And so, with the final field to be declared and the barrier draw to unfold on Thursday, the countdown is well and truly on for the one of the season’s highlights – the HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin on Sunday (20 March).
It is remarkable to think a year has already passed since Joao Moreira’s inspired ride on Sky Darci denied Karis Teetan and Russian Emperor, with only a head separating the pair in one of the tightest Classic finishes in Hong Kong history.
Karis is well placed to go one better this year aboard Romantic Warrior for Danny Shum. Unbeaten in five starts until he was caught wide last start from gate 13 in the Hong Kong Classic Cup, Romantic Warrior certainly lost no admirers with his courageous fourth behind California Spangle.
It goes without saying that Karis, Danny and owner Peter Lau Pak Fai will be desperately hoping for a kinder fate at the barrier draw on Thursday, especially from the 2000m start where races can be won or lost in the short run to the turn out of the straight.
Tony Cruz and Howard Liang Yum Shing will also hope California Spangle draws well. Besides being a successful owner in his own name with the famous multiple Group 1 winner California Memory, Howard is the son of Hong Kong Derby-winning owner Thomas Liang, who won the 1998 Derby with Johan Cruyff. Zac Purton is definitely hoping for a good draw and a repeat of his brilliant Hong Kong Classic Cup ride to give California Spangle every chance to see out the distance.
Winning barrier statistics taken from the 22 past runnings of the BMW Hong Kong Derby – since the distance changed to 2000m – show it has been possible to win from any barrier, but one of the curiosities is that since 2000, no horse has won from barriers one, five or eight.
Barrier three has been the most successful over the past two decades with four victories, two seconds and two thirds, while barriers nine and 10 (three wins each) figure prominently. Over the same period, barrier 14 has produced two winners, three seconds and a third.
With Michael Kinane’s crucial role in acquiring Romantic Warrior for the Hong Kong International Sale on behalf of the Club, it is ironic to reflect on the fact that the last horse to win the BMW Hong Kong Derby from barrier one was Che Sara Sara – ridden by Michael Kinane – in 1996, when the race was run over 1800m.
Numbers aside, ground-saving rides are generally recipes for success as we saw last season when Sky Darci (barrier two) upstaged Russian Emperor (gate five) and Panfield (12). Golden Sixty won the previous year from nine, while Furore triumphed from gate 12 over Waikuku, who started from 14.
It will be fascinating to absorb tactics on Sunday when we celebrate the 2022 BMW Hong Kong Derby. I have no doubt the race will live up to its billing even if, sadly, we cannot accommodate our valued customers, members and owners because of the deteriorating pandemic situation.
With the quiet passing of a seasonal milestone last Saturday – the 500th race of another challenging season – I look forward to the time when we can safely welcome everyone back to the races.
In the meantime, at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the final race on the card is the Class 3 Durham Handicap with an extended rating band of 85-60 to be run over 1650 metres. The pace will be good. The Anomaly is well drawn to make the running with new jockey Lyle Hewitson, which will be a welcome change from his last two runs when he was drawn wide. He will face pace pressure from Red Majesty under Matthew Chadwick, a last-start winner who was allowed to set a slow pace under a light weight.
Everyone’s Delight drops in grade and will carry top weight with Alexis Badel from an outside draw. It looks to be a difficult assignment on the C course and there is a real danger of being trapped wide.
Tianchi Monster will benefit from some class relief and he draws the rail with Karis Teetan. He drops in trip and will be worse than midfield but is a win and place chance coming from the back in this grade.
Jumbo Fortune showed good improvement in his last start and now comes to Happy Valley for a step up in distance. He was a Group 3 winner in Australia over 1400m as a two-year-old and was introduced to the Valley at a barrier trial in November. He is a place chance from midfield with Joao Moreira.
Gallant Crown is also a place chance as he maps well from his good draw. He will be close to the pace with Ruan Maia and has some good form over the course and distance. The Anomaly is also a place chance doing his running from the front.
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