It has been 12 months since Ballydoyle’s Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was just beaten to the wire by Japan’s Win Bright (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, but that outfit’s globetrotting Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will try to turn the tables as the marquee name among 15 foreign raiders for the Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse Sunday, Dec. 13.
No fewer than 17 international Group 1 winners are set to compete.
“The Longines Hong Kong International Races is firmly established among a select handful of the world’s greatest international racing occasions,” said Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “To have entries of this calibre in any year would be notable but this year’s standard is remarkable given the challenge of the pandemic and all its attendant travel and quarantine issues.”
Magical, who took her career earnings to nearly US$6 million with her runner-up effort to Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Nov. 7, should be suited by the cutback to the 2000m for the Cup, a distance at which she defeated world’s top-rated runner Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in September’s G1 Irish Champion S. and future G1 Cox Plate hero Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) for a title defence in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup this past July. A victory would make her the winningest Ballydoyle runner at Group 1 level with eight.
Ballydoyle has supplemented GI Breeders’ Cup Mile upsetter Order of Australia (GB) (Australia {GB}) to the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and he is joined by Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who completed an Aidan O’Brien 1-2-3 sweep. G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), fractionally disappointing when fifth in the Turf, looks to become a third winner of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase for O’Brien, while G1 Irish 1000 Guineas victress Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) joins Magical in the Cup.
Up-and-coming French trainer Jerome Reynier has two runners engaged for the HKIR. The underrated Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) has finished out of the top three just once in 16 career starts and exits a runner-up effort–with Magical third–to the soft-ground loving Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) in the G1 QIPCO British Champion S. Oct. 17. Royal Julius (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) adds Hong Kong to his passport, having finished second in the HH The Emir’s Trophy in Qatar before winning the 2019 Bahrain International Trophy. He’ll take his shot in a compact field in the Vase.
Win Bright looks to run his record over the Sha Tin 2000 metres to three-from-three as he attempts to give Japan a fourth Cup in the last six runnings, and tries to join California Memory (Highest Honor {Fr}) as just the second horse to go back-to-back in the day’s richest event. Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), one of three Japanese-based winners last year, looms the chief threat to locally based Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) in the Mile, and Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), second to Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), and G1 Victoria Mile winner Normcore (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) line up in the Cup. Danon Smash (Jpn), a son of two-time G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint winner Lord Kanaloa, and Godolphin’s Tower of London (Jpn) (Raven’s Pass) are entered for the 1200-meter dash.
Inferno (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) represents Singapore and faces a big ask against the likes of Classique Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) and Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) in the Sprint. He has conquered all before him at Kranji and has earned the right to compete at this level.
Prepping for his Group 1 debut in the Longines Hong Kong Mile in three weeks’ time, Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) confirmed his status as the top horse in Hong Kong with yet another breathtaking victory–his 13th from 14 career runs–in Sunday’s G2 Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse. Last year’s Classic Series sweeper was simultaneously winning his 10th race on the hop, joining the likes of his contemporary Beauty Generation (NZ), Co-Tack (Aus) and Silent Witness (Aus) to take as many consecutive races. In the day’s other main events, fellow Hong Kong Derby winner Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) defeated Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m) and Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), another paternal grandson of the legendary Lonhro (Aus), returned to winning ways in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m).
Miles The Best…
Sent off the $1.15 mortal in the Jockey Club Mile, Golden Sixty landed in midfield and switched off beautifully for his jockey Vincent Ho, as Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) galloped them along at a fairly leisurely clip for the opening 800 metres. Patiently handled on the circle, Golden Sixty was produced four wide off the home corner, split Mighty Giant (NZ) (Power {GB}) to his inside and Champion’s Way (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) to his outside and flew his final quarter mile in :21.89 to score with a fair bit of authority. Ka Ying Star held for second over the 8-year-old Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}).
Ho believes Golden Sixty is still a horse on the rise–a scary proposition, to be sure.
“He felt really good and sprinted home really well,” the homegrown rider told HKJC’s Steve Moran, “The main goal was to settle him as normal and to relax him and he hit the line strongly. He will always produce a really good last quarter. I was happy with how he raced, he’s getting quieter and he knows what’s going on now.”
