Tag: mogul

Breeders’ Cup Winner Loves Only You, Five From Ballydoyle Headline Hong Kong International Races

Loves Only You is among a stellar line-up of 49 horses selected for the HK$100 million (about US$12.8 million) LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) at Sha Tin on Sunday, Dec. 12.

Fresh off Breeders' Cup success in the United States, Yoshito Yahagi's mare is just one of 22 Group 1 winners set to compete. Returning to Hong Kong in a bid for a second G1 success in the city, the daughter of Deep Impact is looking to cap a superb year and she is just one of the exciting contingent of overseas raiders aiming at this year's “Turf World Championships.”

Featuring prominently once more, Aidan O'Brien will return to Hong Kong in strength with 2020 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m, or 1 1/2 miles) winner Mogul while stablemates Broome, Japan, Bolshoi Ballet and Mother Earth also feature.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty around many international racing events, the strength of the international presence in this year's line-up confirms that the Sha Tin showpiece retains its pre-eminent position at the top of the agenda for international horsemen.

The LONGINES HKIR is the sport's global year-end spectacular and features the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m, or 1 1/4 miles), the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m, or one mile), the HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m, or six furlongs) and the HK$20 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m, or 1 1/2 miles). The Cup, Mile and Sprint are the world's richest G1 races on turf over their respective distances.

Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Racing, said: “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. To have runners of this caliber in any year would be notable but once again it is truly remarkable given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are delighted that the quality of the selected runners for this year's LONGINES Hong Kong International Races is in keeping with our long-held commitment to deliver sporting excellence and Loves Only You's return to Hong Kong after her historical Breeders' Cup victory is incredibly exciting, as is the arrival of a quintet from Aidan O'Brien's all-powerful Ballydoyle operation.

“Our hometown hero Golden Sixty is looking to enhance his astonishing unbeaten streak to 16 and also set a new all-time winning record of 19 in Hong Kong should he successfully defend his Hong Kong Mile title while star sprinter Wellington's development adds further intrigue and everything surely points to a thrilling afternoon of sport on Sunday, Dec. 12.”

Loves Only You spearheads a strong cohort from Japan, which includes first and second out of the G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama Racecourse last month, Pixie Knight and Resistencia, respectively, with both plotting raids on the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint. Danon Smash returns to defend his crown in the dash, while Glory Vase will attempt to recapture his LONGINES Hong Kong Vase title from Mogul – last year's victor – who also returns from Ireland to represent Aidan O'Brien.

Joining Loves Only You in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup is Lei Papale, winner of the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) earlier this year who is looking to remain unbeaten over 10-furlongs. Bolshoi Ballet – O'Brien's American G1 winner – plots a course for the Hong Kong Cup, as does Mac Swiney for Jim Bolger and Dubai Honour for William Haggas. Both Mac Swiney – a two-time G1 winner – and Dubai Honour placed behind Sealiway in the British Champion Stakes with the latter getting within a length.

O'Brien will be double-handed in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase as the incredibly consistent Broome – who runs in Sunday's (Nov. 28) G1 Japan Cup (2400m) – journeys to Hong Kong for the first time following his cracking second to Yibir in the G1 LONGINES Breeders' Cup Turf (2400m) earlier this month at Del Mar Racecourse.

The William Muir-trained Pyledriver – winner of the 2021 G1 Coronation Cup (2420m) at Epsom Downs Racecourse – is in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase. While, H H Aga Khan's Ebaiyra – trained by the iconic Alain de Royer-Dupre – is also targeting a Hong Kong Vase raid.

Eyeing a 16th consecutive win and second successive LONGINES Hong Kong Mile crown, Hong Kong's Golden Sixty will face no shortage of stiff opposition including Mother Earth for the Irish mastermind, O'Brien. Her brilliant three-year-old season boasts two G1 titles, winning the 1000 Guineas (1609m) and Prix Rothschild (1600m), while she has also placed in seven other G1 contests in Great Britain, Ireland, France and the United States.

