Hong Kong | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘He’s Never Let Me Down’: Exultant Chasing Repeat Victory In Hong Kong Vase

Exultant is already proven as one of the best stayers Hong Kong has ever produced but this Sunday (Dec. 13) at Sha Tin he has the chance to take his place in the history books by becoming the first locally-trained dual winner of the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m, about 1 1/2 miles).

And champion jockey Zac Purton is going into the HK$20 million (about US$2.58) staying test with an aura of positivity that yet another consistent effort from the five-time G1 winner will see him challenge for a sixth top-level success.

“You always go to the races with a great deal of confidence with Exultant – he's never let me down, so let's just hope that he can continue to give us his best,” Purton said.

The Teofilo gelding has finished inside the top three 23 times from 27 Hong Kong runs, including 11 wins and nine second placings. The last time he finished outside of the top three was over 700 days ago, two runs before his 2018 Hong Kong Vase success.

“He means a lot to me – stayers in Hong Kong are rare and hard to come by and he's certainly been our best stayer the last few years – I've had a good association with him and I've won some big races on him,” Purton said.

Purton has been in the plate for the bulk of Exultant's (126lb) runs, through his Four-Year-Old Classic Series campaign and each of his five wins at the top-level.

“He's never let me down, he's always there he always runs well and if he gets beat he gets beat because another horse has had a softer run or is better than him on the day, but he's so consistent – it's very hard to find a horse that's as consistent as him,” Purton said.

Even before export under the care of Michael Halford at Copper Beach Stables – the bay was consistent, with two wins at three followed by a third-placed effort in the 2017 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m) behind well-regarded Churchill and dual G1 Dubai World Cup (dirt, 2000m) winner Thunder Snow.

Sunday will see Tony Cruz's gritty 6-year-old face six rivals, including Chefano (126lb), Ho Ho Khan (126lb), Columbus County (126lb), Royal Julius (126lb), Playa Del Puente (126lb) and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Mogul (121lb).

The O'Brien-trained galloper captured the G1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) two starts ago over subsequent G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up In Swoop.

“Mogul looks hard to beat, so let's just hope I can get a good gate – this horse for whatever reason always seems to draw a bad gate, he's certainly due to draw a good gate and hopefully he just gets a nice run,” Purton said.

The Irish-bred galloper has had two runs back this term for two runner-up efforts, firstly the G3 Sa Sa Ladies' Purse Handicap (1800m) before close defeat to stablemate and leading LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) contender Furore.

“I thought it was a good effort, the pace of the race was a little bit stronger than I thought it would be and Time Warp put the pedal down further from home than what I thought was necessary, so it really made it hard for those horses up on the speed which is where I was,” the Australian ace said.

“Furore sat right on my tail the whole way and came passed me under a hold, so it was a little bit concerning and a little bit disappointing that he was able to go past me so easily.

“Because Exultant is known for his fighting heart and his strong will to win, so while it's probably a nice performance it's maybe just a shade below than the performance he put in last year,” Purton said.

But an added two furlongs this Sunday, mixed with two runs already this term combined with a slightly smaller field than usual, serves as a recipe that bodes well for the four-time champion jockey.

“Now we go into the Vase and step out at his preferred distance after having a couple of runs under his belt in a race that doesn't look as if it's as strong as it has been before, we don't have as many Europeans, we only have one French and we don't have the Japanese – it's certainly a winnable race,” Purton said.

The post ‘He’s Never Let Me Down’: Exultant Chasing Repeat Victory In Hong Kong Vase appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Previous Winner Joao Moreira Predicts ‘Very Even’ Matchup In International Jockeys’ Championship

Joao Moreira predicts a galaxy of international star jockeys will swiftly adapt to Happy Valley's unique contours as 12 of the world's best riders vie for LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship glory on Wednesday, Dec. 9 in Hong Kong.

As one of four previous winners of the four-race format in this year's contest, the 2020/21 championship-leading jockey believes Wednesday's competition looms as one of the most even in the event's history – a sentiment echoed by the Brazilian's great championship rival Zac Purton.

“There's no doubt it's going to be a very interesting jockeys' challenge,” Moreira said.

“It looks like the club has done a good job to share the rides to everyone else in a fair way.

“I'm actually happy with the rides I've got. There's no doubt we can have some fun.

“These races are going to be very even races. From the first to the fifth horse, there won't be much difference.

“Luck is going to play a lot of luck in this game.”

Allocated Gouten Of Garo, Royal Racer, Smiling City and Cue The Music, Moreira is impressed by the depth of talent among the visiting riders as Hollie Doyle, Tom Marquand, Ryan Moore, Mickael Barzalona, Pierre-Charles Boudot and William Buick attempt to land the top prize – racing's richest for such a competition – of HK$500,000 (about US$65,000).

