Eight meetings into the new season and there is clearly much to be excited about, both locally and internationally.
At home, a buoyant wagering trend saw National Day Cup meeting turnover surge by more than 12 percent on the corresponding meeting in 2020 – $1.632 billion, up from $1.454 billion the previous year – and, with the continued emergence of Nervous Witness, anticipation is already building over what this explosive young sprinter might ultimately achieve.
There is a racing truism which says the clock never lies and it is staggering to think Nervous Witness, at only his second start in a race, was able to post a sectional of 19.84s between the 800m and 400m before scorching away for another soft win, this time by almost four lengths. Only truly exceptional talents can manage to reel off blistering mid-race sectionals and then unleash a terminal finish – and in such composed fashion.
Unsurprisingly, given his widening margin at the line, Nervous Witness rose 14 points in the handicap to a mark of 80 after starting the season on 52 and bound for Class 3 company – and rising quickly. Stablemate Lord Thunder, also unconquered, climbed by 12 points in the ratings to 70.
It was a heady day at Sha Tin on Friday with the combination of exhilarating fresh talent and strong turnover, while Conghua Racecourse continued to have a decisive influence in Hong Kong with the victories of All For St Paul’s, Xiang Yin and Good News. The treble leaves Conghua with 19 winners from 74 races this season, at a strike rate of nearly 26 per cent.
Pleasingly, the increase in racecourse attendance – year-on-year – from 2,601 attendees to 16,861 last week, coupled with the Club’s ability to host our guests under stringent biosecurity conditions, was another important figure to be savoured.
Sunday’s dual simulcast provided world-class entertainment from two major racing centres, albeit in contrasting conditions.
At Nakayama, three-year-old colt Pixie Knight claimed the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) with the son of Maurice – twice triumphant at LONGINES Hong Kong International Racemeetings – almost breaking the race and course record belonging to Lord Kanaloa, another Japanese superstar who excelled at Sha Tin in his prime.
Pixie Knight clocked 1m 7.1s on fast ground to upstage classy filly Resistencia and Shivaji. Danon Smash, winner of last season’s LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), finished sixth.
Conditions in Paris for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) could not have differed more starkly from those on the outskirts of Tokyo as Germany’s Torquator Tasso revelled in the heavy conditions to prevail at 71/1, out-pointing Tarnawa, Hurricane Lane and Adayar in the slop.
At Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the Class 2 Fleming Handicap is the final event of our nine-race card and will be run over 1650 metres. Five of the runners will be making their seasonal debuts and this may be one of the key factors in predicting the outcome.
Reliable Team, Solar Wai Wai, Telecom Fighters and Highland Fortune will all go forward to establish a good pace. Reliable Team will cross from his wide draw to join Telecom Fighters from the inside gate. Solar Wai Wai and Highland Fortune will be well placed as both have good gate speed to secure an early position.
Highland Fortune also has the benefit of race fitness and is making his third start of the young season, having recently run second in good time over a mile behind High Achievement Bonus winner C P Brave. He has a good record at Happy Valley and is a win and place chance with Karis Teetan.
Telecom Fighters is also a win and place chance on the basis of his good performance over 1400 metres one month ago at our Sha Tin season-opening race meeting and the step up in trip and return to Happy Valley are two things to like about his chances. He is working very well, his fitness levels have improved and he should be well positioned throughout under a light weight for Joao Moreira.
Beauty Fit backs up after a solid effort on National Day at Sha Tin. He also steps up in trip and is a place chance under a light weight with Keith Yeung.
Of those that are first up, Savaquin with Antoine Hamelin is proven at this level and is a place coming from the back.
Rattan is an interesting runner as he makes his first-ever trip to Happy Valley for start number 40. His last win was the Group 2 Sprint Cup over two years ago. The step up in distance may help him at his advanced age and Chad Schofield has the ride.
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