Indy Champ and Vin de Garde join the Japanese brigade bidding to overthrow Golden Sixty, as does Danon Kingly, winner of the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) last June. Trainer Noriyuki Hori is no stranger to success in Hong Kong after the heroics of the great Maurice and he'll be represented by Hishi Iguazu in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup as well as the G1-winning Salios, who also boasts consecutive runner-up efforts to Japan's Triple Crown-winning Contrail. Salios will contest the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.

Joining Golden Sixty – Hong Kong's reigning Horse of the Year – in the home team's defense is Hong Kong's Champion Stayer Panfield, who will be running in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.

Hong Kong's emerging talent has always been ever-present and the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint will have no shortage of juvenile stars. Lucky Patch steps out for Hong Kong following consecutive G2 scores, while Courier Wonder, Naboo Attack and Sky Field bolster the home team's defences with established G1 stars, Hot King Prawn and Wellington spearheading the charge.

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International Group 1 Winner Mogul A Strong Lone Entry For Coolmore On Dubai World Cup Night

Ballydoyle's blue-blooded multiple Group 1 winner Mogul comes into this Saturday's Group 1, $5 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic in top form, but it seems no matter his success, expectations persist. A $4.6 million yearling purchase, the Aidan O'Brien-trained half-brother to top-level performers Secret Gesture and Japan has a pair of prestigious wins of his own, but a lingering debate of whether there is more potential in him is a common query. Such could be put to rest come Saturday at Meydan Racecourse.

The son of Galileo comes to Dubai a the lone runner for the powerful Coolmore operation, as well as the global powerhouse's sole nomination to the meeting. A Group 2-winning 2-year-old of 2019, winning the Champions Juvenile (G2) at Leopardstown before a fourth to Kameko in the Vertem Futurity Trophy (G1), he entered his sophomore season as obvious Derby material, but a sole prep at Royal Ascot—fourth as the favorite in the King Edward VII (G2)—did not provide enough bottom for him to stand up to the challenges of Epsom.

Stepping up his game with fitness, Mogul went on to win three of his next five races against some of the world's best, including Grand Prix de Paris (G1) and Hong Kong Vase (G1). Wedged between was a good fifth in Tarnawa's Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). The Hong Kong Vase, in mid-December, gives him a 15-week break coming to Dubai.

“We're happy with everything he's done,” O'Brien said. “He had a little break after Hong Kong and then he got going again and seems to be in good form. He's a horse who takes his racing very well and we think he's ready to start back again.

“I suppose it is his first run of the season, but he ran in December and that's hopefully an advantage,” he continued. “He wouldn't have had as long a break as he would have had last year, so we're hoping he's well enough and fit enough to do himself justice, really.”

Progress from three to four is expected from the well-built sort, but such was also the case for Japan, whose 2020 4-year-old campaign was a bit underwhelming. A winner of Group 1s, including the Juddmonte International and Grand Prix de Paris, in 2019, Japan could manage only a pair of thirds from five tries last year.

“Mentally they're a bit the same, but physically they're different,” O'Brien explained. “Mogul is probably a stronger, more powerful type of horse than Japan. Japan looks like a mile and a quarter, mile and a half horse, physically, whereas this horse looks more like a sprinter-miler. I suppose, physically they're different, but mentally, they're the same. They're relaxed horses who sleep and eat well.

“He's a big, strong, powerful horse and there's a lot of Danehill in him, so he carries plenty of condition. Even though he is fit and has done plenty of work, he still looks round and strong and looks more like a horse who will improve with the run, but that's the way he always looks.”

While O'Brien only has one win in the race–with the brilliant St Nicholas Abbey in 2013–his horses have often given strong accounts of themselves in a race that is arguably the toughest of the card. St Nicholas Abbey was second in 2012 and talented filly Seventh Heaven took up the same spot in 2017. In 2020, before the cancellation, he held a strong entry with Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck. One thing all those had in common was an affection for firm ground, which is likely at Meydan on its expansive 12-furlong course this Saturday.

