Tag: Hong Kong Vase

Plenty To Play For at Longines HKIR

by Alan Carasso

The Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse has had much to overcome over the last few years. In 2019, massive social unrest–including a cluster at the Chinese University of Hong Kong a stone's throw from the track–left some doubt as to whether the event would go forward at all. At the end of the day, not only did it proceed, but it was supported to the tune of record turnover of HK$1.71 billion.

Twelve months ago, in the midst of a pandemic that was wreaking worldwide havoc, the Hong Kong Jockey Club established a travel bubble, allowing participants to travel to Hong Kong and to attend to their horses as normal while having their movement otherwise severely restricted. The show went on–albeit in front of an empty grandstand–and was an unmitigated success by any metric. Despite the discovery of a new COVID variant now making its way around, the fans–upwards of 18,000 of them after a bit more than 6,000 patrons saw Zac Purton take out Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley–will return to Sha Tin Sunday afternoon for a day of top international racing, with horses from England, France, Ireland and Japan taking on the locals for record prizemoney of HK$100 million (£9.7 million/€11.3 million/A$17.9 million/US$12.8 million).

The winners of three of last year's HKIR return to the New Territories in search of a second crown. Mogul (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will attempt to become the fourth individual winner of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) for Team Ballydoyle and Aidan O'Brien, who sent out the globetrotting Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to score in 2015 and 2017. A clear three-length winner over Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) last year, the bay has been fractionally disappointing this term, his best effort being a third in the G1 Prix Ganay in early May. A tailed-off sixth behind the re-opposing Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) in the G1 Cornation Cup at Epsom in June, Mogul was most recently sixth in a soft-turf renewal of the G3 Prix de Reux at Deauville

“A few things haven't gone quite right for him through the summer, so he's been lightly raced,” jockey Ryan Moore told the HKJC's Steve Moran. “His work's been good at home and he looks great. We know he likes Sha Tin and he likes quick ground. I believe Aidan's very happy with him, so we're hoping that he can step back in the right direction.”

Pyledriver reminds one of the aforementioned Exultant, a staying type that is able to race handy, then finish off his races strongly. He was a beaten horse in the Coronation Cup in his second start this preparation, only to claw his way back underneath favoured Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Sidelined off that effort, the blaze-faced bay resumed in the Listed Churchill S. over the Lingfield all-weather while on trial for this race Nov. 13 and made an early move to the front before sticking on bravely to score by a half-length.

“It was a blow that Pyledriver missed the summer with a muscle problem, but sometimes things happen for a reason and maybe the best is yet to come,” jockey Martin Dwyer, who won the 2004 Vase with Phoenix Reach (Ire) (Alhaarth {Ire}), told HKJC writer Graham Cunningham.

Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is also in search of a second Vase, having been ridden to perfection by Joao Moreira two years ago. Only lightly raced for a 6-year-old with 16 starts under his belt, the handsome dark bay was a running-on second to compatriot Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 FWD QE II Cup (2000m) in April and has one start since, a third in the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers S. Sept. 26 in which he first made a run from near the tail to be up with the leaders while wide on the final bend and fought on to finish third. He's got the 'Magic Man' back in the irons, hasn't had to travel as far as his chief rivals and should be in the finish.

 

Champion S. Form on Display in the Cup…

Sunday's richest race is the 2000-metre G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, its HK$30 million pot making it the richest race in the world at the graded/group level on turf over the distance (the Mile and the Sprint can boast the same).

No European shipper has managed a victory in the Cup since Moore rode Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) for Ed Dunlop in 2010. She was coincidentally the last 3-year-old to defeat her elders in the race, and a trio of raiders from that age group will start as outsiders Sunday. Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) and Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) made their respective last appearances in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot Oct. 16, with the former charging home into second while 1 1/2 lengths clear of a slightly hampered Mac Swiney in third. Dubai Honour earned his way into Champions Day by virtue of fast-finishing scores in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville and the G2 Prix Dollar at a very soggy ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend Oct. 2. The faster underfoot conditions are of concern to his trainer.

“My fear, and I think it's [jockey] Tom [Marquand]'s fear, is the ground,” William Haggas told the HKJC's Darryl Timms. “Although he ran on and won at Newmarket on fast ground in July, he has run his best three races on soft ground. I never thought he had to have soft ground, but it's maybe that he does.”

