Chinese New Year Raceday retains a unique place in the Hong Kong racing calendar and, even allowing for the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, Sunday’s meeting will again be truly special.
While we are unfortunately in the position of not being able to host the usual huge holiday crowd at Sha Tin, we are constantly reminded of the unstinting support of our valued customers – the racing fans who follow our sport with tremendous passion and knowledge despite not being able to attend racetracks.
Sadly, we are not yet in the position to welcome spectators back to the track but, with the Year of the Rat giving way to the Year of the Ox, there is a renewed sense of optimism as we look to the second half of what has already been an engrossing 2020/21 season.
We have had many highlights so far and I only can say the continued advance of Golden Sixty, Hong Kong’s “Bubble Horse”, has been a great salve in the face of the difficulties posed by the pandemic.
For me, the combination of Francis Lui expert management of Golden Sixty coupled with Vincent Ho’s emergence as a world-class jockey – measured so brilliantly with victory against international opposition in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile – has been an outstanding feature of the season.
Of course, we have much to look forward to as the Club’s three-pronged feature series – crowned by the build-up to the BMW Hong Kong Derby and Golden Sixty’s progress through the Triple Crown series into the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup on 21 February as well as the Hong Kong Speed Series – unfold.
While we will not be able to celebrate Chinese New Year in the usual way at Sha Tin on Sunday, all that remains is to wish all our friends, colleagues and customers a peaceful family holiday and every success and good fortune for the year to come.
On Sunday, the traditional Class 1 Chinese New Year Cup over 1400 metres to be run as the eighth race of the holiday card under handicap conditions. The pace will be moderate with Kings Shield (Matthew Poon) likely to slide straight to the front, where he might not have much opposition for the lead. Amazing Chocolate (Vagner Borges) will use his tactical speed to try and cross over from his outside draw to avoid being caught in the three-wide line, while last-start winner Beauty Smile (Matthew Chadwick) and California Rad (Karis Teetan) can be close in attendance.
Irish PP Congratulation (Keith Yeung) makes his Hong Kong debut and, from barrier 7, will probably have to go back to the tail of the field.
Fast Most Furious (Zac Purton) should settle mid-field along the rail with Fat Turtle (Alexis Badel) and Star Shine (Vincent Ho) following. Super Oasis (Derek Leung) will need luck if he is to slot in behind Beauty Smile.
Due to the expected tempo of the race, the final section will be fast and horses coming from the back may be disadvantaged.
Trainers Tony Cruz and Francis Lui have been enjoying great success from Conghua over the past three weeks. Cruz put together a string of three straight race meetings with winners coming from Conghua and Lui duplicated that feat over the most recent three race meetings. Cruz saddles Beauty Smile in the feature whilst Lui has Star Shine, both having trained at Conghua since making their last start.
Beauty Smile is a last-start winner, well drawn and in with a light weight. He is proven over the course and distance and will get a soft run on or near the pace. Despite his low rating within the extended 110-85 rating band, he is a win and place chance.
Star Shine turns back in trip and will do his running from worse than midfield in the nine-runner race. He is in good form and will be closing ground as a place chance, along with last-start winner California Rad, which is stepping up in trip after three wins this season over 1200 metres. He is working well but the main question is if he can handle the extra 200m in distance. Fast Most Furious, who is a winner over 1400m, is also a place chance.
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