Even by the lofty standards of previous BMW Hong Kong Derbies, last Sunday’s Classic will be celebrated as one of the most memorable in the race’s history.
There were so many strands to digest on a truly historic day and we can only imagine what kind of reception Danny Shum, Karis Teetan, Peter Lau and Romantic Warrior would have received with 60,000 people at Sha Tin.
The absence of owners, members and our customers aside, the stirring duel shared by Romantic Warrior and California Spangle down the final straight will be vividly recalled for many years to come.
The two best horses of this season’s four-year-old staying crop again proved their superiority in an epic contest and while it was wonderful for Danny and Karis to finally add the ultimate Derby result to their resumes, it was impossible not to empathise with Tony Cruz and Zac Purton over the brave performance of California Spangle.
With victories in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and the BMW Hong Kong Derby and a luckless fourth behind California Spangle in the Hong Kong Classic Cup, Romantic Warrior’s effort to advance as an unraced graduate of the Hong Kong International Sale (HKIS) to a rating of 102 with six wins from seven starts and prizemoney of more than HK$24 million in his first season of racing is phenomenal.
It is also worth bearing in mind that only one horse has run a faster time in the Hong Kong Derby since it was extended in distance to 2000m – Golden Sixty, who ran 2m 00.15s in 2020; Romantic Warrior clocked 2m 00.23s on Sunday.
Danny’s effort to propel Romantic Warrior from Class 4 to Derby champion in his first campaign would have delighted his mentor Ivan Allan, who remains one of the most complete and influential trainers to have operated in Hong Kong and other parts of the international stage. It would have also pleased Michael Kinane, the former champion Irish jockey, who selected the Acclamation galloper on behalf of the Club at the 2019 Tattersalls’ Yearling Sale.
Romantic Warrior was among the first batch of northern hemisphere horses to be offered at the HKIS following the Club’s decision to revamp its approach regarding the selection of yearlings because we wanted to improve the results achieved by HKIS graduates as a service to our owners.
Under the direction of Bill Nader, we assembled a team of experts who start the selection process overseas with a focus on pedigrees before the horses reach the sale ring. Selected yearlings are then subjected to vigorous preparation and education at Manton in England – one of the best training facilities in the world – as well as with racecourse gallops under the observation of internationally-recognised trainer Brian Meehan. A further selection is then made on which horses are suitable to be brought to Hong Kong to race.
Michael Kinane remains involved throughout the entire process, not only selecting the yearlings in consultation with Bill, but also then working closely with Brian with the preparation and ultimate selection of the horses to come to Hong Kong.
Golden Empire, another four-year-old HKIS graduate, also featured on BMW Hong Kong Derby Day with his third win from five starts for Francis Lui and Ruan Maia.
Karis has been a virtual fixture in the top echelon of Hong Kong riders since his arrival here and he was deeply disappointed not to win last season’s BMW Hong Kong Derby aboard Russian Emperor when runner-up to Sky Darci and Joao Moreira in a margin identical to this year’s edition. He made no mistake on Sunday.
California Spangle’s courage and class were again abundantly evident in a superb display – aided by another wonderful ride from Zac – and it is telling that after six wins spread from 1000m (1) and 1200m (4) and 1800m (1) that Tony is not certain yet what will be the best distance ultimately for his newest star.
With pandemic-related challenges continuing to surface on multiple fronts, I look forward to where the future takes this season’s Derby combatants. Danny and Tony have already indicated next month’s FWD Champions Day meeting is where their two flagbearers will next likely appear.
On Wednesday night at Happy Valley, the first section of the Class 3 Sheung Hei Handicap is the eighth of nine races and will be run over 1200 metres with Lucky Sweynesse looking to retain his perfect record after two wins from his first two starts.
Jockey Zac Purton will take Lucky Sweynesse forward to be on the pace, which will be good to slow. Flaming Passion will flash good speed under Matthew Chadwick to be prominent but the pace will be only moderate.
Purton has the luxury to lead or sit just behind the leader as Lucky Sweynesse has won convincingly with both running styles. He is a promising type and is a win and place chance to enhance his unbeaten record. Purton has ridden second favourite Toronado Phantom in his last two starts but has elected to return to Lucky Sweynesse in this test.
Flaming Passion comes off a pair of good efforts and his light weight and forward placement make him a place chance along with Toronado Phantom and Meridian Genius.
Toronado Phantom has been very consistent this year but has drawn the outside gate on the C+3 course with Joao Moreira taking the ride. He will go back in the run and will close the race off strongly. Meridian Genius is a last start winner at the class, course and distance, and is well drawn with Ruan Maia. He is a two-time winner this season at Happy Valley on C tracks and will get a nice run from inside midfield.
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