Longines HKIR Draw Entries From a Dozen Countries

The 2023 Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting to be held at Sha Tin Racecourse Sunday, Dec. 10, has attracted some 189 entries–including a whopping 68 from Japan–from a total of 12 racing jurisdictions. The four Group 1 races, collectively deemed the 'World Turf Championships, will offer record prizemoney of HK$118 million (£12.4 million/€14.3 million/A$23.8 million/US$15.1 million).

The entries include no fewer than 55 Group 1 winners from around the globe, including Sunday Racing's exciting Japanese Triple Tiara winner Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who was given the option of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase over the 2400 metres or the 2000 metres of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, the world's richest turf race at the distance at HK$36 million. Though her participation in Hong Kong hinges on her performance in the G1 Japan Cup just two weekends prior, she would in all likelihood face defending champion Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), fourth in the Oct. 7 G1 Turnbull S. at Flemington and current ante-post favourite for Saturday's G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Sunday's high-quality renewal of the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) could also produce a runner or two for the Cup in the form of Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) and/or Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}).

Aidan O'Brien has 13 horses under his care that are among the HKIR entries, including G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), who is also penciled in for a start in the Japan Cup and has entries for both the Cup and the Vase. Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Cox Plate entrant Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) are also possible for the Cup, while Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) may try to regroup in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile after struggling in the bottomless ground on Champion Day at Ascot Oct. 21. The Hong Kong-owned and Ralph Beckett-trained Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a likely marquee ride at the meeting for Frankie Dettori, is entered for the Mile, where he could clash with two-time winner and multiple Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), as well as the talented California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who served notice with a weight-carrying victory in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy H. when first-up for nearly six months on Oct. 15.

 

Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) has eschewed a return trip to America for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in favour of an appearance in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. The 6-year-old mare could square off there with champion local sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}), who endured a luckless passage in last year's renewal in finishing sixth to Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}). The latter is now conditioned by Jamie Richards, in his second season in Hong Kong, and who has assumed training duties with the retirement of Richard Gibson. Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) is a potential HKIR raider from France, having defeated fellow Vase entry Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}) in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in August.

Since the easing of COVID-related travel restrictions, the connections of Australian-based horses have been more willing to consider HKIR as a post-Melbourne Cup Carnival option, and such is the case this year, as 23 horses have been entered across the four races. The lot is headed up by last year's Melbourne Cup upsetter Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), four-times Group 1 winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars {Aus}) and the ultra-consistent Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), each of whom are among the 12-strong Cox Plate field on Saturday.

A relatively bulky 10-horse entry from North America includes the Bill Mott-trained multiple Grade I winners War Like Goddess (English Channel) and Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), while trainer Mark Casse is also represented by a pair in Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) and Get Smokin (Get Stormy).

Three-time Group 1 winner Sharp 'n' Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) is the lone entrant from New Zealand, while Singapore's best Lim's Kosciuzsko (Aus) (Kermadec {NZ}) and Famous Jonathon (NZ) (Deep Field {Aus}) from Macau have also been entered.

 

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Seven Days: Super Saturday for Beckett and Chan

It's the time of year which most trainers must dread as they juggle spending time in their yards and at the races with attending yearling sales here, there and everywhere. One who will doubtless be patrolling the sales grounds of Doncaster and Baden-Baden this week with an extra pep in his step is Ralph Beckett. Marc Chan, one of Beckett's principal owners, had four runners in the past week and all four won. Even more remarkably, three of those victories came in stakes contests on the same day at three different tracks. 

Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) has developed into one of the most dependable sprinter-milers in Europe, and he added Saturday's G2 City of York S. to his fine record, which includes victory in that same race last year, along with Group 1 strikes in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint and the Qatar Prix de la Foret. The latter is naturally on his radar for later this season, along with the GI Breeders' Cup Mile and possibly the G1 Hong Kong Mile.

The same afternoon, Angel Bleu (Fr) provided another fine example of both the precocity and durability of the stock of his sire Dark Angel (Ire), as outlined in yesterday's feature by John Berry, when winning the G2 Celebration Mile, to add to his three group wins as a juvenile, including the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International. 

