Tag: Lei Papale

Golden Sixty, Glory Vase Set For Longines HKIR Three-Baggers

Invitations for this year's Longines Hong Kong International Races were made public prior to the start of the Happy Valley meeting Wednesday, with a total of 24 overseas horses–five more than last year–from Australia, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan and Singapore among the invitees.

In the history of the HKIR, only one horse–Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan)–has managed to score three victories at the meeting. More history could be made this year when two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) and Japan's Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) shoot for their third victories in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, respectively.

Golden Sixty should be a warm favourite to complete the feat, having defeated California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the G2 Jockey Club Mile on his seasonal debut Nov. 20. Japan, which is set to be represented by 14 runners across the races, has won the Mile on four occasions and fields a team of three, led by last year's third Salios (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and Group 1 winner Schnell Meister (GB) (Kingman {GB}). The current connections of dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) have also accepted, but her participation hinges on the results of the upcoming Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions, for which she holds an entry.

 

 

 

Glory Vase could face as many as 10 while looking to add to his wins here in 2019 and again last year, but he is not the highest-rated in the event. Broome (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), one of three invitees from Aidan O'Brien, is two pounds clear of Glory Vase and Germany's G1 Grosser Preis von Baden hero Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) on 118. Ballydoyle could also send out Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and recent GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Joao Moreira has already picked up two HKIR rides for Japan and could climb back aboard Glory Vase in what could be his final rides at Sha Tin, after officially forfeiting his licence Wednesday.

 

 

 

Hong Kong's champion sprinter Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) tops a full field of 14 in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, but his participation is in some doubt after pulling up lame behind Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) in last weekend's G2 Jockey Club Sprint. One of Moreira's rides comes aboard Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), runner-up in last year's tragedy-marred Sprint, while G1 Sprinters' S. hero Gendarme (Kitten's Joy) also jets in. Lim's Kosciuszko (Aus) (Kermadec {NZ}) is Singapore's second highest-rated galloper and earns a spot in the field over three locally based runners.

 

 

 

The G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup looms the race of the day, as the once-beaten Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) takes on a classy bunch over the 2000 metres. Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) dead-heated with Lord North (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in this year's G1 Dubai Turf and most recently set a searching gallop in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) before yielding late. Prior to that effort, the 5-year-old was reeled in by Jack d'Or (Jpn)–a son of 2016 Cup winner Maurice (Jpn)–in the G2 Sapporo Kinen. Japan is also represented by Classic winner Geoglyph (Drefong) and Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), sixth here last year and also a confirmed Moreira ride. Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}), best known for his 73-1 upset in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, lands here where he will try a grassy 10 furlongs for just the third time in his 23-race career. The 5-year-old was fourth in the 2020 G1 Irish Derby going 2400 metres.

 

 

 

Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “Once more, we are delighted that the quality of selected runners for this year's Longines Hong Kong International Races is in keeping with our long-held commitment to deliver sporting excellence and this is highlighted with strong groups from Japan and Europe headed for Hong Kong to compete against Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior and more.”

Worth a combined HK$110 million (£11.7m/€13.6m), the Longines Hong Kong International Races will take place in front of an expected crowd of better than 30,000 fans Sunday, Dec. 11 at Sha Tin Racecourse.

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Horse of the Year Efforia Resumes in Osaka Hai

A bit more than three months removed from a championship-clinching victory in the G1 Arima Kinen, Japan's reigning Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) makes a much-anticipated return to the races in a high-class renewal of the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) at Hanshin Racecourse.

Winner of six of his seven career starts, the bay son of Katies Heart (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) won the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) by three easy lengths and looked all over a winner of the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) before being chinned on the wire by last weekend's G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic hero Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Efforia beat Triple Crown and subsequent G1 Japan Cup winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) on the square when resuming in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) over this trip Oct. 31 and locked up Horse of the Year honours in the fan-voted Arima Kinen on Boxing Day.

“He came back to the stable from Northern Farm Tenei on Mar. 4, and his weight was around 530kg,” commented trainer Yuichi Shikato. “This has given us some leeway with his training, and while last time he did have a slight hoof issue, this isn't a problem now. He has been running with a good rhythm and all's well with him so far.”

