One of horseracing’s most potent strengths is internationalism and its ability, despite its many contrasting styles around the world, to speak the same language.
Regardless of the venue – Sha Tin, Longchamp, Flemington, Epsom, Tokyo or Churchill Downs – the congregation of great horses, trainers and jockeys remains a magnetic force.
This trend has continued despite the pandemic and only last weekend followers of racing around the globe were treated to a smorgasbord of outstanding competition, featuring the Derby at Epsom, Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly and the Yasuda Kinen in Japan.
From Tuesday, focus will turn to Royal Ascot and its fabulous five days of quality competition. History, pomp and ceremony are the hallmarks of the gathering and, underlining the cosmopolitan nature of our sport, LONGINES Hong Kong Vase winner Mogul holds an entry for the Hardwicke Stakes on the final day.
On Wednesday, the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes – one of Europe’s elite 2000m contests – is graced with the presence of John and Thady Gosden’s Dubai Turf winner Lord North and Aidan O’Brien’s champion filly Love, who returns after a lengthy break.
Armory, who finished second in the W.S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Melbourne last spring, also enters the fray as a last-start Chester winner at Group 2 level, along with globetrotting Addeybb – adding another layer of international form.
One of the strongest partnerships in Hong Kong racing this season has been the combination formed by Danny Shum and Zac Purton with 29 wins – a collaboration bettered only by Joao Moreira’s unions with John Size (35) and Caspar Fownes (34) – and it’s remarkable to reflect on Danny and Zac’s King’s Stand Stakes triumph with Little Bridge at Royal Ascot in 2012.
All five days of next week’s Royal Ascot carnival, featuring eight G1 contests, will be simulcast into Hong Kong as part of the World Pool operation, which allows customers from several different racing jurisdictions around the globe to bet into the same pool.
The challenges of staging international sport over the past 18 months have been starkly laid bare across the globe and it was wonderful to see Euro 2020 – which was delayed for a year by the virus – finally start on Friday night with Italy’s convincing 3-0 win over Turkey in Rome. The Italians are one of the strong favourites to win the Championships.
As a football fan, I am looking forward to a host of upcoming matches, particularly the clash at 3am on Sunday morning between Russia and Belgium who, in my view, is an under-estimated team.
France, according to the Hong Kong Jockey Club odds, is the favourite to win the Euro, while Germany is ranking in fifth place – and these two footballing powerhouses will face each other in their first Group match on Wednesday morning at 3am.
On Sunday, the dirt track is in the spotlight with the Class 2 Cheung Sha Handicap (1200m), carded as race number 10. Harmony And Rich (Victor Wong) and We The South (Matthew Poon) return off a quick back up from Wednesday night and both runners will go forward to set a good pace.
Harmony And Rich became the 26th winner of our High Achievement Bonus scheme this season with his win over the short course at Happy Valley on Wednesday (9 June).
There are a number of horses in the field that have good speed and will be prominent from the start. Kurpany (Joao Moreira), Highly Proactive (Karis Teetan), Red Desert (Antoine Hamelin) and Handsome Bo Bo (Alexis Badel) will all be on the pace. This is a well matched, competitive group of quality horses.
Kurpany went well in his last start over the track and distance, and has since trialled well. He has enough speed to cross over and get a good position, and is a win and place chance.
Red Desert is ideally suited by the drop from 1650m back to 1200m, the distance at which he has won three times on the All Weather Track and is a place chance. Victoriam (Vincent Ho) in an interesting outsider. He has drawn the rail and will be closing ground late after a promising effort on the dirt in April. Sunny Boy (Ruan Maia) has good form over the track and distance and should get every opportunity as a place chance.
Many of us will be keen to see the second start of Master Eight after a very impressive debut four weeks ago. He is one of many exciting three year olds we have seen this season and is expected to start as the biggest favourite of the day with Joao Moreira in the eighth race.
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