“I have no doubt local jockeys have the advantage of riding every day on the city track but don't forget these jockeys are coming over here, they are high quality jockeys and they are able to adapt very quickly, understand and pick up from everybody, even watching replays,” Moreira said.

“I would describe Happy Valley as one of the most difficult places to adapt and get used to but I also don't underestimate these guys that are coming because if they've been selected, there are no doubts they are good jockeys and they are going to get used to it quick and do the best they can on this track straight away.”

Moreira, winner of the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship in 2012, believes Royal Racer will acquit himself well in the Second Leg of the series, a Class 4 contest over 1650m.

“He actually won very impressively with me on last time. If he's able to able produce what he did last time, I think he's going to be a very hard horse to beat and I would have him as my best ride of the jockeys' challenge,” he said.

“Most of the races on the card, particularly of the jockeys' challenge, seem to be even and if you're lucky enough to get a good run through, you might win with a horse that might not be one of top favourites.

“It seems like Ryan Moore, as usual, gets good rides. Boudot, also, has decent rides.”

Purton, seeking his second victory in the series after the Australian's 2017 triumph, will partner Hey Pal, Fearless Fire, Gift Of Lifeline and Flying Bonus.

“It looks a lot more even this year,” he said.

“I don't have the strongest rides. I have rides that can run some sort of race.

“Hopefully I can have a bit of luck there somewhere and you never know what can happen.”

Doyle will attempt to crown a supreme 2020 with victory aboard last start Sha Tin winner Harmony N Blessed for David Hayes.

The LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship meeting starts at Happy Valley on Wednesday, Dec. 9, with the running of the Class 5 Australia Handicap (1650m) at 6.30pm.

Allocated jockey rides

Alexis Badel (Hong Kong) – Farm Bumper, Gallant Crown, Hang's Decision, Lucky Quality.

Mickael Barzalona (France) – Young Victory, Thunder Stomp, Savaquin, Mehboob.

Pierre-Charles Boudot (France) – Jazz Steed, Maldives, Reel Bizzy, Storm Warnings.

William Buick (Great Britain) – Happy Good Guys, Regency Master, Noble Steed, Beauty Spark.

Neil Callan (Hong Kong) – Winner's Heart, Lady First, Lightning Steed, Meridian Genius.

Hollie Doyle (Great Britain) – Happily Friends, Universal Go Go, Sunny Lad, Harmony N Blessed.

Vincent Ho (Hong Kong) – Travel Datuk, Anonyma, Hall of Champ, What A Legend.

Tom Marquand (Great Britain) – Very Sweet Orange, Nunchuks, Surrealism, Wind N Grass.

Ryan Moore (Great Britain) – Packing Champion, Play Wise, Jolly Honour, Grateful Heart.

Joao Moreira (Hong Kong) – Gouten Of Garo, Royal Racer, Smiling City, Cue The Music.

Zac Purton (Hong Kong) – Hey Pal, Fearless Fire, Gift Of Lifeline, Flying Bonus.

Karis Teetan (Hong Kong) – Oversubscribed, Right Honourable, Helene Wisdom Star, Winston's Lad.

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Longines IJC Gets HKIR Week Rolling

The Longines International Jockeys’ Championship, set for Wednesday evening at iconic Happy Valley Racecourse, marks the true start of Hong Kong International Races week, as 12 of the world’s top jockey’s compete for the HK$500,000 winner’s share of the HK$800,000 on offer. Though the crowds won’t be there, owing to an uptick in the number of COVID cases over the last few weeks, six locally based riders will face a half-dozen of their peers that have jetted in from Europe, with a revised format in the distribution of mounts that should make for a more level playing field.

Three of the six jockeys that will fly the flag for Hong Kong are past winners of the IJC, including Joao Moreira, who was based in Singapore when he defeated now arch-rival Zac Purton to scoop the top prize in 2012. There is a home-field advantage, the ‘Magic Man’ believes, but he is taking nothing for granted.

“There’s no doubt it’s going to be a very interesting jockeys’ challenge,” Moreira said. “I have no doubt local jockeys have the advantage of riding every day on the city track, but don’t forget these jockeys are coming over here, they are high quality jockeys and they are able to adapt very quickly, understand and pick up from everybody, even watching replays. Luck is going to play a lot of luck in this game.”

Among Moreira’s best chances should come in the second leg of the competition aboard Royal Racer (Aus) (Dreamscape {Aus}), whose three career victories have come around the city circuit and who was ridden by Moreira to a course-and-distance success Nov. 25.

