Our Simulcast season is gathering pace at the moment and last Sunday’s French Guineas programme will be followed by another big international show for Yushun Himba Day in Japan this weekend.
Godolphin stole the show at Longchamp, winning the French 2000 Guineas with Andre Fabre’s exciting Persian King and then recording their 300th global G1 success when Castle Lady landed the French 1000 Guineas.
The fallout from the controversial Kentucky Derby demotion has continued as Luis Saez – rider of the first horse past the post Maximum Security – has been handed a 15-day ban more than a week after the race took place.
And stewarding was also in the news much closer to home at Sha Tin on Saturday when Macau-based jockey Peter Ho was handed a three-week ban for causing serious interference to several rivals as the well-backed favourite Little Wise Man hung badly right prior to finishing second.
This was the longest careless riding ban handed out by our stewards for some considerable time. The officials on duty clearly felt that it was an offence at the upper end of the scale and I believe they were absolutely right to come down firmly and promptly.
Horse racing is a sport of very fine margins, especially in Hong Kong where the calendar is dominated by tightly-knit handicaps, and our world-class riders have reached the top at least in part because they do everything in their power to achieve the best placing possible.
However, that strength and aggression has to be tempered by the knowledge that the rules are in place to ensure safety and fairness to all concerned. Customer confidence is reliant on those rules being enforced without fear or favour and Saturday was a clear case of that policy in action.
Returning to the French theme, this Wednesday at Happy Valley sees the first of three French nights. The Club has played a big part in helping the Le French May programme become one of the largest cultural events in Asia over the years and with a strong emphasis on French food, fashion and art – along with the presence of Fauve Radio – there will be a real contemporary style about the Beer Garden tonight.
Wednesday’s Class 3 Le French May Trophy at 1000m will feature a good pace with Look Eras pushing forward from his outside barrier and many others, including Noble Delight, Frustrated, Healthy Luck and Strathallan in the early mix.
Magic Legend will be positioned midfield or better and comes off a good effort on his first try over course and distance three weeks ago. He won the first four races of his Hong Kong career over two years ago, rising in rating from 71 to 105, and has now gone 30 consecutive races without a subsequent win. This appears to be a good spot to regain his winning form.
Healthy Luck should get a similar run to Magic Legend and comes into the race in top form. He is a place chance along with Noble Delight and Frustrated, who is better than he showed when enduring a wide trip on his latest start.
In the Class 3 France Galop Cup over 1200m, the pace will be slower than standard with longshot Gintoki as likely early leader. Harrier Jet, Jing Jing Win, Racing Fighter, Split Of A Second and Buoyant Boy will be in close contention. This is a race where the back markers are likely to be at a disadvantage due to the race tempo.
Harrier Jet should make full use of the inside draw to get a box seat position and it may prove a big edge in the way this race sets up. Coincidentally, his last win was one year ago, also from the inside draw off a similar rating with Callan riding. This race looks like a carbon copy and I make him a win and place chance.
Racing Fighter and Jing Jing Win make a rare appearance at Happy Valley but come in with good credentials and are place chances. Racing Fighter has been incredibly consistent and performed exceptionally well in his last start on a rain affected track. He returns from his Conghua training base and Zac Purton will need to avoid being trapped wide on the top weight as the field will be tightly bunched in the run to the turn.
Jing Jing Win has been freshened up over the past four months after a bleeding incident in a barrier trial on 19 January. He is a horse with a solid record when first up off a layoff and I expect him to go well here along with the improving E Master.
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