If Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) is to add Sunday's HK$26-million (£2.63 million/US$3.33 million) BMW Hong Kong Derby to his victories in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and Hong Kong Classic Cup, he will have to do so from gate 13 in a field of 14 4-year-olds in the 2000-metre domestic centrepiece Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse.
The 102-rater is one of three in the race for four-time Derby-winning conditioner John Size, who will also send out Classic Cup third Ensued (Lemon Drop Kid) with Ryan Moore from barrier 12 and the longshot Simple Hedge (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) from the six with Antoine Hamelin at the controls.
“I'll have to have a look at the race, see what the jocks think and try and work it out,” the Aussie ex-pat commented. “They haven't done me any favours yet.
Size also provided an update on Helios Express, who has overcome a bacterial infection in a hoof.
“The horse (Helios Express) is fine, he galloped [Thursday] morning and he looks good.”
With a win, Helios Express would join Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss) and Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) as horses to sweep the 4-year-old Classics.
Galaxy Express (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}) will attempt to emulate Size's most recent Derby winner Ping Hai Star (NZ) (Nom de Jeu {NZ}) in stepping up from 1400 metres to the 2000 metres of the Derby. Prepared by the outstanding leading young trainer Pierre Ng, Galaxy Express will carry Blake Shinn, who will need to chart a course from the widest alley.
Those drawn in the double digits would take some heart in the barrier draw statistics. Not only did Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) prevail 12 months ago from the 14 hole, but since the turn of the century, the Derby winner has left from gates 10 and higher on no fewer than 10 occasions. Fay Fay (NZ) and Ambitious Dragon (NZ) also overcame the widest barrier.
The top choices in the market have also generally performed well in the Derby, as only Voyage Bubble (45-1) and Vital King (NZ) (10-1, 2007) have returned double-digit mutuels.
The Derby goes as race seven on a 10-race program with a scheduled post time of 4.15 local time (4:15am ET, 9:15 British time). Click here for the HKJC race form. The Hong Kong Derby cheat sheet will appear in Saturday's TDN Europe.
2024 Hong Kong Derby barrier draw:
1⃣ Star Mac
2⃣ Elliptical
3⃣ Chill Chibi
4⃣ Ka Ying Generation
5⃣ Beauty Crescent
6⃣ Simple Hedge
7⃣ Speed Dragon
8⃣ Unbelievable
9⃣ Chancheng Glory Massive Sovereign
1⃣1⃣ Helene Feeling
1⃣2⃣ Ensued
1⃣3⃣ Helios Express
1⃣4⃣… pic.twitter.com/gwQLcFWZrJ
The mental strain and inner turmoil that COVID-19 has caused in Hong Kong over the past 26 months dictate that the talented Blake Shinn will return to Australia at the end of the current racing season. The 34-year-old, winner at home of the 2008 G1 Melbourne Cup and 2016 G1 Golden Slipper, among other feature races, decided to give Hong Kong a go a couple of years back, and while it has not always been smooth sailing, Shinn has done the hard yards. He improved from 15 wins in his inaugural season to 24 in the 2020/2021 campaign, including a first pattern success aboard Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) and a victory in the 4-year-old Classic series astride Excellent Proposal (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}).
The current season, the toughest of the three within the context of the curbs put on the local jockey colony, has seen Shinn reach even loftier heights, with a Sky Field win in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint before Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) added to that tally in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) back in February. The end of his stint may be near, but he continues to ride at the peak of his powers and gave the latter a peach of a steer from the tail of the field to post a convincing tally in Sunday's G1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup at Sha Tin. The win capped off a natural three-timer for Shinn–each for a different trainer–and carries him to 36 winners for the year, good for seventh in the premiership.
Getting the blinkers off after overracing when a last-out fifth to BMW Hong Kong Derby hero Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 FWD QE II Cup Apr. 24, Russian Emperor was allowed to drift back to last and traveled sweetly behind a soft pace. Content to trail into the final half-mile, Russian Emperor was slipped a bit of rein and followed the move of 2021 Champions and Chater runner-up Columbus County (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) around the turn. Pulled out widest as they hit the top of the straight, Russian Emperor hit top gear about 200 metres out, collared a very game Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) and edged clear. Senor Toba (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) was a perfect-trip third.
“It's the longest 2400 [metres] of my life,” said winning trainer Douglas Whyte, who won the Champions and Chater three times in his illustrious riding career. “When you're a jockey, things unfold and you can see them unfolding in front of you, but when you're standing on the side and watching it, it gets quite daunting.
“He showed that he has got a really good turn of foot for a stayer. If he can continue to race in this sort of form and with these racing manners, he's an exciting horse for all these staying races next season,” Whyte added.
Given all that he–and to be fair, the entire institution of Hong Kong racing–has had to endure, the magnitude of Sunday's win was not lost on Shinn.
“It means a lot. It was a tough decision to go home [at the end of the season],” he explained. “The last year has been an extremely tough time, especially for myself. It was almost a breaking point. I made the decision because I was pretty much battling there mentally.
“Hong Kong has been a great place for me but for a few months there, it was really tough–not just for me, but a lot of people in Hong Kong. It's hard to walk away because I've worked so hard, but mental health is very important.
“Things have eased now but first and foremost, I have to make sure my well-being is where I need it to be and hopefully in time, I can get it back to where I need it to be and you can see me back in Hong Kong in the future,” Shinn said.
Pedigree Notes:
Russian Emperor, winner of the 2020 G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot, is one of his late sire's 93 worldwide Group 1/Grade I winners and one of three in Hong Kong, alongside G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase winners Highland Reel (Ire) and Mogul (Ire). All three are bred on the enormously successful cross of Galileo over Danehill and his stallion sons. Russian Emperor is the lone Galileo Group 1 winner from a daughter of Fastnet Rock.
Russian Emperor is one of two winners from four to the races for his outstanding dam, a two-time Australian champion and a Group 1 winner at 1400 (x2) (All-Aged S., Memsie S.), 1600 (Schweppes Thousand Guineas) and 2000 metres (Caulfield S.) and winner of 10 of her 11 career starts. Atlantic Jewel, a half-sister to fellow Thousand Guineas heroine Commanding Jewel (Aus) (Commands {Aus}), sadly passed away in August of 2020 after foaling a colt by US Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy). That produce was purchased by Dermot Farrington Bloodstock for A$240,000 (US$181,059) at last month's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
WATCH: Russian Emperor overpowers the field in the Champions and Chater Cup
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong STANDARD CHARTERED CHAMPIONS AND CHATER CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000 (£1,231,525/€1,452,138/A$2,182,458/US$1,529,244), Sha Tin, 5-22, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:26.67, gd.
1–RUSSIAN EMPEROR (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Atlantic Jewel (Ire) (Ch. 3yo Filly, Ch. Older Mare & MG1SW-Aus, $1,559,748), by Fastnet Rock (Aus) 2nd Dam: Regard (Aus), by Zabeel (NZ) 3rd Dam: Nanshan (Ire), by Nashwan
O-Mike Cheung Shun Ching; B-Coolmore, Lauri Macri & Partners; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Blake Shinn; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, GSP-Ire, 20-4-4-3, HK$28,674,860. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ka Ying Star (GB), 126, g, 7, Cityscape (GB)–Casual Glance (GB), by Sinndar (Ire). O-Leung Shek Kong; B-Kingsclere Stud; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Luke Ferraris; HK$2,640,000.
3–Senor Toba (Aus), 126, g, 4, Toronado (Ire)–Bahamas (Aus), by Teofilo (Ire). (A$180,000 Ylg '19 INGMAR). O-Willie May Syndicate; B-D Peacock (SA); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Joao Moreira; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 21-10, 16-1, 37-10.
Also Ran: Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), Panfield (Chi), Zebrowski (NZ), Butterfield (Brz), Columbus County (NZ), Reliable Team (NZ), Nordic Sky (Brz). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the winner of the G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot in 2020, had run some mighty races since being imported into Hong Kong, but just hadn't had that breakthrough moment. On a rain-soaked Sunday afternoon where the thermometer never made it into the double digits, the 5-year-old finally stood centre stage following a bloodless, 4 1/4-length thrashing of a field that included Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse. The race was marred by a fatal injury to reigning BMW Hong Kong Derby hero Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who went amiss three furlongs from home and was sadly euthanased.
Exiting a strong third–with Golden Sixty only second–in the G1 Stewards' Cup over an insufficient 1600-metre trip, Russian Emperor was the $6.50 (11-2) second-elect and raced towards the rear of the Gold Cup field in company with odds-on Golden Sixty as Zebrowski (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and Reliable Team (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) led over turf called yielding, a rare designation in Hong Kong. Whereas Vincent Ho kept Golden Sixty out of harm's way–understandable given a somewhat luckless effort from an inside draw in the Stewards' Cup–Blake Shinn rode Russian Emperor for a bit of luck, remaining inside throughout. The two market heavies made runs in unison on the turn, with Golden Sixty clearly taking the worst of it, as Shinn weaved his way through to deliver his challenge four off the inside in upper stretch. To make matters worse for Golden Sixty, the underfoot conditions blunted his typically devastating turn of foot, and by then, Russian Emperor–previously third in last year's Derby and to Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in December–was well and truly off and gone. Longshot Savvy Nine (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) completed a 1-2 for trainer Douglas Whyte.
