Week one of a new season has been significant on many levels but it appears that Hong Kong’s passion for horse racing remains as strong as ever.
For me, that was the message that rang out loud and clear from our Season Opening at Sha Tin last Sunday.
Given the current political climate and a poor weather forecast, it seemed reasonable to expect a dip in attendance and turnover. However, a crowd of over 68,000 came racing, providing the fourth highest opening day attendance in the last 25 years, with so many people clearly delighted to be back at the races again.
Remarkably, turnover and commingling were both up compared to last year’s first day and, although we must be vigilant and take one meeting at a time, we now have a chance to move forward with optimism for the season ahead.
Of course, Sunday’s main story came when Regan Bayliss drove Adonis clear to give Douglas Whyte his first winner with only his second runner as a trainer. Hong Kong has been home to Douglas and his family for more than 20 years and that gives him a deep understanding of what makes our city tick. He can now look forward to bigger and better things in his new career and the same applies to Vincent Ho, who started the new season with a double for Francis Lui on Cordyceps and the impressive Golden Sixty.
Fresh from his deserved Shergar Cup success, our leading homegrown rider has another chance to shine on the international stage when Ugly Warrior and Glorious Artist travel to Seoul for the Korea Sprint and the Korea Cup this weekend. We wish them well and I am glad to say that both races will be simulcast into Hong Kong during Sunday’s Sha Tin card.
Regency Legend was the other headline act on Sunday and he looked a horse of high potential by giving Danny Shum and Zac Purton their fourth wins in the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup.
He joins Aethero and Voyage Warrior as one of a new wave of good young sprinters in Hong Kong and Jimmy Ting’s Yee Cheong Baby will bid to add his name to the list when he reappears at Sha Tin this Sunday.
Sunday’s Po Yan Handicap is a Class 2 over 1200m on the All-Weather track with Yee Cheong Baby, Big Time Baby, Sunny Boy and Pick Number One all set to go forward from good gates to set a lively pace.
Yee Cheong Baby can give trainer Jimmy Ting his first horse with a 100-plus rating if he keeps his Hong Kong record perfect. He looked very good in his recent trial and has done everything right since arriving here from Australia, winning both his starts and coming close to Ivictory’s track record when winning impressively at the Valley in May. He carries top weight in his first race on dirt and will face serious pace pressure but is a win and place chance.
Sunny Boy won his trial by six lengths and is another Hong Kong newcomer making his first start on dirt. He is a place chance along with Big Time Baby and Pick Number One. The latter is a five-time winner over the track and distance and did trial well recently.
The Seymour Handicap is a very strong Class 3 over the All-Weather track at 1200m with seven of twelve runners having won recent barrier trials. Coby Oppa and Winner Supreme were three-time winners in their first season and both are proven over course and distance. They will show speed from the gate along with Utopia Life and Joyful Moments. Casa De Forca and Young Legend may also press forward from wide gates. The pace will be fast.
Winner Supreme has the benefit of a much better draw this time and looks the one to set the pace. He looked good winning his recent trial on turf but is very capable on dirt. He is a place chance along with Coby Oppa, a last-start winner under these conditions who has won three of four to earn his reputation as a dirt specialist.
Alcari is making his first start on the All-Weather and impressed winning his recent trial. He appears in top form and should get every chance from midfield. He is a win and place chance, while Silver Fig has a good first-up record and enjoyed an easy trial for his preparation. He gets Moreira for the first time and, with a good draw, is also a place chance.
Our two simulcast races from Korea have attracted open fields with visiting runners from the USA, the UK, France and Hong Kong. It is important to note that the AW course in Seoul is a deep sand surface and it remains to be seen if the effects of Typhoon Lingling leave the track more compacted than usual.
Super Jockey won the Korea Sprint (1200m) for Hong Kong in 2016 and Ugly Warrior is our representative this year. Blue Chipper has been on a winning streak and is one of the big local hopes after a wide-margin win in the Owners’ Cup at Busan in July, while Holy Legal and Fast Pass look the pick of the American contenders if they produce their best after a long journey.
Me Tsui’s Ugly Warrior is drawn next to Blue Chipper in stall 12 and has reportedly relaxed well in his new surroundings. His six wins over 1200m on Sha Tin’s AW track show that he has good tactical speed and courage. His rating is slightly lower than his former stablemate Fight Hero – who finished second in this race last year – but he should represent Hong Kong well.
All of Glorious Artist’s three Hong Kong wins for Frankie Lor have come on the Sha Tin AW track but he seems to face strong opposition both from Korea and America in the Korea Cup (1800m) and will need to break alertly from stall one to secure a good early position here.
Dolkong gave Korea one of its most notable racing successes with a runaway win at the Dubai Carnival in February, He is a leading contender after wearing down Moonhak Chief close home in the Mayor’s Cup at Busan in June.
New Legend possibly went for home too early when a good third that day. He is an outsider to consider, especially if the track is helping on-pace runners, while the American challenger Lone Sailor has the highest international rating in the race on 112 and a tendency to get behind which could present challenges for him on this deep surface.
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