And so we come to the final day of a season that has highlighted Hong Kong racing’s resilience like no other. A third wave of COVID-19 infections is causing serious concern and, in alignment with renewed Government rules on public gatherings and social distancing, the Club has acted swiftly to make several significant modifications to our recent racing plan.
Thursday’s Champion Awards Ceremony will not take place in its original form – with 180 guests in the Grand Ballroom of the Rosewood Hotel – but we will arrange an alternative ceremony that will be screened online and via social media to honour the heroes of this historic season appropriately.
A number of our Off-Course Betting Branches (listed at the bottom of this Blog) will be closed until further notice, with this week’s intended resumption of Mark Six betting put on hold. In addition, the worsening COVID-19 situation means we will revert to our earlier attendance model whereby only owners with starters, trainers, riders and essential officials will be able to attend Wednesday’s Season Finale at Happy Valley.
It’s a great shame that we have to return to these measures with the end of the season so close but public health and safety of employees has driven everything we do throughout the pandemic and these are just the latest challenges in a uniquely testing season.
As has always been the case in the last six months, we head into tonight’s Happy Valley Season Finale meeting with stringent and prudent public health measures which closely reflect government regulations.
The Jockeys’ Championship has already been decided with Zac Purton winning 145 races and HK$200 million in prize money and the Trainers’ Championship has a clear favourite in Ricky Yiu, who goes into the last meeting four clear of Tony Cruz and Francis Lui on 67 wins.
It is not mission impossible for Tony and Francis to draw at least level – and both have more second placings if a countback is needed – though it is a very difficult task to win four races in Hong Kong with Ricky winning none. All three are going all out, with Tony and Ricky having four runners each while Francis has seven starters with two in the final race of the season.
In the sixth race Tony saddles California Rad, who won easily in his last start and would strengthen his case to become Champion Griffin with another win. However, he faces High Rise Soldier from Francis’s yard as well as Loriz from Ricky’s stable.
In an ideal scenario the final race of the season, the Class 2 Cheong Ming Handicap, could become the decider. This Class 2 over 1200m is a very strong contest that looks sure to produce a grandstand finish. There have been 31 individual winners of the Club’s High Achievement Bonus this season for a total of HK$35.8 million and Winning Method and Highland Fortune will be the last two to have a crack at earning HK$1 million for their Owners. Both are in career best form and are good chances in a very competitive race.
Yee Cheong Baby and Sunny Boy will go forward to set a good pace with Saul’s Special, Victoriam, Ugly Warrior and Encore Boy in close pursuit. Highland Fortune and Winning Method have drawn wide and will be worse than midfield.
Encore Boy provides jockey Ben So with the final ride of his career and is a live chance for Ricky Yiu after a good effort three weeks ago against the same company. He will get a good trip just behind the leaders and is a win and place chance. Highland Fortune moves up in grade but there was a lot to like about his last win when he travelled wide without cover. He gets in with a light weight and Vincent Ho will need to work out a trip from his wide draw. He is a place chance along with Winning Method and Victoriam.
John Moore will saddle his last starter Sunny Boy as a trainer in Hong Kong to complete a stellar career. He will always be remembered as one of the Legends of Hong Kong Racing and his name will be linked forever with its rise to be World Class.
Off Course Betting Branches closed until further notice are as follows:
• Tsz Wan Shan Shopping Centre
• Des Voeux Road West, Western (118 Connaught Road West)
• Lucky Plaza, Sha Tin
• Sha Kok Street, Sha Tin
• Tropicana, Wong Tai Sin
• Wan Fung Street, Wong Tai Sin
• Choi Wan
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