Tag: Sha Tin

Stewards’ Cup Offers ‘Golden’ Opportunity

Death, taxes and Hong Kong winners by Deep Field (Aus).

Of life's surest eventualities, the latter is definitely worthy of inclusion, and Voyage Bubble (Aus) will look to add to the stallion's impressive local record when he goes in search of a maiden Group 1 success in the G1 Stewards' Cup Sunday at Sha Tin.

The chances of Voyage Bubble–and those of his seven rivals–have been done no damage by the absence of G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile hero Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), who is on the mend and in slow work after suffering a minor injury. He has three months to get ready for the G1 FWD Champions Mile in late April, but in the meantime, the spotlight is there to be stolen–at least temporarily.

The upset winner of last year's age-restricted Hong Kong Classic Mile and BMW Hong Kong Derby, Voyage Bubble was fourth to the reigning Horse of the Year in last year's Champions Mile and has run well without winning in two starts this term. A first-up third to Beauty Eternal (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in the G2 Jockey Club Mile Nov. 19, he outran a quote of $31 to finish closest to Golden Sixty on international day. James McDonald jets back into the SAR for trainer Ricky Yiu.

“Let's see how much this horse can give,” said Yiu. “The impression I have is there is another level. I would say (I am) optimistic. He will definitely perform again.”

Deep Field is the runaway leading sire in Hong Kong by number of winners (16) and progeny earnings (HK$36.7 million).

A good run Sunday could translate into a first start on foreign soil for Voyage Bubble.

“We'll see how he goes on Sunday and then we can definitely think about possible races for him to run overseas. Dubai and one of the races in Australia, maybe–there are a few options there,” said Yiu, who has entered Voyage Bubble for the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Mar. 30.

Beauty Eternal could not repeat the dose in the Hong Kong Mile, finishing an even sixth as a $4.60 (18-5) chance. He will attempt to give trainer John Size a record-extending eighth win in the Stewards' Cup.

“Beauty Eternal's trials have looked good,” said Purton, who carried the Patrick Kwok silks to victory aboard Beauty Generation (NZ) in 2019. “He seems to have come through his run in December in good shape and it'll be good to be back on him–hopefully he can produce his best.”

 

 

 

Straight Arron (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was beaten 3/4 of a length into fourth–with some trouble–by Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and is using this as a prep for either the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) or potential overseas targets in Qatar and/or Dubai. The same applies for Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was sixth here before taking the Amir Trophy last February in Doha.

California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was third to Golden Sixty in last year's Stewards' Cup, but needs to lift on his current form, which includes a 13th in the Hong Kong Mile last time.

The post Stewards’ Cup Offers ‘Golden’ Opportunity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Romantic Warrior To Skip Stewards’ Cup, HK Gold Cup Next

Romantic Warrior (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) , who successfully defended his title in a thrilling renewal of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin Dec. 10, will be given a short break before building back up in time for an appearance in the G1 City Hong Kong Gold Cup Feb. 25. The not-unexpected decision means the 5-year-old will sidestep a clash with Longines Hong Kong Mile winner and three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in the G1 Stewards' Cup over 1600 metres Jan. 21.

Romantic Warrior's nose defeat of a never-say-die Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) came just 43 days after his landmark victory in the G1 W. S. Cox Plate in Melbourne, and trainer Danny Shum is focused on not squeezing the lemon dry.

“He looks great, but I feel he will be a little bit tired because it was a hard run, both two races were very hard. He'll have a short break now,” Shum said. “He'll have enough time to recover if we go to the Gold Cup next–2000 metres is his trip, I think that's a better idea. He's easy to train but he won both of those two races with his fighting heart, he uses a lot of energy. I have to look after him because he uses himself a lot, it's better to give him a bit of a break and go again.”

Romantic Warrior has six wins from seven starts over the Sha Tin 2000 metres, his lone blemish coming when beaten by Golden Sixty in last year's Gold Cup. With earnings of nearly HK$120 million, Romantic Warrior is just the third horse to surpass HK$100 million, along with Golden Sixty and Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}).