Mac Swiney hails from the Jim Bolger yard, successful in 2004 with 3-year-old filly Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away {Ire}), who was ridden to victory by the colt's jockey Kevin Manning.

Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), this year's GI Belmont Derby hero, rounds out the 3-year-old trio and exits a sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, but would need a giant step forward here.

Japan's Loves Only You is already a winner over Sunday's course and distance, having scooped the aforementioned QE II Cup in style this past April. Previously third in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, she was second to top Japanese 3-year-old filly Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) in the G2 Sapporo Kinen ahead of her history-making success in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar last month and did the bulk of her training at the Southern California track. She looms the one to beat, while Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who defeated recent G1 Japan Cup hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Osaka Hai in easy ground she quite enjoyed in April, will have her backers and should be handy to the pace.

Panfield (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky), whose Hong Kong Group 1 success came in last year's Champions & Chater Cup over an additional 400 metres, attacked the line when third in the 2021 BMW Hong Kong Derby going this trip and was the surprise winner first-up of the G3 Sha Tin Trophy H. over a mile Oct. 17. He can be forgiven for his seventh-place effort in a falsely run G2 Jockey Club Cup Nov. 21 and can factor on his best.

 

 

Golden Sixty Looking To Double Up in Mile…

With a successful defence of his title in Sunday' G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) would surpass two legends of the Hong Kong turf–Silent Witness (Aus) and Beauty Generation (NZ)–as the winningest horse in Hong Kong history with 19 victories. The Francis Lui trainee would also be taking his current winning streak to 16, which would take him to within one of Silent Witness's 17 on the bounce, a sequence that included the Hong Kong Sprint in 2003 and 2004. Golden Sixty swerved the early-season handicap group races, in which he'd have carried top weight, in favour of a single prep and he did what he had to do in the Nov. 21 G2 Jockey Club Mile, laying off a very slow pace before rattling off wicked closing sectionals, as is his custom.

“We are very happy with him, he came out of that first run very well–in that race over the first 800 [metres] the pace was very slow, that gave the other horses a little trouble, but Golden Sixty, he just has a very good turn of foot now–he knows where the finish is,” trainer Francis Lui told HKJC's Declan Schuster.

The Mile trophy has gone back to Japan twice in the last six runnings (Maurice {Jpn}, 2015; Admire Mars {Jpn}), 2019) and that country fields four of the 11 runners in Sunday's renewal. Of those, two are winners of the G1 Yasuda Kinen–Danon Kingly (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who was a bit fortunate to best Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Tokyo feature this past June and who was runner-up in the G2 Mainichi Okan Oct. 10; and Indy Champ (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}), who took the 2019 Yasuda Kinen, was seventh to Admire Mars in this two years ago and was a close fourth to Gran Alegria in the G1 Mile Championship Nov. 21. Salios (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), a Group 1 winner at two, has form through Contrail and was a tugging sixth in the Mile Championship, while Vin de Garde (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will be the least-fancied of the quartet.

Longshot players might have a look at Excellent Proposal (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), winner of the Hong Kong Classic Mile last season and desperately unlucky not to win a Class 1 handicap prep over track and trip a fortnight ago.

Reigning G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) added the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville over the summer, but would need to go to a new level to factor here.

 

 

Several Chances in the Sprint…

Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) overcame a horror draw in stall 14 to post a 21-1 upset in last year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, but it may be his fellow raiders that prove toughest to beat as he swansongs Sunday afternoon.

Pixie Knight (Jpn) is a son of Horse of the Year Maurice (Jpn), who sandwiched a victory in the 2016 G1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin between International Races glory in the Mile in 2015 and the Cup to close out his career in 2016. A Group 3 winner over a mile at the beginning of this year, Pixie Knight failed to land a blow in two subsequent appearances at the distance, including a 12th in the G1 NHK Mile Cup in May. He has been a different proposition altogether since returning to sprint trips, missing by a neck to Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in the G2 Centaur S. Sept. 12 before reversing form with a decisive, albeit perfect-trip victory in the G1 Sprinters' S. at Nakayama Oct. 3. Danon Smash used a runner-up effort in the same event as a stepping-stone to his score here 12 months ago. No 3-year-old has ever won the Sprint.

