A cheer split the silence in the Happy Valley grandstand on Wednesday night as a small handful of happy owners encouraged Lightning Steed and Matthew Chadwick to an all-the-way victory in the fifth race.
It wasn’t the sort of Valley roar we are used to and, for the moment, we are still some way from experiencing the unmistakable noise of a packed Beer Garden again.
However, Wednesday’s celebrations did provide a welcome reminder of what going to the races is all about and Hong Kong racing takes another progressive step this Sunday when we welcome fans back to Sha Tin.
Working in alignment with Government strategy as usual, we have responded to strong recent progress in pandemic numbers and on Sunday we expect to welcome around 3,000 racing fans hosted in 32 sit down venues distributed over the Sha Tin Racecourse covering 23,133 square metres.
This increased figure will be made up of various Voting Members, Members, Priority Card holders and members of the public with an advance table booking approved by the Club and, as usual, all our stringent social distancing measures remain in place.
Cross betting will also be available for Happy Valley customers with an advance table booking and, although these are gradual steps, they represent genuine progress and help generate a real feeling of optimism that the sport and our city are moving together positively as this uniquely challenging year continues.
Sunday’s increase in raceday attendance comes as the 2020/21 season gathers pace with several notable storylines beginning to develop.
Caspar Fownes is off to a flying start atop the trainers’ table with seven winners from just 27 runners, five partnered by Joao Moreira. Joao stole the honours with his first Valley treble in almost a year in midweek and, with Karis Teetan sealing another double and Zac Purton a single, our three leading riders are now dead level on eight winners apiece.
Add in the fact that Beauty Generation and Golden Sixty have been trialling ahead of their eagerly awaited meeting in next week’s G3 Celebration Cup and it’s clear that our returning racegoers – and the millions who engage with Hong Kong racing at home and abroad – should have plenty to cheer about in the coming weeks.
The Class 2 Cheung Shan Handicap over a mile is Sunday’s final race and it looks a tactical affair with no clear leader. The pace will be slow and the fastest section will be the final one.
Assimilate and Amazing One Plus will go forward to make the running along with Easy Go Easy Win and Right Choice. Excellent Proposal will slot in from his wide draw to be inside midfield along with Super Oasis and Northern Superstar. If the track is rain affected, Amazing One Plus and Excellent Proposal are the two with proven history of good performance.
Assimilate found his best form during the second half of last season and turned in a solid trial earlier this month. He can use his tactical speed to his advantage in a race that has the making of a sit and sprint and is a win and place chance under Antoine Hamelin.
Excellent Proposal won twice over rain affected tracks as a two-year-old and showed good determination when winning over 1400m two weeks ago. This is his first try at a mile and he seems well equipped to handle the assignment. Moreira has to overcome the wide draw and it needs a masterful ride to secure an early position while avoiding being trapped wide but I am still of the view that he is at least a place chance along with Super Oasis, Savvy Nine and Lakeshore Eagle.
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