“Patience is a virtue” is an adage which has long applied to horseracing for and, at Sha Tin last Sunday, there was more evidence that good things come to those who wait.
As we saw with both Russian Emperor and Golden Sixty in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m), yielding track conditions – which are unusual for Hong Kong – significantly impacted performance.
The winning time of 2m 4.11s was almost four seconds slower than standard and while nothing can be taken away from Russian Emperor, who relished the going, it was clear Golden Sixty could not perform at this best and only his class carried him into third at a distance which is not his best.
As a comparison, on good or good to fast ground over the same distance, Golden Sixty had previously clocked 21.83s and 22.35s for his last 400m sectionals in his only previous attempts at 2000m. On Sunday, he covered the last 400m in 25.24s.
Conditions aside, all credit to Russian Emperor, Douglas Whyte and Blake Shinn, who has shown tremendous determination to become a top jockey in Hong Kong and his inspired ride delivered well-deserved success.
Russian Emperor arrived in Hong Kong in September, 2020 as a product of the famed Ballydoyle operation, a Group 3 winner at Royal Ascot – and with a lineage to excite even the most exacting breeding purist as the son of champion Irish sire Galileo out of outstanding Australian mare Atlantic Jewel.
Yet few things initially went to plan for Douglas, including the frustration of narrow BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) defeat, followed by the decision to geld the colt, as Russian Emperor struggled to acclimatise.
Last Sunday, courtesy of Blake’s brilliant ride, the stars aligned for Douglas and Russian Emperor’s patient owner with magnificent victory in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) over Savvy Nine and Golden Sixty.
That success, at the horse’s 12th Hong Kong start, vindicated the faith of all connections and elevated Russian Emperor to a new rating of 123, having arrived here on a mark of 89.
Like Russian Emperor, Wellington has endured his share of setbacks but his success in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) was also a triumph for Richard Gibson and Alexis Badel.
Richard and Alexis maintained faith in the high-class sprinter despite several obstacles, including injury niggles and poor luck in running. All of that was corrected on Sunday when Wellington claimed his second G1 – and eighth win – from just 14 starts in Hong Kong with earnings of HK$25.9 million.
Like Russian Emperor, he has risen to a mark of 123 to sit in joint third place in the Hong Kong ratings behind only Golden Sixty (131) and Waikuku (125), who was most unlucky when third in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup when he was unable to get clear running at a vital time, and he might have made it even more interesting with an unimpeded run, but we should take nothing away from Wellington.
Our focus switches to Happy Valley on Wednesday night when two horses competing at the meeting have the opportunity to win the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge. Special M can become the outright winner of the six-month competition and the HK$650,000 first prize by winning the sixth race, a Class 3 over 1000 metres. Anything less from Special M opens the door to Cheerful Days in the Class 2 eighth race over 1650 metres.
Fa Fa leads the way with 60 points, Special M is on 48 points and Cheerful Days enters the night on 45 points. Points are awarded on a 15-6-4-3 scale to the top four finishers in races at Class 3 and above. As usual, this has been a spirited competition that comes down to the very end. Cheerful Days also needs to win to finish on even terms with current leader Fa Fa, a four-time winner this season who is taking aim at the Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. Previously this season, Fa Fa won the Club’s HK$1 million High Achievement Bonus.
The Million Challenge is worth HK$650,000 to the winner, HK$250,000 for second and HK$100,000 for third.
Special M is a win and place chance in the sixth race based on his excellent record over the course and distance and his good current form. He is well drawn to secure a prominent position with Vagner Borges as Joyful Win, Whizz Kid and Awesome Treasure will go forward from their wide gates along with last-start winner Lightning Storm. The pace will be good.
Special M will get every opportunity from just behind the leaders and his consistent Happy Valley form is a key consideration. Lightning Storm reunites with regular rider Zac Purton and is up in class after an easy win earlier this month. He will be in the mix from the start and is a place chance.
Whizz Kid is making his first appearance at Happy Valley and jockey Karis Teetan will need to use his speed to cross from a wide draw. Like That is well drawn and in with the light weight of Matthew Poon. He will get a good trip and can make things interesting in what shapes up as a very competitive race. Both horses are place chances.
If Special M does not win, Cheerful Days will get his chance at a share of the first prize if he can win the eighth race. He will go back from his wide draw and try to unleash his patented late run, which has seen him win five of his past six races this season for a rating increase of 36 points. Cheerful Days is one of the big success stories of the season and I make him a place chance with Alexis Badel named to ride.
The pace will be good to fast with Buddies going forward under Jerry Chau from his wide draw along with Telecom Fighters and Derek Leung and Everyone’s Delight with Matthew Chadwick. Igniting will also be in the early mix as he steps up in trip with Dylan Mo.
Savaquin is a win and place chance from midfield with Karis Teetan riding. His last race suggests that he is sitting on a win and the race sets up nicely for him.
Tsar returns to Happy Valley after an improved effort at Sha Tin when making ground at long odds. He is proven over the course and distance and is a place chance coming from the back with Daniel Moor.
Of the speed horses, Everyone’s Delight is a place chance after a sharp effort two weeks ago when he narrowly missed in Class 3. The good draw and light weight should work to his advantage.
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