Winner of the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies over the mile in 2019, Resistencia is another to have blossomed at shorter trips. Also second to Danon Smash in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen last March, the Carrot Farm runner is versatile in her running style, but seems best suited as an on-pace runner.

Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) might prove most appealing to value shoppers. Victorious in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize last April, he missed an October prep and raced first-up in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint Nov. 21, appearing to run out of condition at the 200 metres before finishing seventh to the progressive Lucky Patch (NZ) (El Roca {Aus}). He is primed to go a much better race second off the layoff.

The hulking Naboo Attack (Aus) (Warhead {Aus}), Hong Kong's biggest horse at 1366 pounds, ran home nicely to snatch second money in the Jockey Club Sprint, but loses leading rider Zac Purton to Lucky Patch, while Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), twice a beaten favourite in this race, makes his fourth appearance in it for one last shot at glory at age seven.

 

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O’Brien-Trained Mogul Returns To Defend His Title In Sunday’s Hong Kong Vase

Last year's G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m, or 1 1/2 miles) winner Mogul returns on Sunday (Dec. 12) to defend his title and leads a three-pronged attack on International Day at Sha Tin from the formidable Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore training and riding combination.

Mogul, a 4-year-old son of Galileo, has not won in four starts since last year's Hong Kong success. However, that victory was his third from as many runs right-handed at 2400 metres on good ground and jockey Moore believes his 2021 performances can be excused.

“He's had a quiet year,” Moore said. “He started in Dubai and ran respectably and (then) ran a good race in Paris in the Prix Ganay (G1, 2100m) before the ground was very soft at Epsom for the Coronation and he didn't like it and it was the same again when he went back to Deauville.

“A few things haven't gone quite right for him through the summer, so he's been lightly raced. His work's been good at home and he looks great. We know he likes Sha Tin and he likes quick ground. I believe Aidan's very happy with him, so we're hoping that he can step back in the right direction.

“He showed a couple of times last year he's very talented. He's a handsome horse with a great pedigree and I still have faith that he can get back on track. Aidan would like to have put a run in him but that didn't happen but we think he's in good shape. I suppose Mogul would look our best chance on paper.”

Moore and O'Brien, of course, combined with the most recent multiple Vase winner Highland Reel who scored in 2015, was second in 2016 and won again in 2017 immediately before his retirement to stud.

Zoffany filly Mother Earth, a dual Group 1 winner in 2021, represents the stable in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and Moore says she can be forgiven a last-start Breeders' Cup Mile failure and be competitive in what he describes as a “very strong” edition of the Group 1.

“She's a wonderful filly. She's strong and she's been very busy, on the go all year and late on as a two-year-old as well,” Moore said. “The race in Del Mar (G1 Breeders' Cup Mile), she drew in the middle and didn't get away that quickly, the pace was steady and it was impossible to make up ground in that very short straight there.

“She's been consistent all year. The race on Sunday is very strong with Golden Sixty and a live Japanese contingent. It's going to be tough for her but she's got a nice draw, gets a nice weight pull and she usually runs a good race. I think Sha Tin will suit and she'll enjoy the quick ground.” Moore said.

Bolshoi Ballet returns to 2000 meters (1 1/4 miles), after two failures at 2400 metres, in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and the drop in trip may be key to his prospects, according to the jockey.

“He won a Grade 1 in America at ten (furlongs) and his two wins at the start of the year were over the ten furlongs (2000 metres). He's obviously very happy at that distance. I had high hopes for him and (while) he hasn't run bad races lately I would like to have seen a little bit more from him.

“The quick ground will be in his favor and I don't think Sha Tin will be any problem. The two Japanese fillies (Lei Papale and Loves Only You) bring a high level of form and will be tough to beat but he (Bolshoi Ballet) is a nice type of horse and I still believe there's a good horse in there. He's a Group 1 winner and hopefully can run a respectable race,” Moore said.

Recently crowned LONGINES World's Best Jockey, Moore also picks up the ride on Hot King Prawn for trainer John Size in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m, six furlongs).

“He's very consistent horse and obviously a Group 1 winner around Sha Tin. He's got a nice draw. Pixie Knight might be a level above but I'm very much looking forward to riding him (Hot King Prawn). He's had his prep race and hopefully will come forward. He's in there with a definite chance,” Moore said.

