The margins between glory and frustration can be incredibly fine at the top level of any sport and Sunday’s Sha Tin card was a case in point.
Seven of ten races were won by a neck or less; John Moore was beaten in photo finishes to both G1 contests; Joao Moreira rode six beaten favourites including three who missed out by a short head or a nose; but our championship leader came out on top in the two that mattered most as Waikuku and Beat The Clock landed the feature events.
The betting suggested that Sunday’s Stewards’ Cup would be the race to finally confirm Waikuku as the heir to Beauty Generation’s Hong Kong mile crown but true champions seldom go quietly and it was only after a memorable duel that the younger horse prevailed by a neck.
Beat The Clock spent much of last season in Beauty Generation’s shadow but he has stepped out of it in style this term and overcame a slow start and a steady pace in the Centenary Sprint Cup to get the better of Thanks Forever as the pair drew clear.
Waikuku now leads Beauty Generation 4-1 in their head to head battles this season and a glance at the ratings show that he has improved with every one of his five runs this season.
His new Hong Kong mark of 126 shows that Hong Kong has a new star miler, while Beat The Clock’s ability to shine in desperately close finishes is perfectly illustrated by the fact that his four G1 wins in the last 12 months have all been gained by half a length or less.
Of course, the one thing Waikuku and Beat The Clock both have in common, besides Joao, is their trainer John Size. John hasn’t had the volume of winners we usually expect this season but his ability to build a horse up towards a major target is beyond question and he has now won three of our six G1 contests this season with the promise of more to come.
Closer to hand, I will have the honour of introducing one of the winners at the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse awards in London on Wednesday and Beat The Clock, Beauty Generation and Exultant can all be expected to figure prominently in their respective divisions as we revisit the highlights of 2019.
Time will tell what lies in store in the months to come but Hong Kong continues to punch above its weight on the international stage and we look forward to a new wave of stars coming through as the Four-Year-Old Classic Series gets under way next week.
Moving on to the midweek Happy Valley action, Wednesday’s Class 3 Hoi Yuen Handicap is our last race before the Chinese New Year holiday and will be run at 1200m with Quadruple Double, Winning Method and Speed Vision pushing forward to set a fast pace.
Quadruple Double is a three-time winner this season at Sha Tin, where he is known for his genuine speed. In his only start at Happy Valley last season, he did not show his customary pace and this was also the case at a barrier trial in November. He looks like he may prefer Sha Tin.
Winning Method was impressive winning his last start in the same grade and is at his best when allowed to make the running. He will be on the pace but might need to take a sit if Quadruple Double is able to duplicate his Sha Tin form. In his current form, Winning Method is a win and place chance.
Fresh Power is well drawn and is in with a light weight. He comes off a good effort at Sha Tin and is a place chance along with California Turbo and Hinchinlove.
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