Though he holds an entry for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, Golden Sixty will remain at the mile for International Day Dec. 13.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong JOCKEY CLUB MILE-G2, HK$4,500,000 (£436,925/€489,493/ A$794,645/US$580,459), Sha Tin, 11-21, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:32.91, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 123, g, 5, by Medaglia d’Oro 1st Dam: Gaudeamus (GSW-Ire, $179,846), by Distorted Humor 2nd Dam: Leo’s Lucky Lady, by Seattle Slew 3rd Dam: Konafa, by Damascus
(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; J-Vincent Ho; HK$2,565,000. Lifetime Record:
Ch. 4yo-HK, 14-13-0-0, HK$38,695,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus)
(Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus, $120,093. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ka Ying Star (GB), 123, g, 5, Cityscape (GB)–Casual Glance
(GB), by Sinndar (Ire). O-Leung Shek Kong; B-Kingsclere Stud;
T-Tony Cruz; J-Chad Schofield; HK$990,000.
3–Southern Legend (Aus), 128, g, 8, Not A Single Doubt (Aus)–
Donna’s Appeal (Aus), by Carnegie (Ire). (A$280,000 Ylg ’14
INGEAS). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Corumbene Stud (NSW);
T-Caspar Fownes; J-Karis Teetan; HK$517,500.
Margins: 1HF, NK, 2. Odds: 15-100, 89-10, 17-1.
Also Ran: Mighty Giant (NZ), Champion’s Way (Aus), Harmony Victory (Brz), Simply Brilliant (GB). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
WATCH: Golden Sixty imperious in the Jockey Club Mile
Hot King Prawn Doubles Up in JC Sprint…
The likeable Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) won the 2018 G2 Jockey Club Sprint and was heavily favoured to take the next step in the International Sprint, only to fade tamely into ninth. Second to his now-retired stablemate Beat The Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) in last year’s Sprint, the 6-year-old will look to go one better next month following a tough-as-teak performance Sunday.
Ridden for at least a bit of pace by Joao Moreira, Hot King Prawn was in the firing line early but ultimately eased back to sit fourth, as Big Time Baby (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) cut out the running outside favoured Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Three deep and without the benefit of cover rounding the bend, Hot King Prawn went on the attack four off the inside at the 400m, grinded his way to the front with less than a furlong to race and gutted it out. Computer Patch stayed on from second ahead of Rattan (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}), who missed the break and hit the line strongly.
“He’s six years old this season, but sometimes our good horses can be that age and still do their best,” winning conditioner John Size told HKJC’s David Morgan. “Hong Kong is a place where mature horses can have an advantage sometimes. He had one start before the Hong Kong Sprint last season because he was coming back off a colic operation, so he was a little bit disadvantaged, so this time he’s probably had a more comfortable preparation.”
Hot King Prawn faces a clash with The Everest hero and recent Hong Kong import Classique Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) in the Hong Kong Sprint.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong JOCKEY CLUB SPRINT-G2, HK$4,500,000 (£436,925/€489,493/ A$794,645/US$580,459), Sha Tin, 11-21, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08, gd.
1–HOT KING PRAWN (AUS), 123, g, 6, by Denman (Aus) 1st Dam: De Chorus (Aus), by Unbridled’s Song 2nd Dam: Val de Grace (Aus), by Centaine (Aus) 3rd Dam: Renasans (NZ), by Ashabit (GB)
(A$90,000 Ylg ’16 INGFEB). O-Lau Sak Hong; B-Torryburn Stud
(NSW); T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,565,000. Lifetime
Record: MG1SP-HK, 21-11-5-2, HK$27,247,300. *1/2 to Siren’s
Fury (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), MGSW-Aus, $379,420. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Werk Nick Rating: D+.
2–Computer Patch (Aus), 123, r, 4, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Girl
Hussler (Aus), by Hussonet. (A$800,000 Ylg ’18 INGEAS).
O-Yeung Kin Man; B-Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia Pty
Ltd (NSW); T-Tony Cruz; J-Karis Teetan; HK$990,000.