To cap a sensational afternoon for the Beckett-Chan team, another former Group 1 winner, Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), who is owned in partnership with Andrew Rosen, won Newmarket's Listed Hopeful S., her first success since claiming last year's Cheveley Park S. next door on the Rowley Mile.

While Kinross was a private in-training purchase from his breeder Julian Richmond-Watson, the other two are both Arqana graduates, as is Chan's fourth winner, the juvenile Going The Distance (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who won a Ffos Las novice race last Thursday and looks one to follow as the autumn comes on. All were bought for the owner by his racing manager Jamie McCalmont.

Beckett is currently in fourth place on the British trainers' table and he has plenty of ammunition in reserve to see him through some of the season's key contests yet to come, including Westover (GB), Remarquee (GB), Prosperous Voyage (Ire), and Juddmonte's exciting juvenile Task Force (GB), who remains unbeaten after his listed victory at Ripon on Monday and has some fancy entries.

Brothers and Sisters

It has also been a successful spell for the band of brothers that makes up the Bronte Collection, a gang of friends and associates of Steve Parkin of Clipper Logistics fame. Four juvenile winners over the last fortnight have included the G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. winner Indian Run (Ire) (Sioux Nation) at Parkin's local track, York. The colt is yet another to advertise the considerable talents of his trainer Eve Johnson Houghton, who earlier this season landed the Woodcote S. with Bobsleigh (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}).

Indian Run also provided a boost for the Tattersalls Somerville Sale, one of the new kids on the block as far as yearling sales are concerned, but one that is fast gaining traction. Joe Foley, the buyer and manager for both Parkin and the Bronte Collection, signed for the Ciaran McGrath-bred Indian Run for £75,000, and he will have taken equal delight in two other Bronte winners in recent weeks. Hot Front (Ire) and Government Call (Ire) were both bred by Foley's Ballyhane Stud and are by first-season sire Soldier's Call (GB), who raced so successfully in the Clipper Logistics colours. 

Johnson Houghton has nominated the G1 Dewhurst S. as Indian Run's major end-of-season target. It is a race her stable last won 21 years ago with Tout Seul (Ire) (Ali-Royal {Ire}), trained by her father Fulke.

Deauville, Over and Out

British and Irish raiders in France this year have found it harder to return with the spoils than it has been in recent years, but the final weekend of Deauville's summer meeting saw British-based trainers plunder all three group races.

France has been a particularly happy hunting ground for Simon and Ed Crisford in 2023 and, after their breakthrough Group 1 success the previous weekend with Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the Sumbe Prix Morny, they returned to take the G3 Prix Quincey with Poker Face (Ire), another member of the Fastnet Rock (Aus)-Galileo (Ire) nick club, and who had also won the Listed Pomfret S. in July for owner Edward Ware. The four-year-old's full-sister will be offered by breeder Marlhill House Stud during Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam for former trainer Peter Harris, added the G3 Prix de Meautry to his previous win in the Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud at the same track and has a Group 1 engagement on British Champions Day. He is another to have provided an update for a yearling heading to the sales. His Mehmas (Ire) half-brother is in the draft of breeder Redpender Stud for Book 1 at Tattersalls.

Completing a group-race double for Gleneagles was Jack Darcy (Ire), winner of the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville for another father-and-son team, Paul and Oliver Cole. A 24,000gns Book 3 purchase, Jack Darcy has now won at two (on debut), three and four, and he has had a busy summer, which has included finishing runner-up to Hamish (GB) in the G3 Glorious S. at Goodwood. Paul Cole had previously won the Grand Prix de Deauville on five occasions between 1988 and 1999, including twice with the St Leger winner Snurge (Ire).

A Legendary Leger?

It is almost tempting fate to say it, but this year's St Leger is shaping up to be an intriguing contest. We could be treated to the sight of last week's G2 Great Voltigeur S. winner Continuous (Jpn) attempting to become the first British Classic winner for his late Shadai sire Heart's Cry (Jpn) and the seventh St Leger winner for Aidan O'Brien. 

He shares the top of the betting market with Gregory (GB), who will be attempting the same breakthrough Classic win for his own Derby-winning sire Golden Horn (GB) and for owner Wathnan Racing, the coming force on the European scene.

Then of course there's Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), owned by the King and Queen and already a star of Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. A victory for him on Town Moor would make him the first royal winner of Britain's oldest Classic since Dunfermline (GB) in 1977.

Another to hold an entry is the G1 Yorkshire Oaks winner Warm Heart (Ire), who led home a poignant 1-2-3 for her late sire Galileo (Ire) on the Knavesmire last week. It was in the St Leger that Galileo first dropped a major hint as to his prepotency when members of his first crop, Sixties Icon (GB), The Last Drop (Ire) and Red Rocks (Ire), filled the first three places in 2006. One last hurrah, maybe? Either way, let's hope the grand old St Leger ends up with a field that a race of its history and standing deserves.

Fond Farewells

It has been a time of sad farewells for the racing and breeding industry. There was widespread dismay at the sudden death of Lady Chryss O'Reilly last week so soon after she had been in Deauville with her draft of yearlings. 

John Osborne, former CEO of the Irish National Stud (INS), added his voice to the many tributes paid to the hugely successful owner-breeder, whom he had come to know well during her time as Chair of the INS, where her Coventry S. winner Verglas (Ire) stood for the majority of his stallion career.

He said, “Chryss's knowledge of pedigrees was unsurpassed and she had boundless energy and enthusiasm for matings and then monitoring the development of the subsequent foals. She enjoyed great success at the highest level and we were lucky to be in Longchamp for her Pouliches winner Bluemamba, which was celebrated with customary gusto. 

“It was a privilege to know her and it is such a shame she has been taken so soon, at her favourite time of year.”

Lady O'Reilly's passing followed that of another grand dame of the French turf, Countess Marguerite de Tarragon of Haras de Maulepaire, who died at the age of 92 on August 16. The daughter of famed breeders Jean and Elisabeth Couturié, she was born at Haras du Mesnil and took over its sister stud, Maulepaire, on her marriage to Count Bertrand de Tarragon. Her nephew Henri Devin owns and runs Haras du Mesnil with his wife Antonia, and their son Henri-Francois Devin trains in Chantilly.

Maulepaire has been the birthplace of plenty of notable Flat and National Hunt horses, including La Bague Au Roi (Fr) and Dunaden (Fr). The countess had seen her own colours carried to glory in the days immediately prior to her death by her homebred Hoola Hoop (Fr) at Le Lion d'Angers.

“Hoola Hoop will have given her great pleasure. Thanks to Gaby Leenders and team for this ultimate gift,” Pierric Rouxel, manager of Maulepaire, told France Sire.

Rouxel was one of many who had benefited from the countess's “life's work”, alongside Thoroughbred breeding, of providing a haven and upbringing to children who had had a difficult start in life.

He added, “For more than 50 years, this house has welcomed many children tossed about by life, where operating within a family has allowed them to rebuild themselves. 

“Deprived of motherhood herself, she naturally knew how to open wide her wings for all the chicks that had fallen from the nest, but also for the many trainees at the stud farm, for her countless nephews and nieces, for all those who, one day or another, benefited from her inexhaustible affection. Her trust she gave without hesitation because she knew very well how to judge horses, especially young foals, but also humans.”

Hanagan the Humble Hero

Champions come in all shapes and sizes, but it would be hard to find a more modest and self-effacing owner of that title than Paul Hanagan.

The former dual champion jockey and champion apprentice was given a proper send-off at York on Friday after announcing his intention to retire on the opening day of the Ebor meeting. 

There was to be no fairytale ending for the man who, in his pomp, rode 168 and 142 winners in the seasons in which he secured his championships in 2010 and 2011, and which led to him becoming the retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum for the following five years.

Hanagan has ridden just 10 winners this year, and he candidly admitted that he has not ridden with the same confidence since a fall two years ago which broke his back in three places and left him in considerable pain. One also sensed that he still cannot believe his luck in getting to the top from humble beginnings.

“I was two-time champion jockey as a kid from Warrington without a lot of racing experience, so I keep telling kids it can be done,” he said at York last Wednesday.

“The fall a couple of years ago knocked me, just fitness-wise, getting to that level again [has been hard] and I just thought of all the meetings to [retire], maybe it's here, where I've had a lot of success.”

