With less than a month to FWD Champions Day and already a week on from a momentous 2021 BMW Hong Kong Derby, it is apparent time waits for no-one.
This weekend’s meeting at Sha Tin is the 58th fixture of the 2020-21 season, leaving us to savour just 30 more race days before the end of the term. As delighted as the Club is to have been able to continue racing through the pandemic, it is also just as exciting to focus on what is yet to unfold.
The imminent clash of the best of Hong Kong racing with the cream of Japan’s equine stocks on 25 April will draw global attention to our jurisdiction – which is a matter of justifiable pride to all of those within Hong Kong racing.
While international travel restrictions are likely to limit broader global participation at the 2021 edition of FWD Champions Day, the appearance of Hong Kong’s flagbearer Golden Sixty and champion Japanese filly Daring Tact on the same program – even if not in the same race – is a promoter’s dream.
There is much to transpire both before and after FWD Champions Day – and its trio of Group 1s, the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, FWD Champions Mile and the FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup – but the meeting marks another significant high point of the season.
In the meantime, the Club remains hopeful that by maintaining the strictest vigilance on biosecurity and an adherence to world’s best practice around social distancing that an increase in the number of attendees to Sha Tin for the world-class meeting on 25 April can be contemplated.
Much will depend, of course, on the continuing impact of COVID-19 on all aspect of our community in these challenging times. The one certainty is that the city’s ‘can-do spirit’ will allow us to overcome whatever obstacles are placed in our path.
Internationally this weekend, there are strong links to elite Hong Kong racing with the simulcast of the Dubai World Cup meeting, which features the World Pool and also the Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m). The clash of Chrono Genesis, rated 121, Saudi Cup winner Mishriff (122), who is running at 2400m for the first time, as well Aidan O’Brien’s Mogul (121), last year’s winner of the LONGINES HKIR Vase and, not to underestimated, Channel Maker (120) from the US will be enthralling. Chrono Genesis is my first choice in front of Mogul in a super Group 1.
Tomorrow, at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan, LONGINES HKIR Sprint winner Danon Smash will contest the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m). He is reportedly working well and, as an entrant in G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin next month for the FWD Champions Day, he looks the winning chance. The former two-year-old champion filly Resistencia is regarded as the main threat.
Racing locally continues at Sha Tin on Sunday when the Class 2 Hoi Ha Handicap is a sensational finale to the meeting with a number of in-form horses over 1200 metres.
The pace will be good with Hinchinlove (Matthew Chadwick) and Sunny Boy (Jack Wong) going forward to make the running and a host of challengers in the firing line behind the leaders. Seattle Choice (Karis Teetan) returns after a one-year layoff and has been working very well. This race is a bit short of his best trip but he has proven quality and should not be underestimated in his first-up appearance. I make him a place chance.
California Rad (Joao Moreira) drops back in trip to his preferred distance and should get a nice spot behind the leaders. He comes out of a rapidly-run race over 1400m in which he forced the pace only to give way in the closing stages. I expect an improved effort here and make him a win and place chance in a very competitive race.
Duke Wai (Jerry Chau) is in career-best form and comes off a pair of sharp efforts. He will be inside midfield and is a place chance. Lucky Patch (Matthew Poon), who is working very well, will drop back from the 1800m of the Classic Cup to 1200m on the turf. This trip might be on the short side and he has to carry a nine-pound penalty for fourth in the Classic Mile, but he is still a place chance for me.
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