Karis Teetan won his first HKIR race in 2018 when steering Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) to victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, and he defeated Ryan Moore to win last year’s IJC. The Mauritian is looking forward to defending his title and says his victory put added wind in his sails.

“I would say winning the challenge helped me even in Hong Kong, more owners have seen me on the big stage and trainers have noticed, even now and it’s a big challenge and of course to win it was something really special,” said Teetan, currently third in the local jockeys’ premiership behind Moreira (49) and Purton (28) with 25 winners.

Also representing Hong Kong are Neil Callan, Vincent Ho and Alexis Badel.

Moore, who rides Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in Sunday’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, looks to add to his 2010 IJC title and is joined by the in-form duo of Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle. The latter has landed one of the plum rides in any of the four IJC legs, as she was selected at random to guide the David Hayes-trained Harmony N Blessed (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}) in the final race of the series. The 4-year-old led every step of the way to break his maiden at first asking as the $2.50 (3-2) favourite going 1200 metres at Sha Tin Nov. 22.

The remaining visiting riders include Mickael Barzalona, two-time Breeders’ Cup winner Pierre-Charles Boudot and William Buick.

The Wednesday program at Happy Valley commences at 6.30pm local time (10.30am BST, 5.30am US Eastern time) with the first of the IJC races set to jump at 8.10. Click for the HKJC form guide.

The post Longines IJC Gets HKIR Week Rolling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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‘It’d Be Pretty Special’: Chad Schofield Seeks To Emulate His Father In Hong Kong Sprint

Chad Schofield has the chance of producing a significant piece of history this Sunday at Sha Tin when he partners Rattan with the hope of joining his father Glyn on the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint honor roll, which would be a Hong Kong first.

Dad won the race in 2005 aboard Natural Blitz at 27-1 by 1 3/4 lengths, the only win of the horse's career, and this weekend son Chad will look to emulate his father's heroics in the HK$22 million (US$2.84 million) sprint contest when he pairs with Rattan.

“I do remember the day, I was here somewhere jumping for joy – it'd be pretty special and I'll be doing my best on Sunday,” Schofield said.

Chad spent four years of his youth here while his father Glyn was contracted to ride in Hong Kong from 2002 to 2006, before returning in 2014 with a contract of his own after forging an impressive career in Australia, notching four G1s including a major, the 2013 W.S Cox Plate aboard Shamus Award.

But Schofield and Rattan go back nearly four years to their first pairing in January, 2017, and since then the 26-year-old has been in the plate a further 18 times, including his 2019 G2 Sprint Cup success, as well as his half-length defeat to Beat The Clock in last year's G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize.

“If there ever a horse I was to be able to win the race on I would love it to be Rattan for Richard (Gibson) and his owner.

“They've been great to me for a number of seasons now and in particular this horse, we started in Class 4 together as a PPG (Privately Purchased Griffin) so it'd be very special to win this big race aboard him,” Schofield said.

The talented and appealing jockey is well entrenched among the upper echelon of Hong Kong's best, last season finishing fifth in the jockeys' championship table with a personal best 43 wins, five more than his previous high.

“I worked him (Rattan) this morning and he felt terrific, Richard (Gibson) has got him I think right where he wants him and, hopefully, we can get a good gate, get him out of the barriers cleanly and I think he's going to run a really big race,” Schofield said.

Having his fifth run back this term, the New Zealand-bred has posted two solid third-placed efforts in his most recent two runs, the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap and G2 Jockey Club Sprint.

“His last run was very good, he closed of really well – he's an older horse now and he's lost a bit of his early speed which he once had but he's certainly running well from the back – he's closing off his races really strongly,” Schofield said.

But while closing off nicely, the Richard Gibson-trainee has shown a tardiness from the barriers, twice bouncing awkwardly to the rear of the field in both runs.

“I'm surprised his gate jumping has deteriorated so badly but he's been hitting the line very strongly – his sectional times have been good,” Gibson said.

They have been good – he clocked the second fastest final 400m split in the Premier Bowl (22.32s) behind only Wishful Thinker, the winner of the race, before logging the fastest final 400m split last time out, a slick 22.34s.

“We're delighted with his physical condition, he's peaking really nicely for this time of the year – he's such a consistent and straightforward horse to train, it's nice to see him in good shape,” Gibson said.

Now a 7-year-old, he has HK$18.7 million (US$2.41 million) to his name from 33 starts, and still appears near the top of his game although nearing the twilight of his career.

“With age he's certainly gotten slower in the first quarter of the race but it's nice that he still has the willingness to finish strong,” Gibson said.

As for Schofield, he and father Glyn became the first father-son duo to ride against each other in the same race in Hong Kong, but this Sunday Chad will aim to join dad with another Hong Kong first, as winners of the same G1.

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