3–Rattan (NZ), 123, g, 7, Savabeel (Aus)–Grand Princess (Aus),
by Last Tycoon (Ire). (NZ$150,000 Ylg ’15 NZBJAN). O-Wong
Ting Bor; B-M H S & S H R Davison & Mrs M P Schick; T-Richard
Gibson; J-Antoine Hamelin; HK$517,500.
Margins: 3/4, NK, NK. Odds: 29-10, 13-10, 49-1.
WATCH: Hot King Prawn wins a second Jockey Club Sprint
Furore Gets Ideal Set-Up in Jockey Club Cup…
Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) became the second Hong Kong Derby winner to score on Jockey Club day, taking advantage of a perfect trip to best Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup.
The mount of Moreira, Furore landed in the box seat and was happy to monitor things from there, as the comebacking Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) was pressed through a lively early tempo by Exultant. For a handful of strides approaching the entrance to the final 600 metres, Time Warp looked as if he might be able to pinch it, with Exultant off the bridle, but Furore got underway in earnest three abreast at the furlong grounds and edged clear. Exultant was forced to go forward from his high draw, but had to do a bit of work early to clear the positively ridden Playa del Puente (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), the near-upsetter in last year’s Derby. The pace appeared to take its toll on Exultant, but to his credit, he was gaining inches on the winner at the finish and will be suited by the step up to the 2400 metres for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, which he annexed in 2018.
Columbus County (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) ran on nicely for third.
“He travelled very kind, he had the cover that we were hoping for and the pace was quite genuine and when I gave him a clear run, they started to come back and he just kept running and showing his quality,” the ‘Magic Man’ told HKJC’s Declan Schuster of the winner, who remains at the 2000 metres for the Cup.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong JOCKEY CLUB CUP-G2, HK$4,500,000 (£436,925/€489,493/ A$794,645/US$580,459), Sha Tin, 11-21, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:59.32, gd.
1–FURORE (NZ), 123, g, 6, by Pierro (Aus) 1st Dam: Stormy Choice (Aus), by Redoute’s Choice 2nd Dam: Shalbourne, by Nureyev 3rd Dam: Copperama (Aus), by *Comeram
(NZ$210,000 Ylg ’16 NZBJAN). O-Lee Sheung Chau; B-G S A
Bloodstock Pty Ltd; T-Tony Cruz; J-Joao Moreira;
HK$2,565,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-HK, G1SP-Aus,
25-8-2-4, HK$33,214,600. *1/2 to Blizzard (Aus) (Starcraft
{NZ}), Ch. Miler & SW-Sin, GSW & G1SP-HK, $2,375,496. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
2–Exultant (Ire), 128, g, 6, Teofilo (Ire)–Contrary (Ire), by Mark
of Esteem (Ire). O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau
Hing; B-Ballygallon Stud; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton;
HK$990,000.
3–Columbus County (NZ), 123, g, 5, Redwood (GB)–Spirit of
Sandford (NZ), by Kilimanjaro (GB). (NZ$33,000 Ylg ’17
NZBFEB). O-Mr & Mrs Hamen Fan Shi Hoo, Alex Fan Chen Yen
& Christina Fan Chen Mun; B-D W Mayers & Mrs S J Taylor;
T-Caspar Fownes; J-Vincent Ho; HK$517,500.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 7-5, 9-10, 9-1.
Also Ran: Dances With Dragon (NZ), Ho Ho Khan (NZ), Singapore Sling (SAf), Playa del Puente (Ire), Chefano (SAf), Time Warp (GB). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
WATCH: Furore defeats Exultant in the Jockey Club Cup
G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) is still a potential candidate for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile at the Longines Hong Kong International Races in mid-December at Sha Tin. Although third when favoured after a slow beginning at Dundalk on Monday, the 5-year-old won the G2 Minstrel S. earlier this year and was sixth in the G1 Prix du Moulin in September. Also a winner of the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, the Ken Condon trainee’s performance has not discouraged his connections.