The post Romantic Warrior To Skip Stewards’ Cup, HK Gold Cup Next appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘One Of The Best’ HKIR Meetings, As Commingling Turnover Record Of HK$429.6 Million Set

The 2023 Longines Hong Kong International Races have been hailed by Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges as “one of the best” that the Hong Kong Jockey Club has hosted since he started with the club 25 years ago.

A commingling turnover record was set for the 10-race Sha Tin meeting of HK$429.6 million (£43,846,126/€51,090,128/$55,018,239), with a crowd of 65,252 on hand at Sha Tin. That was the largest attendance number recorded at the HKIR since 2019. In addition, turnover at the meeting was HK$1.697 billion (£173,200,365/€201,815,520/$217,332,291).

“In my humble opinion, I've been here now for 25 years and this was one of the best–if not the best–days of racing we have had in Hong Kong,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

“If I look at the situation after Covid, after we had last year already a good meeting, but today Hong Kong racing has established [itself] again on the global stage and has shown what sporting entertainment means.

“I would like especially to thank the connections, because this would not be possible without the tremendous support from horsemen around the world.

“We have a team dedicated to excellence and that makes the Jockey Club proud. It has shown today and the whole week that Hong Kong is back on the global stage and that Hong Kong racing is one of the global racing products which I feel as a city we should be proud of.”

The post ‘One Of The Best’ HKIR Meetings, As Commingling Turnover Record Of HK$429.6 Million Set appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Golden Sixty Defies All Odds To Win Third Hong Kong Mile

Making his first start since winning the G1 Champions Mile some 224 days ago and his first start as an 8-year-old from the widest barrier in a full field of 14, three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS) (g, 8, Medaglia d'Oro–Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor) turned in arguably the most dominating performance of an incredible career to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile for the third time Sunday at Sha Tin. Sent away as the 13-10 favourite despite all that was against him, Golden Sixty was one of the first to break the line and Vincent Ho–the only rider he's ever known–was able to get down into the three-wide line and had cover on the back of Japan's Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just a Way {Aus}) as Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) led from California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Going well approaching the lane, Golden Sixty was switched off heels, quickly gobbled up the front-runners and broke clear to the cheers of a packed Sha Tin grandstand. Golden Sixty, winning a 10th Group 1 race and his 25th from 30 career starts, joins Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan) as three-time winners of the Mile.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG MILE-G1, HK$36,000,000, Sha Tin, 12-10, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:34.10, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 126, g, 8, by Medaglia d'Oro
1st Dam: Gaudeamus (GSW-Ire, $179,486), 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; T-Francis Lui; J-Vincent Ho; HK$17,920,000. Lifetime Record: 3x Horse of the Year, 2x Ch. Miler, Ch. Middle Distance Horse & Ch. 4yo-HK, 2 30-26-2-1, HK$165,840,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus; and Rainbow Connection (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), GSP-Aus $139,595. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Voyage Bubble (Aus), 126, g, 5, Deep Field (Aus)–Raheights (Aus), by Rahy. (A$380,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Sunshine and Moonlight Syndicate; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-Ricky Yiu; J-James McDonald; HK$6,720,000.
3–Namur (Jpn), 122, f, 4, Harbinger (GB)–Sambre et Meuse (Jpn), by Daiwa Major (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Tomokazo Takano; J-William Buick; HK$3,680,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 13-10, 30-1, 12-1.
Also Ran: Soul Rush (Jpn), Beauty Joy (Aus), Beauty Etenal (Aus), Serifos (Jpn), Encountered (Ire), Lim's Kosciuszko (Aus), Cairo (Ire), Divina (Jpn), Danon the Kid (Jpn), California Spangle (Ire), Tribalist (GB). Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.

 

 

The post Golden Sixty Defies All Odds To Win Third Hong Kong Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights