One of sport’s most enduring adages – success comes to those who work for it – speaks to the value of resilience and persistence and, for as long as I can remember, Hong Kong racing has provided countless examples of it.
Whether it involves trainers or jockeys, achievement is rarely a coincidence. Those who toil longest and most diligently are generally rewarded, sooner or later.
And so it was on Sunday when Blake Shinn capitalised on deserved opportunity with a landmark quartet.
Blake used the off-season break to ensure his body was in the best possible condition with unstinting focus on diet and fitness. That commitment paid off handsomely at Sha Tin with his first-ever Hong Kong four-timer through Light My Day, Lord Thunder, Golden Four and Super Wealthy.
Competing against a world-class roster of decorated riders, Blake has again proven that determination, skill and talent goes a long way in Hong Kong even when pitted against Joao Moreira, Zac Purton, Karis Teetan and many others.
With 15 wins in his first term and 24 last season, Blake has now laid the framework to push into the upper echelons of the championship – an ambition, which will depend on receiving sufficient continued opportunities from the trainers he has worked assiduously to impress.
And there is no better way to impress than a career-best haul in the world’s most competitive racing jurisdiction.
Speaking of Zac, rarely a season passes now without some kind of milestone falling to the four-time champion jockey and such was the case again on Sunday when his victory on King’s Capital catapulted him to the 1,300-win mark in Hong Kong.
To put that feat into context, we need look no further than Douglas Whyte, the 13-time champion with a Hong Kong record of 1,813 victories in total, to appreciate just how successful Zac has been.
At 38, and currently sitting atop this season’s championship after just three meetings, Zac is riding with a familiar purpose and strike rate.
Whether he can lift a fifth jockeys’ championship will, as usual, again be decided by fitness, form, opportunities and the performance of his great arch-rival Joao Moreira – all of which means Hong Kong racing is in for another wonderful treat over the next nine months.
At Happy Valley tonight, the Class 2 Wong Chuk Hang Handicap is the last of eight races and shapes up as a wide-open contest over 1200 metres. Harmony And Rich will use his speed to make the running under Matthew Chadwick and has been trialling well at Conghua in preparation for his return. He was a three-time winner last season at Happy Valley but his success has come at 1000 metres. He will be pressed by Sight Success from his wide draw with Joao Moreria and Handsome Bo Bo with Matthew Poon.
Loving A Boom finished in the placings six times last season over this course and distance and, from barrier five, Alexis Badel should have him well placed to strike late. I make him a win and place chance.
Sight Success is also a place chance despite the barrier along with Igniting, who was going well at the end of last season over the course and distance, and is well drawn with Vincent Ho.
Decrypt has been sidelined for over eight months and his recent trial was better than expected. Keith Yeung rode him in the trial and retains the ride here for in-form trainer David Hayes. He should get a nice run from about midfield and he could surprise. Golden Dash for Harry Bentley is also a place chance. Scores Of Fun, which has the services of Vagner Borges, runs well fresh and is coming up to the race nicely.
Earlier in the night, the Hong Kong Country Club Challenge Cup is a Class 3 handicap over 1650 metres and is carded as race six. This looks like the best opportunity so far in the young season for new jockey Luke Ferraris as he takes the ride on Surrealism. He will get a nice trip from his good draw and is a win and place chance.
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