“The quicker the ground the better,” O'Brien concluded. “The flat track will suit him and a nice even pace will suit him. He likes to take his time and he comes home well. He's flying out on Monday and we will be on the track as soon as we can.”

After a 48-hour quarantine, Mogul will make his first appearance to the public, post-Hong Kong-conquering, at morning track work on Thursday.

The current best-price $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) market:

5/2 CHRONO GENESIS
11/4 MISHRIFF
6/1 MOGUL
7/1 WALTON STREET
8/1 CHANNEL MAKER
16/1 STAR SAFARI
20/1 LOVES ONLY YOU
25/1 BERKSHIRE ROCCO
50/1 SIMSIR

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Fifth In Breeders’ Cup Turf, Mogul Proves Best In Hong Kong Vase

Vindicating Aidan O'Brien's long-held faith, Mogul has emphatically underlined claims as heir apparent to Ballydoyle's throne after claiming victory in Sunday's HK$20 million Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin.

Providing Aidan O'Brien's third triumph in the race, adding to Highland Reel's 2015 and 2017 wins, Mogul downed Hong Kong champion Exultant and Columbus County to also give Ryan Moore his third Vase success.

Yet another son of Galileo, Mogul has long been touted as the next world-beater to emerge from O'Brien's yard and proved his class by overwhelming Exultant, a five-time G1 winner and Hong Kong's reigning Horse of the Year.

While elated at notching his sixth Hong Kong International Races victory, Moore was unsurprised by the quality of Mogul's performance.

“He's a horse that we always expected a lot from,” Moore said.

“He was a good 2-year-old, he won his G2 race (Champions Juvenile Stakes) at Leopardstown. I don't know, maybe just the way the season unfolded, he took a while to really pull himself together.

“Maybe he was just a bit behind Derby Day (when sixth to Serpentine) and we were always on the back foot. He was super impressive when he won in Paris (Grand Prix de Paris) and his Breeders' Cup run (fifth behind Tarnawa in the Breeders' Cup Turf) wasn't without merit.

“Today, the race worked out nicely for him, he's beaten a really solid yardstick in Exultant. He (Exultant) always seems to consistently perform to the same level and never seems to run a bad race around here.

“He's put them away very nicely.

“In reality, I was in front sooner than would have been ideal today but he took me there nicely.

“When he gets in front, he maybe lacks a bit of concentration still but he's a beautiful looking horse.

“He's got a fantastic mind and it doesn't stress him. He'll be a really nice three-year-old.”

Owned by Coolmore, Mogul's laidback mindset lends itself to another international campaign as a 4-year-old.

“He has a great mind, so traveling won't stress him. He loves decent ground,” Moore said.

“I think a few times the ground was made a little bit against him. Maybe even in America, the pace was wrong but the ground might have been loose enough.

“At York, the ground might have been deep enough for him that day.

“These fast, flat tracks suit him. They let him show what class he has.”

Moore first travelled to Hong Kong in 2001 as a teenager, never dreaming he would rise to acclaim as Longines World's Best Jockey among a host of other accolades.

“I've always loved coming to Hong Kong. I came here when I was 18 and they were doing the breeze up sale and I've always loved coming here,” he said.

“I hadn't even rode as an apprentice then and I remember coming here and watching Douglas (Whyte) ride all the winners.

“It was a different time but it was always a great atmosphere and you know how much it means to the punters here. They love their racing and it will be great to have them back here.

“It's fantastic racing and competitive racing. It's been a shame I wasn't able to get over here earlier this year but hopefully we can come again.

“The year for everyone has been a mess but we're very thankful to everyone at the Hong Kong Jockey Club for getting me over. It's been a big effort and I can't really stress enough the time they've put in.