 

 

 

It will have been a busy weekend for one-time Japanese Horse of the Year Maurice (Jpn), with three runners in the G1 Australian Derby at The Championships on Saturday and the highly progressive Jack d'Or (Jpn) in the Osaka Hai. Raced exclusively over the metric 10 furlongs in his nine visits to the races to date, the bald-faced chestnut has won five on the trot, including a front-running, 2 1/2-length defeat of this race's defending champion Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and the re-opposing Akai Ito (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the G2 Kinko Sho at Chukyo Mar. 13. Each of the mares was first-up last time, with Lei Papale having finished sixth to Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and Akai Ito a midfield seventh in the Arima Kinen.

Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) was a cracking fifth first off an eight-month absence behind Efforia in the Tenno Sho and came from well back in the field to nearly upset Loves Only You when last seen at Sha Tin.

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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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Quality Lineup For Longines HKIR

Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and a team of five from Ballydoyle headed by defending G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase hero Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) are among a list of 49 world-class gallopers that have been extended invitations to the 2021 Longines Hong Kong International Races to be staged Sunday, Dec. 12, at Sha Tin Racecourse. Some 22 of the invitees have already struck at Group 1/Grade I level.

Following her history-making performance in the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar Nov. 6, the 5-year-old Loves Only You is set to journey from California to the same course and 2000-metre distance over which she won the G1 FWD QE II Cup on her world travels this past April as she swansongs in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup. She is set to be joined in the day's richest event by Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), victorious in this year's G1 Osaka Hai and perfect in a pair of starts at 10 furlongs, as well as the less-heralded Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}).

The Japanese challenge numbers fully 10 of the 21 overseas-based horses and also includes Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), one of three horses back to defend their titles from 2020. The 6-year-old, whose sire was a spectacular two-time winner of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, exits a sixth in the G1 Sprinters' S. behind 3-year-old Pixie Knight (Jpn) and 4-year-old filly Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}). The former is a son of Maurice (Jpn), winner of both a G1 Long Hong Kong Mile and Hong Kong Cup. While the connections of Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB})–Japan's best miler not named Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})–have passed on the Mile, four others will have a crack at Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Jpn), including Danon Kingly (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who upset the recently retired Gran Alegria in this year's G1 Yasuda Kinen. Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) looks for a second G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase in three years, having been given a peach of ride by Joao Moreira to score in 2019.

 

Mogul will try to join former Ballydoyle inmate Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as two-time winners of the Vase and will attempt to become the first to go back-to-back in the race since Doctor Dino (Fr) (Muhtathir) in 2007/2008. His Aidan O'Brien stablemates Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}, Cup), the year-older full-brother to Mogul and a latest fourth in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf; and Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Broome (Ire) (Australia {Ire}, Vase) are also among those receiving invitations, though their participation hinges squarely on their performance in and well-being following this weekend's G1 Japan Cup. Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winner of this year's GI Belmont Derby, is also invited to the Vase, while G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) is penciled in for the Mile.

The form of the G1 QIPCO Champion S. will be tested in the Cup by the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}), beaten three-parts of a length into second by Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the Ascot centrepiece Oct. 16, and the third home that day, Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), whose trainer Jim Bolger sent out Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away {Ire}) to win the Cup back in 2004.

The Vase has lured an additional pair of interesting runners from Europe, including Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), upset winner of this year's G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom who resumed from a five-month break to score impressively in the Listed Churchill S. over the Lingfield all-weather Nov. 13. Aga Khan homebred Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) was a two-time winner at group level in France earlier this year for Alain de Royer-Dupre and ran Broome to one length in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July.

 

In addition to Golden Sixty, who figures a prohibitive favourite to run his current winning streak to 16 in the Mile, other top contenders from Hong Kong include Panfield (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky, Cup); the progressive Lucky Patch (NZ) (El Roca {Aus}) and Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) in the Sprint; and Columbus County (NZ) (Redwood {GB})–second to Panfield in the course-and-distance G1 Champions & Chater Cup–in the Vase. Reliable Team (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), who won the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000mT) Nov. 21, stretches out in trip for the Vase.

“The Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) is firmly established as one of the world's principal racing events and this year we will welcome an extraordinary line-up from Japan, Great Britain, Ireland and France which includes 16 individual Group 1 winners,” said Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “To have runners of this calibre in any year would be notable but once again it is truly remarkable given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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