The opening months of 2022 have challenged us as never before with the fifth wave of COVID-19 causing increasing concerns, as the Club continues to take all measures in alignment with Government protocols to protect horseracing and the community.
We are operating in unprecedented times and I am grateful to the sacrifices made by all of those within the ‘Racing Bubble’, who have allowed us to continue racing and provide a welcome distraction for the community from the virus.
In essence, we have created a ‘Racing Fortress’ and it is incumbent on all of us to do the right thing at this time and refrain from social gatherings or any other activity which might pose a risk to racing or the wider population.
We have already substantially scaled down operations, including the closure of OCBB (Off-Course Betting Branches), the suspension of Telebet services, the temporarily closure of Clubhouses at Sha Tin, Happy Valley and Beas River and the move to closed-door racing mode, where only those people essential to the staging of race meetings are allowed to attend on course.
The Club is currently conducting 8,000 PCR tests per week, while the average use of LFT tests across the organisation runs to 20,000 per week. Further, all racecourse attendees must be fully vaccinated.
All of our trainers, jockeys, grooms, officials and staff are subjected to multiple PCR tests each week – up to 1,250 PCR tests daily – as we strive to continue racing and one of the features of the testing is the quick turnaround time in getting the results, sometimes as fast as four hours. This enables us to move swiftly, as we saw recently following the preliminary positive result of a work rider.
In that particular case, we immediately organised hundreds of overnight and early-morning tests and all direct and indirect contacts returned negative results. The comprehensive nature of the tracking and tracing system and the agility of all of those involved demonstrated how thorough our processes are.
We have not lost one meeting since the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic and with 44 meetings in this season behind us, we have reached the halfway point of the season. We will face the biggest challenge in the coming weeks with the fifth wave having just started and it is likely we will see a further increase in the number of positive cases, which has a massive impact for an organisation of our size with employees all over Hong Kong.
We have a tremendous buy-in and support of our employees and staff and everyone has to pull in one direction to overcome this challenge.
The dedication of our people is a great source of pride and the contribution of the travelling grooms who accompany horses to and from our Mainland base at Conghua is just one example of this.
As of this month, before travelling to Conghua, each team of grooms and drivers will be fully isolated away from family and friends for 14 days quarantine and must undergo PCR tests every day before leaving Hong Kong. They are then away on three weeks duty, which means they are away from their family for five weeks followed by a one-week family reunion before they start the next cycle.
We deploy two teams in alternation to ensure continuous horse movement.
Most of our staff members remain in Work From Home mode and we have recently reduced the size of our team at race meetings to further minimise risk.
We appreciate the understanding of all our customers at this time and, with the changed risk situation because of the growing case numbers, our guiding principle remains that none of our activities should pose a risk to our staff and customers.
I sincerely hope conditions will soon change to allow a return to racing normality.
At Sha Tin on Saturday, the Class 2 Rose Handicap is the final race of the meeting and will be run at a good pace over the mile distance. Roman Turbo steps up in trip and will use his speed from the inside barrier to make the running under Matthew Chadwick along with All For St Paul’s and jockey Matthew Poon.
All For St Paul’s is a win and place chance as he returns to his preferred course and distance. He was ridden quietly when drawn wide in his last start over 1800m on the dirt but will go forward here to set the tempo. Throughout his career, he is at his best when he is comfortable making the pace and this seems to be a good opportunity as the prime contenders are stepping up in distance and will need to be reserved to see the trip out. The pace scenario will suit All For St Paul’s.
BMW Hong Kong Derby nominee Navas Two, winner of three consecutive races, steps up in trip and grade while also eligible for a HK$1 million High Achievement Bonus. He will settle worse than midfield from his wide draw but should finish the race off well as a strong place chance.
California Ten was compromised on two occasions in his last start when held up for clear running and I expect an improved performance after spending the last two months in Conghua. He is a place chance with Karis Teetan taking the ride. Tempest Express is well drawn and in with the light weight of Vagner Borges and can improve here as a place chance with a more patient ride.
My Sugar has not trialled since his last start over two and a half months ago and steps up to a mile for the first time in his career with regular rider Zac Purton. He also missed one week of work in late January as part of an interrupted preparation, which will make this assignment a bigger challenge. He has the tactical speed to be prominent and has been a consistent performer throughout his career and I make him a place chance.
Comment