“I had a few different ideas, few different views,” the conditioner said, reflecting on pre-race game-planning. “In the parade ring, [Blake] said to me 'Do you mind if I ride the rail?' And I said 'You did that last time, you cut the corner and went in. Why would you do anything different? If you've got the horse underneath you, don't come out? It was the winning move. When you're riding with this kind of confidence in these kind of races, that's what you want. The ride made the difference.”
The connections of Golden Sixty chalked up what appeared to be another sub-par performance to Mother Nature.
“The conditions, for sure, played a part and the others just saved up all the ground,” Ho said. “He still ran well, it was still a good effort.”
Pedigree Notes:
Russian Emperor, who was gelded at the end of a six-race preparation last May, becomes a remarkable 93rd top-level scorer for his late sire and joins Longines Hong Kong Vase winners Highland Reel (Ire) and Mogul (Ire) as those to have achieved that success in Hong Kong.
The bay is one of two winners from three to race from his outstanding dam, twice named champion and a four-time Group 1 winner in Australia whose half-sister Commanding Jewel (Aus) (Commands {Aus}) gave their dam Regard back-to-back winners of the G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in 2012.
Atlantic Jewel is the dam of Russian Emperor's unraced 4-year-old full-sister Atlantic Emerald (Ire) and 3-year-old full-brother Fleet Commander (Ire). Her current yearling is an Australian-bred son of US Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) that is cataloged to sell as lot 62 for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale Tuesday, Apr. 5. Atlantic Jewel sadly passed away from a hemorrhage five days after foaling that colt.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong CITI HONG KONG GOLD CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-20, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:04.11, yl.
1–RUSSIAN EMPEROR (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Atlantic Jewel (Aus) (Ch. 3yo Filly, Ch. Older Mare & MG1SW-Aus, $1,559,748), by Fastnet Rock (Aus) 2nd Dam: Regard (Aus), by Zabeel (NZ) 3rd Dam: Nanshan (Ire), by Nashwan 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Mike Cheung Shun Shing; B-Coolmore, Lauri Macri & Partners; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Blake Shinn; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, GSP-Ire, 17-3-3-3, HK$19,964,860. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Savvy Nine (Fr), 126, g, 6, Anodin (Ire)–Insan Mala (Ire), by Bahhare. (€42,000 RNA Ylg '17 ARQAUG; €420,000 HRA '18 ARQARC). O-Julian Hui Chun Hang; B-Jan Krauze; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Matthew Chadwick; HK$2,640,000.
3–Golden Sixty (Aus), 126, g, 6, Medaglia d'Oro–Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor. (A$120,000 Ylg '17 MMGCYS; NZ$300,000 2yo '17 NZBRTR). O-Stanley Chan Ka Leung; B-Asco International Pty Ltd (Qld); T-Francis Lui K W; J-Vincent Ho C Y; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 4 1/4, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 11-2, 56-1, 2-5.
Also Ran: Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), More Than This (GB), Zebrowski (NZ), Butterfield (Brz), Reliable Team (NZ), Panfield (Chi). DNF: Sky Darci (NZ). Scratched: Columbus County (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Wellington Makes Amends in QSJC…
After having to take evasive action around the nasty spill in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint two back and after enduring a checkered passage when fourth to Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) in the G1 Centenary Sprint Prize Jan. 23, Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) was back to his best Sunday, with a comfortable victory in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup.
Settled just behind midfield as the heavily tried Californiadeepshot (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) dueled inside of Healthy Happy (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), Wellington was waited with behind horses, sprinted more quickly than Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) to his outside to take aim on the front rank at the 200 metres and kicked home nicely for a second Group 1 success. Ka Ying Star ran on gamely for second ahead of Stewards' Cup upsetter Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), who was strung up in traffic at a crucial stage and did well to be third.
“I'm obviously pleased for the horse, just had an irritating start to the season for him,” winning trainer Richard Gibson commented. “We were lucky to have a horse after the Longines Hong Kong Sprint and all the misfortune that happened to those horses. This year, things haven't quite gone right for him and we fancied our chances today and the horse delivered.”
Gibson confirmed that Wellington will not target anything on foreign soil and will defend his G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize Apr. 24.
Mihiri is the dam of the unraced 2-year-old filly Rotorua (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}), missed to Deep Field in 2020 and produced a full-sister to Wellington last term.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-20, 3yo/up, 1400mT, 1:23.53, gd/yl.
1–WELLINGTON (AUS), 126, g, 5, by All Too Hard (Aus) 1st Dam: Mihiri (Aus) (GSP-Aus, $123,433), by More Than Ready 2nd Dam: Danoise (GB), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Solo de Lune (Ire), by Law Society
(A$70,000 Ylg '18 MMGCYS). O-Mr & Mrs Michael Cheng Wing On & Jeffrey Cheng Man Cheong; B-; T-Richard Gibson; J-Alexis Badel; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 14-8-1-0, HK$25,948,690. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ka Ying Star (GB), 126, g, 7, Cityscape (GB)–Casual Glance (GB), by Sinndar (Ire). O-Leung Shek Kong; B-Kingsclere Stud; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Matthew Chadwick; HK$2,640,000.
