Where do you begin when reflecting on the events that played out at Happy Valley on Wednesday.
The early signs pointed to a big night for Joao Moreira and things seemed to be going to script when he won race four aboard Daily Beauty. But Zac Purton fired back swiftly, getting the better of Joao in two very tight finishes on Highland Fortune and Victoriam and making the most of two last-minute pickup rides from Vincent Ho to secure an unexpected four timer which carried him seven clear at the top of the table with just six meetings remaining.
Having been beaten in three photos Joao could have ended the night on the right end of a 4-1 scoreline in slightly different circumstances but such fine margins have long been a key feature of Hong Kong racing.
Zac was right to point out that nothing can be taken for granted – and his lead of seven is effectively six given that Joao has achieved far more second places – but it’s interesting to dig a little deeper into a couple of key trends in this ongoing title battle.
Joao and Zac have fought out six finishes of a neck or less against each other since mid-May and Zac has won them all. But perhaps the key factor in this year’s title race relates to the way our two leading riders have performed at the Valley. Zac has outscored Joao by 58-36 at our testing city track this season and the Valley stat could be the most important one of all by the time we reach our Season Finale on 15 July.
It was inevitable that Zac’s midweek feats would capture the headlines but Francis Lui was the man who supplied all his four winners and in doing so he moved to within just two of Ricky Yiu at the top of the trainers’ table.
Tony Cruz lies third, just two behind Francis, so all the signs point to a grandstand finish in the race for the trainers’ title. Every winner is precious at this point and, in the event of a tie on winners, it’s well worth noting that Francis and Tony both have the edge on Ricky in terms of second places.
Moving away from the action on the track, this week has started and ended with a significant news story related to wagering. Monday saw the vast majority of our Off-Course Betting Branches open for business again on non racedays and it has been great to receive so much positive feedback from some of our most longstanding customers.
And on Friday it was revealed that Hong Kong is one of 20 leading betting operators who have joined forces to create the World Tote Association. Encouraging international commingling has been central to our plans for years and we hope to play a leading role in an organisation designed to provide prosperity for the industry and give global customers the best possible experience in terms of choice, technology and integrity.
Time is running out on the HK$1 million High Achievement Bonus for Invincible Missile, Beauty Applause and Beauty Rush in the Class 2 Lantau Island Handicap, which is the 1400m finale of this afternoon’s Sha Tin race meeting. The one-time bonus payment is available to horses with a minimum rating of 80 that can win in Class 2 before the end of their four-year-old season.
Beauty Applause has been idle for over four months but has performed well in four trials in the interim to prepare for his return. He is a four-time winner from only nine starts over 1200m and this race marks his second try over 1400m.
Moreira on Beauty Applause and Purton on Happy Fun are both expected to go forward along with apprentice Jerry Chau on Buddies, all from wide gates. Young Legend, Beauty Rush and Good Standing will also be very close to a good pace.
Dan Control has shown solid improvement since returning from an injury-related six-month break and comes into the race in top form and he is another eligible for the Club’s High Achievement bonus. With the added benefit of a good draw he is a win and place chance from midfield, while Beauty Applause and Happy Fun will be in the fight from the start and are place chances along with Mongolian King.
In Sunday’s simulcast of the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen, one of seven races from Hanshin, Glory Vase makes his first start since his sensational win in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase in December. The short straight at Hanshin may be to his disadvantage and for this reason, along with this being his first run in over six months, he is a place chance.
Saturnalia is a top class Lord Kanaloa colt and looked good winning a Grade 2 three months ago in his last start. He is a win and place chance. Wagnerian and Chrono Genesis are place chances in the 2200m test.
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