“We're very thankful to get us over here.”

Representing O'Brien, Ballydoyle's John Manton praised Mogul's display.

“He was brilliant there today and he travelled well,” he said. “All week, he's been doing everything we've asked him to do and today worked out just perfectly.

“He picked up well and ran well out to the line. He was very good.

“He took a few runs at the start of the year and came on from it. He ran well in the Breeders' Cup but he was a small bit unlucky as well.

“He came here in very good form and Aidan was confident about him. Everything just went to plan.

“It worked out well, thank God.

“He likes a good pace, just held up and he runs home well off it. He's got a great stride and he's just a very good horse.

“Ryan was very happy with him and said he was just class. A push-button ride.

“Hopefully we'll be back here again next with him and we can do it again.”

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‘We Have Managed This Crisis’: Hong Kong Successfully Stages International Races

Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges saluted Hong Kong's “unique spirit and resilience” after a successful staging of the Longines Hong Kong International Races featuring G1 glory across four world-class features shared between Japan, Ireland and Hong Kong at Sha Tin on Sunday, Dec. 13.

“It is important to have these global events. We are very proud that as a team, we pulled this off,” he said.

“There were some anxious moments and discussions about 'How can we do this?' but in the end, we focused on the result and the results speak for themselves.

“The tracks were in outstanding condition, if you look at the way the horses were handled in quarantine and how the jockeys were brought into isolation facilities, everything went perfectly in challenging times.

“But this is the 'can-do' spirit of Hong Kong and the playing-to-win spirit of the Jockey Club.”

Engelbrecht-Bresges said challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic contrived to make the latest staging of the “Turf World Championships” the most difficult in the history of the Club.

“But the system we created was extremely robust. It all passed all the tough questions of health officials and I would like to thank the government for trusting us,” he said.

“You can have all the processes but, in the end, are you able to pull this off? And people say 'If there's one organization in Hong Kong to pull this off, that's the Jockey Club.”

“And we hope that this gives an example of how maybe other sports can do this.”

Acknowledging the success of Japan with Normcore in the HK$28 million Hong Kong Cup, Danon Smash in the HK$22 million Hong Kong Sprint and Ireland with Mogul in the HK$20 million Hong Kong Vase, Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges paid tribute to the enterprise and support shown by visiting international horsemen.

“I want to give special credit to our overseas friends because it's about trust to send your people, to send your horses on such a journey,” he said.

“To have such an exquisite assembly of equine talent – be it horse, be it jockeys – to come to Hong Kong, we would like to really thank our friends overseas to enable us to stage such a global event.

“If you look at the event today, it went to absolute perfection.

“I think it was absolutely a global sporting event of the highest quality. It showed Hong Kong is one of the fairest places to bring a horse.

“The support we get from Ballydoyle, which is really the leading global racing operation, and that they have success winning with a horse like Mogul and a really good performance by Magical.

“Our Japanese friends must be very happy and there were some people saying you cannot win from barrier 14 on Danon Smash but if you have Ryan Moore on board, he can make it happen.”

Referring to local hero Golden Sixty's devastating HK$25 million LONGINES Hong Kong Mile win, Engelbrecht-Bresges paid tribute to winning rider Vincent Ho.

“Vincent Ho was a shining example of investment in the future,” he said of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Apprentice Jockeys' School graduate, who has risen to global recognition as a world-class rider.

“Vincent has definitely arrived today on the global stage as one of the really top-class jockeys,” he said.

“I'm definitely really pleased to see Golden Sixty show a tremendous performance and he's definitely one of the best milers in the world.

Engelbrecht-Bresges emphasised the Club's determination that “none of our activities should pose a risk to the health and wellbeing of our fans and customers” was unshakeable.

“We have clear guiding principles and with daily assessment, practically from the start of the year, we have managed this crisis and created a Racing Bubble,” he said.

“Everybody bought into this and I want to give credit to the whole team for pulling this off.”

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