3–Waikuku (Ire), 126, g, 7, Harbour Watch (Ire)–London Plane (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€33,000 Ylg '16 TISEP). O-Jocelyn Siu Yang Hin Ting; B-Shane Molan; T-John Size, J-Zac Purton; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 33-5, 13-1, 3-2.
Also Ran: Sky Field (Aus), Californiadeepshot (Aus), Mighty Giant (NZ), Lucky Express (Aus), Healthy Happy (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Loves Only You set the perfect seal on one of international racing's most colorful careers with a spellbinding success in the HK$30 million Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.
Yoshito Yahagi's globetrotting mare has flown the Hinomaru flag from Dubai to Hong Kong and on to the USA then back to Sha Tin again in 2021, leading home a Japanese 1-2-3-4 in the G1 FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) in April and then creating history by becoming the first horse from her nation to score at the Breeders' Cup.
Hong Kong's richest race had been nominated as the final race of the Deep Impact mare's career soon after she crossed the line in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2200m) at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., on November 6.
Her fifth long flight of the year took her annual distance covered to over 20,000 miles but Loves Only You was produced in perfect condition and completed the final leg of her global odyssey with a last-gasp success under the coolest of rides from Yuga Kawada.
The 36-year-old rider, who was extremely fortunate not to be brought down when previous winner Danon Smash was badly hampered in a dramatic G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) earlier in the day, was understandably thrilled to record his first HKIR success. “Thank you very much, I'm very proud,” he said.
“She jumped well. The pace was a bit slow but then she relaxed and I was able to find a good position. She's given me two big presents and is the best female horse I've ever ridden. I hope she will be a good mother.”
Sent off the 2.6 market leader, Loves Only You jumped alertly from stall four and was soon traveling keenly just behind a steady early pace set by Mac Swiney, Ka Ying Star, and the wide-running Bolshoi Ballet.
Russian Emperor made a bold move to hit the front as a packing field jostled for position early in the home straight but last season's BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) runner-up edged right with his tongue lolling out as he did so, placing Loves Only You in a pocket on the inner at a crucial point.
Hishi Iguazu produced a storming run from the rear on the outside soon after under Joao Moreira to draw level briefly well inside the final furlong.
However, Kawada had Loves Only You in full stride by this stage and the five-year-old repeated her Del Mar heroics, quickening valiantly between horses under pressure to lead close home and beat her fellow Japanese raider by a short head.
Russian Emperor ran the race of his life for Douglas Whyte and Blake Shinn to finish a length away in third, while British raider Dubai Honour never looked like becoming the first European runner to win the Cup since Snow Fairy in 2010 but stayed on powerfully for fourth once in the clear for William Haggas and Tom Marquand.
Three years on from seeing his star filly Lys Gracieux beaten narrowly by Exultant in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi was completing an incredible end to 2021 which has also produced a 50-1 Breeders' Cup Distaff success for Marche Lorraine and a commanding Japan Cup success for his superstar colt Contrail.
The colorful 60-year-old was unable to accompany Loves Only You on the final leg of her journey but his stable representative Yusaku Oka was on hand to savor a perfect finale.
“I'm so glad to win this race for our trainer, who is watching on in Japan,” he said.
“She won the Breeders' Cup very well and in the spring she came over here and had a good result, so we were always confident she would run well.
“She's got a good pedigree – so we are looking forward to the next stage of her career – and as we have quite a lot of good horses in the stable we hope we will be back in Hong Kong with them in the future.”
Dusk was gathering over Sha Tin as an elated Kawada left the racecourse on a day that illustrated every aspect of the joy and pain that defines racing at the highest level.
The sun is also setting on Loves Only You's racing career but, if the 2021 edition of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races confirmed one thing, it is that the Land of the Rising Sun is now a true powerhouse on the global racing stage.
Following in the footsteps of A Shin Hikari, Maurice, Win Bright, and Normcore, this success for Loves Only You means Japan has now won five of the last seven Hong Kong Cups and four of the eight HKIR races run in the last two years.
HKJC racecaller Mark McNamara summed up the latest thrilling finish to Hong Kong's most cherished prize by saying: “It's Japan 1-2, Loves Only You says sayonara with the Cup!”
Leave them wanting more is never a bad motto. But, who knows, maybe Japan's latest Cup queen will have a son or daughter to represent her on the LONGINES HKIR stage in years to come.
Massive Sovereign