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Favourites Handed Low-Stress Draws for Longines HKIR

A total of 43 horses representing Hong Kong, England, Ireland, France and Japan were entered for Sunday's HK$100 million Longines Hong Kong International Meeting at Sha Tin Racecourse, and the luck of the barrier draw–held Thursday morning in the parade ride at the track–was much in favour of the horses that are anticipated to be at the head of the markets in the four events.

For a horse like reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), who likes to get back and then put his rivals to the sword with a devastating finish, the barrier draw is something of a non-issue. Having drawn seven last year en route to a facile success, his chances were done no harm whatsoever when owner Stanley Chan selected gate two for Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile.

“Barrier two is OK–we'll just relax him and wait for the straight, and then we can just let him go,” trainer Francis Lui told the HKJC's Declan Schuster. “He is all ready and we're hoping that luck will come to my team and my owner–and to me too.”

 

 

Similarly, with the gates positioned towards the top of the Sha Tin straight for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and with a long run into the first turn, post positions–especially in a compact field–also become less relevant. Defending champion Mogul (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will have no excuses from gate two, one to the outside of one of the likely pacesetters Reliable Team (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), while G1 Coral Coronation Cup hero Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) begins outside that pair in stall three.

Japan's record-making Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) figure to be strong in the market for the day's richest event, the HK$30 million G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m). Having drawn four and three, respectively, neither should have much difficulty securing a trip that suits their running styles. The form of the G1 QIPCO Champion S. is represented by Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}, gate seven), beaten 3/4 of a length in back of Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in third. The latter was assigned post position two, while local hope Panfield (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky) has pole position coming off a disappointing effort in the G2 Jockey Club Cup three weeks ago.

“It's a lovely draw, it gives you options and we're certainly very happy with it, there's a lot worse draws than that–I couldn't be happier,” trainer Tony Millard said of last year's G1 Champions & Chater Cup hero, also a multiple Group 1 winner in his native Chile. “He's been good since that last run, frankly speaking that last run, it was one of those races that you want to forget and we're just looking forward.”

Pixie Knight (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) could go favoured in a wide-open renewal of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, and will break from post position eight to try to make it two in a row for Japan. Defending champion Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) doesn't appear to be in the same sort of form and will leave gate 10 after winning from the riverside draw in 14 last year. Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) has a chance to go a good race second-up, having finished seventh to Lucky Patch (NZ) (El Roca {Aus}) in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint Nov. 21, but he will have to work out a trip of his own from stall 11.

“In the Sprint you want some draw assistance and we didn't get the draw assistance, but last year's winner was drawn 14 and if [Wellington] is good enough, that's where he comes from,” trainer Richard Gibson told the HKJC's Leo Schlink. “I think he's sharper than he was [last time] and he trialled really well the other day, so he's in good shape.”

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Trainer Of Over 70 Grade 1 Winners, Alain De Royer-Dupre Bids For Fairytale Ending With Talented Ebaiyra

One of the great training careers of the modern era will officially come to an end on Dec. 31 when Alain de Royer-Dupre heads into retirement, the winner of more than 70 G1s around the world, including 19 French Classics.

The man who will be forever identified with the careers of a stellar trio in Dalakhani, Pride, and Zarkava, will send out Ebaiyra on Sunday (Dec. 12) in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m, or 1 1/2 miles).

All three of the aforementioned champions signed off with a valedictory success – Pride herself at Sha Tin in December, 2006 – and should Ebaiyra do the same then there could be no more fitting end for Royer-Dupre's own journey, 49 years after he saddled his first winner.

“We have the older Japanese horse Glory Vase who is obviously pretty good and I don't know how we measure up, but if Ebaiyra runs well it will be very satisfying,” says Royer-Dupre, who turned 77 in September. “It will put a full stop on my career and it's a great way to go out. It's possible she could be my final runner.”

