650m Hung Hom Handicap is split into two sections as races six and eight. In the first section, Midnight Rattler and Witness Hunter are likely to cross over from their wide gates to make the running.
The pace should be on standard with Big Bang Bong, Last Kingdom and Har Har Heart in close attendance.
Last Kingdom is in good form and fought on bravely in his last start through a fast closing sectional. He should be slightly better than midfield and is a win and place chance.
Har Har Heart and Big Bang Bong are well drawn, an advantage on the C+3 course. They will also be in the first half of the field and are place chances. Magnetism can improve from his better draw but Green Luck is also worth noting as at least a place chance as a course and distance winner dropping back to Class 3.
In the second section of the Hung Hom Handicap, Perfect Pair and Vigor Fame will push forward from their wide draws to set a good pace with Arcada in close pursuit. This is also a highly competitive race.
Arcada looks like he will get a good trip under new South African jockey Aldo Domeyer, possibly in the box seat, but the one I like as a win and place chance is Merrygowin, who has been in fine form here and should be well placed in the run after some good recent workouts.
God Of Dragon makes his first start for new trainer Tony Cruz after showing big improvement in his last two starts. The additional distance should suit him and he is a place chance along with Vincy, who makes his first appearance at Happy Valley and has the advantage of a good draw on the tight course. He adds blinkers and should go well along with Lucky Girl.
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