Hanagan was rightly given a guard of honour by his fellow jockeys as he left the weighing-room for his final ride on Friday. He may not have the flamboyance of Frankie Dettori, who is set to bow out later this year (in case you hadn't heard), but Hanagan did things his way to the last, and he should be remembered not just for his great achievements in the saddle, but also for his endearing humility. He will be missed.

Cunha's Tremendous Machine

Silver Sword (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) may not be in quite the same league as Secretariat, but he does carry the same blue-and-white silks made famous by Penny Chenery's great Triple Crown winner, and for his trainer Dylan Cunha he has undoubtedly been a tremendous flag-bearer.

The South African-born trainer only joined the British ranks last year, and he has teamed up successfully with another ex-pat from his home country, jockey Greg Cheyne, for some notable success on the track this year for his small Newmarket stable. 

Silver Sword, an 11,000gns yearling purchase, has been to the forefront of this good run, though admittedly his recent success did not look likely when he blotted his copybook by refusing to race on his first two starts last year. He has more than atoned, however, and the three-year-old now has a trio of wins to his name, including in a £100,000 heritage handicap at York on Friday, as well as a runner-up finish at Epsom on Derby day.

Silver Sword runs for Martians Racing in colours that were auctioned by the BHA last September for £5,500 and are identical to those registered in America and borne by one of the most celebrated horses of all time. Cunha has also had a blue-and-white bridle made for Silver Sword to further replicate Secretariat's style.

 

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Newmarket: “It Will Be A Different Sort of Pressure.” Shaquille the Target in the July Cup

First there was Dettori's ban, meaning that the one missing English group 1 on his palmares was going to stay void. Then the setback to Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never). Now, the persistent rain that dogged Friday's action at Newmarket's July Festival and has changed the complexion of Saturday's feature G1 Pertemps Network July Cup. Ironically, every bit of that unexpected wet spell acted further to aid the cause of Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who would have been Frankie's final ride in his last-chance saloon which is now closed for business forever.

Among all those twists and turns, the one imperturbable element has been 2023's shock sensation from Julie Camacho and Steve Brown's North Yorkshire-based stable little-known outside of the UK. What their ludicrously-talented 3-year-old colt Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) doesn't know about racing at this stage probably isn't worth labouring over, with his ability to do it any which way offering little hope for his opponents. Showing disdain for some basic universal rules when comfortably overcoming a criminally-slow start in the G1 Commonwealth Cup, he established himself as the sprint division's poster boy and this is his to lose.

“It will be a different sort of pressure, as it looks like we are going to start favourite whereas at Ascot Little Big Bear was a short-priced favourite and we went there slightly under the radar,” Brown said. “So it's different from that perspective, but you've got to deal with it and what a great position to be in–to have a favourite for a group one race. Physically, for all he will probably be a nicer horse next year, he is a big strong fella who holds condition well. We just hope he is maturing as we are going along. It has been a steady progression in the right direction with him and hopefully that will continue on Saturday.”

Camacho added, “We turned him out for three or four days and he started to get a bit fresh. He cantered on the Wednesday after Royal Ascot and he did a nice piece of work last Saturday and everything seems to be good.”

Rain In Time For Kinross…

While Friday's rain was an unwelcome sight for connections of most in this line-up, it was welcomed by Marc Chan and Ralph Beckett as they ponder a second major sprint for TDN Rising Star Kinross. Challenging Shaquille for favouritism on Friday night, last year's G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint S. hero looks to have things falling into place at the eleventh hour. That cannot be said for fellow TDN Rising Star, who already had a question mark over him given how readily he was brushed aside late by Shaquille at Royal Ascot before his foot problem. Aidan O'Brien is happy to let him take his chance, but softening ground could add to his woes. “At the moment everything is going well with him. It hasn't been ideal, obviously, but we're happy enough,” he said. “He just missed five or six days last week and we won't know until he runs how much it has affected him.”

Horses For Courses...

