Chinese New Year Race Day occupies a special place in the Hong Kong racing calendar and, even allowing for the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, Thursday’s meeting will again be an auspicious occasion.
While we are again unfortunately in the position of not being able to host our loyal customers, members and owners at Sha Tin, we hope that we can eventually welcome back all of our passionate supporters who have not been able to attend race meetings recently because of concerns over the Omicron variant.
Last Sunday, we were given a preview into what shapes as a very bright future generation when Romantic Warrior, California Spangle and The Irishman led home a talented field in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, the first leg of our HK$48 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
Undefeated after five starts, Romantic Warrior’s passage from last June’s Hong Kong International Sale and a rating of 52 to his current mark of 101 with prize money earnings of HK$10.4 million found its genesis in Michael Kinane’s inspired selection of the Acclamation gelding at the 2019 Tattersalls’ Yearling Sale in Newmarket.
Romantic Warrior’s searing acceleration has become a recurring feature of his performance – he was again superior with a final 400m in 23.04s for Karis Teetan and Danny Shum on Sunday – and this precocious talent is well equipped to tackle the next two legs of the series, the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 27 February and the HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby on 20 March.
On a track slightly on the slower side of standard, Romantic Warrior’s closing sectional was quicker than California Spangle (23.33s), The Irishman (23.24s) and Turin Redsun (23.19s). Turin Redsun produced his best Hong Kong performance by surging from 13th at the 800m in 46.88s, while Romantic Warrior clocked a race-best 46.85s for the same sectional.
Also bred in the Northern Hemisphere, California Spangle showed his class and talent by beating all of his rivals, bar Romantic Warrior, after starting from barrier 13. It will be fascinating to see Tony Cruz’s charge tackling the 1800m of the Hong Kong Classic Cup, especially he draws more favourably.
For me, I believe California Spangle has the potential to be an outstanding sprinter up to a mile, but it will be interesting how he will perform over 1800m – a distance he might master due to his class.
While we will not be able to celebrate Chinese New Year in the customary way at Sha Tin on Thursday, 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 Thursday, the Class 1 Chinese New Year Cup Handicap is the fourth of 11 races and will be run over 1400 metres at a good pace. Buddies will make the running with Jerry Chau along with Igniting, who will be ridden for the first time by new jockey Daniel Moor. Igniting did not jump on terms in his last start and failed to show his speed but he will use his speed here from the inside barrier.
Californiadeepshot has tactical speed to secure a forward position with Joao Moreira and is capable over the course and distance. He is coming off two sharp efforts on the dirt track and is a versatile horse on both surfaces in sprint and mile races. He is a place chance.
Lucky Express finished strongly in a slowly run Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup in his last start and looks poised for a big effort with Zac Purton riding. He was overmatched in the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile in December but fits well in this extended Class 1 rating band and is a win and place chance.
Not Usual Talent will go back from his wide draw with Karis Teetan and will be closing ground over the concluding stages. He returns from Conghua and seems primed for an improved effort. I make him a place chance along with Cheerful Days with Alexis Badel. Cheerful Days is up in class but is in top form and gets in with a light weight.
I will also be interested to see BMW Hong Kong Derby hopeful Senor Toba in the final race of the day, the Class 2 Fat Choi Handicap over 1800 metres. He has already won over the Derby course and distance and takes on last-start winner Beluga among others in a good test to wrap up the holiday card. Joao Moreira has the ride on Senor Toba.
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