And in a blink of an eye, it’s all over for another year. Just like anything I really look forward to, the Hong Kong International races last weekend were over far too quickly for my liking, though once again they did serve up a fest of top class racing despite the covid bubble enforced upon them by current circumstances.
From a personal perspective it was a case of “close but no cigar”, with a winner in the final contest possibly my saving grace, and the others going oh so close, but more of that in my race by race review below – written through tears of the financial kind!
Longines Hong Kong Vase
I bigged up Glory Vase in my preview, explained why the Japanese raider had every chance – then went for Pyledriver as my pick, go figure? You can guess the result as a slow early pace really didn’t suit the British raider with stamina more his strong suit, but to be fair he ran a blinder, quickening up late on in the style of a good horse before being mowed down late on to come home a very respectable second under Martin Dwyer at odds of 7/2, beaten a length at the line. Connections still picked up as massive £415,000 for placing, more than doubling his career earnings in one race (which tells its own story about British racing), and it will be interesting to see where they send him next now they know he is up to mixing it with the very best on the International scene with Saudi my guess and the riches on their big card. French raider Ebaiyra was a further two and a half lengths away in third which was a good run, though Mogul flattened out to come home sixth and doesn’t appear to be as good as he once was.
Longines Hong Kong Sprint
I don’t even like writing about races where there is a horror fall so I will keep this short and sweet. Amazing Star fell, bringing down Pixie Star as well as Naboo Attack, and seeing Zac Purton unseated from favourite Lucky Patch in a horrible mess that saw the faller and Naboo Attack fatally injured on a very sad day for the sport we love. The result will go down in the record books as a win for Skyfield with Resistencia second, Courier Wonder third, and my each way suggestion Hot King Prawn missing out on a place in fourth (at odds of 21/1), though the result may have been very different had the third not wandered around in front, and he is the one I will be taking out of the race for future races.
Longines Hong Kong Mile
There was no money to be made from backing Golden Sixty though he deserves a lot more than just a passing mention as he racked up his nineteenth career success (form only twenty starts), a new record for a Hong Kong based horse and one he seems sure to add to many more times over the months and years ahead. Invariably produced very late by Vincent Ho, my heart couldn’t take backing him at odds on with that racing style, but this was, for me, one of his most impressive victories, opening up for a close to two length success in a high class field. Once again my each-way suggestion missed the places by one spot as Mother Earth came home a respectable fourth at odds of 44/1, but all we need to do now is get the right people phoning the owner in what I suspect will be a vain attempt to get the winner over for Royal Ascot in June, though why he would compete for our prize money when he has already picked up over £9,000,000 staying at home is beyond me, much as I would love to see him.
Longines Hong Kong Cup
Even sat at home I feel quite upset when we get to the last of the four Group One’s, so you can imagine how disappointed I have been in the past when at the track, beavering away in the press room. For us it is merely a week or so of working away, talking to connections, taking photos, writing previews, and generally making preparation for raceday (possibly the only time these days I wear a suit), but think about the owners trainers and jockeys who will have had this race in mind for months, possibly years, waiting to see if it all goes the way they hoped – or horribly wrong. Bragging rights for me on this one having actually picked the winner (a short head winner but a winner nonetheless), as Japanese raider Loves Only You bowed out with a final victory before heading off to the paddocks for a new career in the breeding sheds. As for the European raiders, Dubai Honour ran a blinder on ground that may well have been too quick for him to give his best, while Bolshoi ballet (ninth) simply isn’t as good as they once hoped at Ballydoyle (don’t believe the hype), and Mac Swiney ran too badly to be true and came home a 17 length last, eased over a furlong out once his hance had gone and he will be back next season with any luck.
Conclusion:
To expect the Europeans to run well after a long hard season that started for many back in April or May is asking a bit much, though the prize money is beginning to see higher class animals sent to Hong Kong when you consider the English 1000 Guineas winner and the Irish 2000 Guineas winner were both in action, albeit without success. As a champion of International racing I can only see that as a positive sign for the years ahead, and hopefully more and more owners and trainers will consider Hong Kong as a viable alternative, and although I doubt we will be allowed to travel to their next big meeting in April, maybe just maybe I will attend n December 2022 and report for you live once again.
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