And so we come to one of the first real flagship days of the Hong Kong racing season.
The shape of our National Day race programme has changed over the years but in recent times it has become the natural starting point for some of our very best horses.
We have to accept that the challenges facing Hong Kong will give the day a different feel this year but the Club’s role is to provide world-class racing in a safe and sporting environment.
And, with that in mind, at this important time the Club appeals for people to understand that racing in Hong Kong has always been a symbol of a way of life with a huge following from people at every level of society.
After careful consideration of the possible risks, we plan to go ahead with racing on Tuesday. In doing so, we appeal that whatever actions people may plan, they have to be mindful about public safety of up to 220,000 customers inside and outside the racecourse today, as well as the safety of our jockeys, employees and horses.
The wellbeing of our many supporters remains of paramount importance to us and, as always, we will be doing all we can to ensure that racegoers can make the most of their visit to Sha Tin on a day when one of the greatest horses in Hong Kong history makes his eagerly awaited comeback.
On this day last year Beauty Generation lined up as Horse of the Year and won his second Celebration Cup by giving 10lb and a handsome beating to the BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Ping Hai Star.
Twelve months on – after a flawless eight-race 2018-2019 season – John Moore’s gelding is firmly established among the world’s elite racehorses.
Once again he faces a Derby winner in Furore and it is a measure of how much progress Beauty Generation has made that this time he has to give Frankie Lor’s gelding and several other very smart rivals no less than 20lb.
With regard to another weight related issue, it’s interesting to note that Beauty Generation returns at his highest ever body weight of 1161lb – 12lb heavier than for his final start last season.
All eyes will be on Zac Purton and our master miler as they bid to extend their remarkable winning streak to 10 but Tuesday’s card also features several more notable angles.
Rattan and Little Giant head a select field of sprinters for the National Day Cup, while Beauty Generation’s exciting young stablemate Aethero puts his unbeaten record on the line in the concluding Beijing Handicap.
But the G3 Celebration Cup and the return of Beauty Generation in Race 7 is clearly the highlight. The two-time Horse of the Year has won nine in a row but must concede a lot of weight to his nine rivals in the conditions of the race. The pace will be moderate with only Ka Ying Star applying pace pressure to Beauty Generation during the early stages.
Beauty Generation seemed more forward in his one trial this season as opposed to last when he won this same race by more than two lengths carrying the big weight. On that day, he sat just off another Tony Cruz-trained runner, California Whip, before taking command at the top of the straight. I expect him to do the same here, sitting just off Ka Ying Star, and make him a win and place chance.
Waikuku is perfect in three starts over course and distance, and trialled well behind Pakistan Star two weeks ago. He figures to go well first up and is the biggest threat to beat the champ. I make him a solid place chance.
Nothingilikemore has won three trials in preparation for his return and has tactical speed to lay close to the pace. He showed a lot of promise when first coming to Hong Kong and after a disappointing campaign was cut short nearing the midway point last season, he was sent to Conghua for nearly six months and seems to have benefitted. He is a place chance, while last season’s Derby winner Furore will be flashing home late as a place chance.
Comment