“I think it served its purpose–it was a prep run and he blew the start,” said Condon of the Robert Ng colourbearer. “Billy [Lee, jockey] had to get him into the race, then he was in his hands a bit. He travelled really well through the race, like we know he can, and went to win his race and just took a blow and got a bit tired. If you take him in isolation, it was an interesting exercise as he’s run his race faster than anything else, if that makes sense.
“If he’d jumped away with them, it would have been a different story. Billy was particularly happy and he’s the one that is the most relevant in this jigsaw.”
He added, “We’ll see how he is in the next week–we don’t have to commit to Hong Kong immediately. But I still think we’re on course and he’ll get something from the race [at Dundalk], as he’d been off the track a while.
“All things considered, it was a solid run. It’s important now to see how he trains in the next week as it’s a long way to go and we want to be going there with a horse in top condition. I was initially disappointed that he got beaten, but after I analysed it closely and watched the race several times and listened to everybody, I think he’s run well.”
A total of 162 nominations from 10 racing jurisdictions, including no fewer than 61 Group 1/Grade I winners, have been received by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the HK$95-million Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse Dec. 13.
“We are delighted to have such strong nominations for our four Group 1 races in December,” said Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing for the HKJC. “Considering the current climate in regard to the COVID-19 situation, it just reiterates that the Longines Hong Kong International Races are recognised the world over as one of the global sport’s truly great events. This is something that we are extremely proud of and this year we anticipate another phenomenal day of elite sport.”
Japan fields a top-class team year in and year out and the 23-strong challenge could be headed by former Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). Withdrawn on the eve of last year’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, the 5-year-old resumes in defence of her crown in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) this weekend, having defeated the Cup-nominated Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) at Tokyo 12 months ago. The globetrotting Addeybb (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) holds an entry for the day’s richest race and has three Group 1s to his name this season, the Ranvet S. and Longines Queen Elizabeth S. on a very successful Australian raid and a latest tally in the G1 QIPCO British Champions S. at Ascot. Aidan O’Brien has entered five for the Cup, including last year’s runner-up Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}); third to Addeybb last time and headed to the Breeders’ Cup meeting; G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}); and MGSW Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who exits a second in the G1 W S Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who beat Addeybb in the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot, is also engaged.
Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) has yet to strike at the top level, but nevertheless looms the favourite for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile. Winner of nine straight and 12 of 13 overall, he could square off against defending champion Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), the O’Brien-conditioned G1 Queen Anne S. winner Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Australia’s Alligator Blood (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}), whose top-level success came in the Australian Guineas the the 1600-metre distance. Two-time Mile winner Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock {Aus}) also represents the home team.
The locals struck their lone blow in last year’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, a race they have dominated down the years, and Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) and Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) could square off again. That duo could be threatened by the very talented Classique Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), exiting a towering victory in The Everest, while four-time G1SW Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) is the lone Australian speedster entered. Olekasandra (Aus) (Animal Kingdom), who carried the Team Valor silks to a defeat of the boys in the GI Jaipur Invitational S. in June, and 2019 GII Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Four Wheel Drive (American Pharoah) are the two HKIR entrants from America. Inferno (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Aus}) who cemented his status as the top horse in Singapore in last weekend’s Lion City Cup, has also been entered, as has Glen Shiel (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who carried Hollie Doyle to a 16-1 upset of the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Oct. 17.
Reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) kicks off a Longines Hong Kong Vase preparation in Sunday’s G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse H. as he looks to add to his victory on HKIR day in 2018. The form of the Oct. 17 G1 Caulfield Cup could be on display in the Vase, as that event’s top two placegetters–Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) and Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})–could each press on to Sha Tin. In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}), winner earlier this season of the G1 Deutsches Derby, is a potentially very interesting raider for Francis-Henri Graffard, having run Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) to a neck in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Oct. 4, while G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix de l’Opera victress Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) could represent the Dermot Weld yard.
Added Harding: “To attract global stars like Almond Eye and Magical, is testament to how appealing Hong Kong racing is in the eyes of the world’s leading horsemen. Hong Kong stages superb sport with excellent prize money and on 13 Dec., Sha Tin will take centre stage with the excitement of four world class championship races.”