If there is one in the field who can be called a track specialist it is Michael Dods's latest sprinting starlet Azure Blue (Ire) (El Kabeir), who is four from five in this town including the Listed Boadicea S. and Listed Kilvington S. Upping her game last time to upset Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the G2 1895 Duke of York S. in May, she will be assisted by Paul Mulrennan who is hoping for more of the same. “She wintered very well and is more like a colt–I think she weighs more than 500 kilos and has definitely got better with age,” he said. “She seems to love Newmarket and that's a big thing as the two courses there are unique and test just about everything.”

City Of Troy And Great Truth In TDN Rising Star Superlative Tussle…

Newmarket's G2 Superlative S. has always signalled the beginning of the focus on next year's 2000 Guineas and Saturday's edition is no exception as TDN Rising Stars City Of Troy (Justify) and Great Truth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) square up after their impressive debuts. While the former excelled in a Curragh maiden that Ballydoyle have turned into a springboard for their Classic prospects down the years, Godolphin's Great Truth was doing his stuff in a Leicester novice that Charlie Appleby used for last year's leading juvenile Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}).

Aidan O'Brien was waxing lyrical about City Of Troy and his stride after his debut and said, “We've always thought he was a nice horse. This looks an ideal race for him and hopefully it will do him good long term and it gives him a good education.”

Appleby said of Great Truth, “He was very green that day and hung across to the left, but mentally and physically he's done very well since. When I say physically, he's tightened up, but mentally he galloped on Wednesday, William rode him, and he was very slick. We were second with Victory Dance last year and he didn't quite get to where we hoped he might get. But this year, with Aidan's horse, it will be tough, because he looks decent. But we like our horse. He is slick.”
Charlie Hills has a live contender in Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who may not have carried the same gravitas of the big two into his introduction at Newbury but who gave the impression he has a bright future nonetheless. “Charlie is quite bold on him and he shows up quite well in the mornings,” Teme Valley's racing manager Richard Ryan said. “We're hopeful progress can continue to be made, but it is a hell of a race.”

Best Of The Rest…

Ascot's Saturday card sees the G2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile, where Shadwell's Aldaary (GB) (Territories {Ire}) looks to build on his solid comeback fourth in Newmarket's G3 Criterion S. at the start of the month. The William Haggas-trained Listed Spring Trophy winner was coming back off a 420-day absence in that seven-furlong contest and has the easing ground to suit, as does the 2021 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who could make it a big day for Marc Chan and Ralph Beckett. The nationwide rain was also very welcome for another Haggas bigwig in Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) ahead of York's G3 Silver Cup.

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Dual Group 1 Winner Kinross Handed July Cup Aim 

Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is to be targeted at the July Cup at Newmarket as Ralph Beckett's dual Group 1 winner bids to provide Frankie Dettori with a breakthrough victory in the summer highlight. 

The July Cup is one of the few top races in Europe that is missing from Dettori's CV, but last season's G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint winner could rectify that for the legendary jockey.

Kinross has started off in Haydock's John Of Gaunt S. for the past two campaigns, however, connections have decided to delay his return until Royal Ascot this term, before moving on to Newmarket's July Course in a bid to land a signature blow during Dettori's season-long swansong.

“Kinross has wintered really well,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for the horse's owner, Marc Chan.

“He has come out of a hard end-of-season campaign in great form and we will be concentrating on a latter-half of the year campaign with him again.

“He will start off at Royal Ascot and I think both the trainer and jockey are keen to try to win the July Cup. That is the one Group One race I think that Frankie hasn't won in England. That is the major target for now and then after that, do we try to stretch him out to a mile?”

He added, “Kinross can't run in the Jacques Le Marois because geldings can't run in that race, while we know he loves Goodwood. If the ground was to his liking at Goodwood, I could easily see him running in the Sussex S. But for now he isn't going to run until Ascot.”

Kinross could bring the curtain down on his campaign in Hong Kong, where his owner is based.

McCalmont explained, “He's now a six-year-old and Marc quite rightly thinks we should only run in Group One races and not waste our bullets. I think Hong Kong is more than likely and that is kind of really why we are starting off later in the season.

“With Marc living in Hong Kong, he naturally would love to have a horse run on Longines Day and Hong Kong is very much in our plans. It would definitely be the mile race, there's no doubt about that, but it's a long way away from now.”

 

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