Monthly Archives: 05/2019

So many notable stories have emerged over the last few days both on and off the racecourse. Exultant was clearly the star of a very strong Sha Tin card on Sunday, adding to his Hong Kong Vase success with a typically brave win in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. He has achieved something…

This is turning into a busy and significant week both on and off the racecourse. I left the races on Wednesday to go to an IFHA EXCO Meeting in Dublin at which we discussed how we as Racing Authorities and organisers have to address the significant challenges that global racing faces worldwide in light of…

And so we begin another Group 1 week in Hong Kong racing. This Sunday’s Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup brings back vivid memories of some very special horses, from four-time winner River Verdon, three-time winner Viva Pataca and dual winners such as Indigenous, Oriental Express and Blazing Speed. Pakistan Star will be bidding to…

This has been another intriguing week on the news front in Hong Kong racing. There was a great atmosphere at Happy Valley for the first of three French-themed nights on Wednesday and the growing influence of Conghua was on show like never before, with four consecutive winners travelling down from our Mainland Base culminating with…

Our Simulcast season is gathering pace at the moment and last Sunday’s French Guineas programme will be followed by another big international show for Yushun Himba Day in Japan this weekend. Godolphin stole the show at Longchamp, winning the French 2000 Guineas with Andre Fabre’s exciting Persian King and then recording their 300th global G1…

The wet weather didn’t dampen spirits at Sha Tin this week on a night when Me Tsui recorded the 500th winner of his training career. Me has always gone about his business with a quiet professionalism and it came as no surprise to hear him downplaying his latest achievement after Sky Treasure had given him…

It has been a dramatic few days on the global racing front, with Newmarket staging Britain’s first Classics of the season and America locked in debate about a controversial finish to the Kentucky Derby. Events at a stormy Churchill Downs on Saturday made headlines in an unprecedented way as the Derby winner Maximum Security was…

Nothing stands still for long on the Hong Kong racing scene and, hard on the heels of a memorable FWD Champions Day, a new face stole the headlines at Happy Valley on Wednesday. It often takes time for new riders to adapt to the special demands of our challenging city track so congratulations to Aldo…

A little time always helps provide a clear perspective on our major events and, having assessed all aspects of FWD Champions Day, I believe the occasion lived up to all expectations as a wonderful sporting event that can gradually build into something similar to HKIR. The timing presents challenges, especially in regard to European horses,…