The Hong Kong racing season is about half over so it might be a good idea to look back at the top 10 performances by each distance at Happy Valley and Sha Tin. Our methodology is based on final time but if it is close, weight carried will be the deciding factor.
At Happy Valley there are four distances that are consistently run at the “City Track” on its cozy seven-furlong oval.
At 1,000 meters, Stoltz set a course record when he won a Class 3 handicap on January 26, 2022 and covered the distance in 55.85 seconds. He carried 126 pounds and should be able to handle a move up in class after winning at course and distance two weeks later.
Races of 1,200 meters have been run 78 times so far this season at Happy Valley. Harmony And Rich set a course record back in September when he covered the distance in 1:08.46 seconds while toting 129 pounds. He finished up the track in the Premier Bowl H. (G2) on Oct. 17 and has not raced since then. Honorable mention goes to Seven Heavens, who is the only other horse this season to win in 1:08 and change.
The main two-turn configuration at Happy Valley is 1,650 meters and it has been contested 54 times. Beauty Joy won a Class 2 handicap in 1:38.36 seconds on Jan. 19 and did it with 125 pounds. His time was well clear of Telecom Fighters who won against similar company back in October in 1:38.73 seconds but only carried 115 pounds in that race.
Races of 1,800 meters were run 18 times and Zebrowski won the January Cup H. (G3) back on Jan. 5 in 1:48.25 seconds. He showed it was no fluke when he came back in his next start and won the Centenary Vase H. (G3) at Sha Tin in his next start. Fast Pace won a Class 4 handicap back in September in 1:48.34 seconds carrying 124 pounds but has not been able to handle the move up to Class 3 in five tries.
At Sha Tin, there are five main distances run on the turf and two on the all-weather track. Twenty-one races have been run down the straightaway at 1,000 meters on the turf. Not only did Super Wealthy run the fastest time this season in 54.96 seconds while carrying 115 pounds when he won the National Day Cup H. (G3) but also ran 55.70 seconds three weeks earlier in September against Class 2 handicap foes with 129 pounds.
On the turf, 1,200 meters was run 57 times and the clear star is Lucky Patch. He won the Premier Bowl H. (G2) in 1:07.95 seconds on October 17 then came back and won the Jockey Club Sprint (G2) in 1:07.98 seconds a month later. He was the 3.2 favorite in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1) but fell turning for home. He is currently training at Conghua. Nobody else this season has run under 1:08 seconds.
Races of 1,400 meters have been run 70 times on the turf and Buddies has the fastest time when he won the Celebration Cup H. (G3) in 1:20.48 seconds while carrying only 113 pounds on a course rated as good to firm. Blaze Warrior ran at least as well when he won a Class 2 handicap in 1:20.65 seconds while carrying 119 pounds on a course rated as good.
Races of 1,600 meters have been run 32 times and there have been 10 races that were won under 1:34 seconds. Xiang Yin ran 1:33.50 seconds in a Class 3 back in October while carrying 118 pounds on a course rated as good to firm. Soulmate won against the same class on Nov. 28 in 1:33.61 seconds under 116 pounds but the course was rated as good.
The 1,800-meter races are run down the long backstretch of Sha Tin and around one turn. These have been contested 12 times and Tourbillon Diamond had the fastest winning time when he won the Ladies' Purse H. (G3) in 1:46.02 seconds back in November. Second-fastest was Zebrowski who won the Centenary Vase H. (G3) in 1:46.63 seconds. Coupled with having the fastest time for the same distance at Happy Valley, Zebrowski is the king of 1800 meters in this part of the world.
There were 24 races run at 1,200 meters on the all-weather track at Sha Tin. Sight Success is the clear leader after winning a Class 2 handicap on December 5 in 1:07.40 seconds. Nobody else has been able to break 1:08.
At 1,650 meters on the all-weather track at Sha Tin, 18 races have been contested and Turin Redstar has the fastest time of 1:37.39 seconds while beating Class 3 handicap foes with 121 pounds. A better performance might be Will Power who beat Class 1 handicap foes in 1:37.62 while carrying 130 pounds.
There have been no course records broken on the turf at Sha Tin this season. Happy Valley has had two; the aforementioned Stoltz at 1000 meters and Harmony and Rich at 1200 meters.
A majority of the fastest times at each distance came before January. Since then, running times have been off with few horses running faster than standard. On January 26, the Sha Tin turf was rated good to firm but you have to go all the way back to Oct. 24 to find the previous one. The cooler weather has slowed down running times but they should pick up as we get into spring and the weather warms up.
The post Hong Kong Racing Study Guide: Halfway Through, A Review Of The Standout Performances This Season appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