For the last four decades Royer-Dupre has served as principal trainer to H H the Aga Khan and it is those famous emerald green silks that Christophe Soumillon will carry aboard Ebaiyra, who her handler hopes has rebounded from a mid-season blip and whose best form puts her right in the mix with Glory Vase, Pyledriver and Mogul among the international challengers for the HK$20 million (about US$2.57 million) LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

“She ran poorly at Deauville in August and so I preferred to ease off on her at that stage,” says Royer-Dupre. “We hoped to run in the G1 Prix de l'Opera (2000m, 1 1/4 miles) but she hadn't come back to herself by then so we waited,” he said.

“Now she seems in much better form so this is a good target for her. She is fresh and well and it is a case of how she takes the trip. She didn't eat up very well when she first arrived but she has adapted well during the week.”

Seasoned work-watchers during LONGINES HKIR week are well used to the idea that many of the French visitors do their morning tours of Sha Tin in a leisurely low gear, and Royer-Dupre's horses have never excited the clockers in the run-up to the big day.

The 4-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor has been no different this week, lobbing around the sand in a relaxed manner, just as her half-sister Edisa did in 2019 before finishing fifth in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup, six years after their dam Ebiyza was sixth in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

Ebaiyra's work at Chantilly Racecourse last month was much smarter as she dropped two work companions on her way up the all-weather, while Royer-Dupre also gave her a blow on the revered Les Aigles turf gallop in the days before she left.

“We've had plenty of horses run well in Hong Kong on top of the two winners, they regularly run up to form,” he says. “My experience is that you work them normally before they travel and then only very lightly once they arrive. You want to give them the minimum, just to freshen them up, without looking for another proper piece of work. It's not worth trying to find out before the day.

Royer-Dupre adds: “If she can run up to the form she showed in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) or even improve slightly, that would be ideal.

“She would have benefited from a prep run but she is a filly with plenty of experience, it's not like she's a young horse.

“On her French form Ebaiyra has shown herself a better horse than both her dam Ebiyza and her sister Edisa.”

Golden memories of Pride and Daryakana

Royer-Dupre's record in Hong Kong stands comparison with all comers, with two wins and seven placed efforts from his 21 runners at the LONGINES HKIR meeting.

Pride arrived in 2006 as arguably the form turf horse in the world, having split Rail Link and Deep Impact in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) before dominating her rivals 13 days later in the G1 Champion Stakes at Newmarket.

She also arrived back in Hong Kong with a score to settle, having failed by a neck to reel in Vengeance Of Rain in the Hong Kong Cup 12 months earlier under Soumillon.

With Christophe Lemaire in the plate most were expecting another hold up ride before unleashing her trademark turn of foot but, as Royer-Dupre recalls, the plan almost went awry.

“The mare had remained in very good shape after her runs in the Arc and the Champion Stakes,” he says. “She was a bit unlucky in the Arc and got there just too late whereas in Hong Kong it was the opposite problem and she hit the front too soon.”

Lemaire rode to beat Vengeance Of Rain once again but David Ferraris's champion was not in quite the same form and suddenly hunter became hunted, as Yutaka Take took dead aim with Admire Moon in one of the most memorable Cup finished in LONGINES HKIR history.

Royer-Dupre says: “The horse she was following didn't take her deep enough into the race and she was left out in front for Admire Moon to run at. In another few strides we'd have been beaten.

“It was a case of going from one extreme to the other which can happen. I think we were a bit lucky to win.”

There was much less pressure on Royer-Dupre and Gerald Mosse three years later when Daryakana arrived for the 2009 Vase, unbeaten in four starts and a G2 winner at Longchamp on her most recent outing.

Mosse's white gloves had Daryakana on a loose rein at the very rear of the field and, after angling his filly wide at the top of the straight, they still had 11 horses to pass at the 400 meter mark.

Royer-Dupre says: “Daryakana was very impressive. Turning into the straight she had a lot of ground to make up but Gerald Mosse knows Hong Kong very well and she finished in magnificent style.

“She was very backward and hadn't seen the track before July of that year and so the advantage was that she was very much still on the upgrade.”

Daryakana was the daughter of a French Oaks winner and went on to be a fabulous broodmare for H H Aga Khan, producing G1 winner Dariyan, himself third in the 2015 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

Pride has also been represented at the meeting, with her son One Foot In Heaven filling third spot in the 2016 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

Ebaiyra doesn't lack for family history at Sha Tin, while preparations will have been timed to the minute by her meticulous trainer one last time.

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