3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Preview of Sha Tin races.
"LONGINES"
HONK KONG INTERNATIONAL
RACE DAY 2024
4 x INTERNATIONAL G1 EVENTS
PRIZE MONEY HKD $126 MILLION
8 x COUNTRIES REPRESENTED
26 x G1 WINNERS
Rail - A Course
R1 - 5,2,4,11,1
R2 -6,3,12,7,5
R3 - 13,1,8,7,4
Race 4
"LONGINES"
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL VASE
$24 Million HKD
(G1 - 2400m - Set Weights)
#13 STELLENBOSCH is an exciting 3yo filly from Japan and yet to miss a place from four attempts at G1 level.Admittedly, those performances were against her own age and sex but the G1 Japanese Oaks form over 2400m is a high rating reference.She'll also be advantaged by the huge 3yo allowance which accompanies the conditions of this set weights event, whilst being ridden by former Hong Kong champion jockey Joao Moriera.She'll settle towards the back and hope for a solid speed before unleashing her customary electrifying turn of foot.
#2 GIAVELLOTTO has elevated his international rating over the past 12 months to an all time high of 119 following consecutive wins in the G2 Yorkshire Cup and G2 Prince Of Wales Stakes.He followed those performances up with a hard fighting 3rd behind the almighty KYPRIOS in the G1 Irish St Ledger Stakes over 2800m.He's best on good ground, which is precisely what he'll receive, and is importantly accompanied by regular rider Oisin Murphy, who knows his way around the contours of this track.
#5 IRESINE has developed into a fully furnished and seasoned stayer over the past couple of years and must be shown a decent amount of respect.With 15 wins from 24 career starts, 8 of which have been over the 2400m, he's worthy of inclusion considering the expected economical run from the draw.We know he settles back and is mostly comfortable on rain affected ground but he recently raced forward when winning the G2 Prix Foy, with the track soft that day but racing firmer than it sounds.
#3 LUXEMBOURG was brave in defeat at this meeting last year when he pushed ROMANTIC WARRIOR right to the edge in the 2023 G1 Hong Kong Cup.Connections have opted to step him up to the mile and a half this time around following a gutsy front running display in the G1 Coronation Cup.With Ryan Moore, a multiple winner of this precise event atop, there are no reasons for concern after drawing what is perceived to be a poor gate in barrier 9.With ample time to cross at his leisure from the 2400m despatch point it's highly probable he ends up well positioned, and dually primed for the dash home.
#1 WITHOUT A FIGHT holds the gold medal regarding previous achievements in this years additional of the G1 Hong Kong Vase with his rating the highest of all candidates going around.It's fair to say, he appeared extremely well upon return in the G1 VRC Champions Stakes at Flemington following a year away from the track due to a serious tendon injury.There are no outstanding queries with the draw, expected ground conditions, rider or ability to dash, but the lack of overall recent racing is arguably of concern.
Selections : 13,2,5,3,1
Race 5
"LONGINES"
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL SPRINT
(G1 - 1200m - Set Weights)
$26 Million HKD
#1 KA YING RISING is the new kid on the block and genuine super star when it comes to the Hong Kong sprinting ranks and shall start the red hot favourite.His win first up in the Chief Executive's Cup was arrogant, as he crossed the line in cruise mode, before a dominant on speed demolition in the G2 Premiere Bowl and G2 Jockey Club Cup.Drawing barrier 11 should have no bearing on the end result, in fact, it's likely to suit him better than drawing low.There are no local or International visitors capable of challenging his statistical sections over the 1200m to this point, so only a mistake or interrupted passage in running see's him brought undone.
#13 HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE has been a quality high class animal from day one and is now at the door step of a genuine G1.He was given no chance first up after being eased out at the start but closed off strongly at the end.It was a similar tactic in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint last start but his final 400m was the eye catching section of the day.It's been a faultless training performance from John Size and I fancy James McDonald shall be instructed, this time around, to have him settle much closer in the run.He'll require luck, a brilliant steer and a career peak to trouble for the win, but he's perfectly poised to deliver.
#8 TOSHIN MACAU is best placed from gate 5 of the overseas contingent and pick of the overseas sprinter's for mine.He was far too classy for his fellow compatriot LUGAL when they met previously late last year, and slightly underdone when they matched up again recently in the G1 Sprinters Stakes.A good to firm track and strong tempo to run at are the conditions he requires to thrive, and it's a contest likely to map out perfectly for him in that respect.
#12 HELIOS EXPRESS has drawn ideally for his third up run this campaign following an excellent final 800m in the G2 Premier Bowl and G2 Jockey Club Sprint.The Hong Classic Mile and Classic Cup winner from last season must be respected off the back of those efforts, and is even capable of improving another length as peaks for this event.With a sprinting campaign on the table this time around he's so far proven he's around the mark, but something monumental is required for him to win.
#10 RECOMMENDATION shall need to bring his A- game if he's going to feature in the finish but he's arrived in good shape and is ready to go.Interestingly, he was ridden upside down in his most recent outing via the listed Century Stakes at Flemington and found the line with some purpose at the end.With the amount of early fire forceable here, I can't entertain him if he attempts to lead, but if the conservative approach is again adopted then I grant him a sniff.
Selections : 1,13,8,12,10
R6 - 11,8,4,1,6
Race 7
"LONGINES"
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL MILE
(G1 - 1600m - Set Weights)
$36 Million HKD
#3 ANTINO brought up his maiden G1 victory in the G1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield recently in what can only be described as an explosive exhibition.He came back to earth in the G1 VRC Champions Mile with a narrow defeat behind MR BRIGHTSIDE, but, his output level was again the highest it's ever been.A familiar jockey at Sha Tin, a favourable draw and winning experience in the anticlockwise direction all add up to the potential desired result, along with a crucial strong tempo expected up front.
#2 VOYAGE BUBBLE enjoyed a good spell during the off season break and appeared refreshed when runner-up behind GALAXY PATCH first up.He then dictated the sections from outside the lead in a sit and dash display in the G2 Jockey Club Mile.With opposing speed draw either side of him today its envisaged James McDonald looks for cover through the initial meters.Whatever the decision, he's perfectly drawn to adapt to early jostling for position and already proven he's capable at this level, and even freakish on his day.
#1 SOUL RUSH is a seasoned G1 competitor and carries the highest International rating of any runner in this year's edition of the G1 Hong Kong Mile.With a more that respectable fourth place in this event last year, under Joao Moriera behind the almighty GOLDEN SIXTY, he's a genuine and legitimate prospect of winning for Japan.With a demolition of all comers in the G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto leading up, he's looking a better athlete than he was 12 months ago, and therefore, if given clear running is the galloper to defeat.
#12 JANTAR MANTAR is a lightly raced 3yo Japanese colt with plenty of upside and ex-factor dripping through his undeveloped curriculum vitae.He's already a two time and brilliant G1 winner in Japan, against his own age, but fascinatingly hasn't been seen at the races to compete for 7 months.He's unbeaten at 1600m and generally makes his own luck on speed, and by all reports during the weeks lead up, he'll be delivering a competent big time display.
#6 GALAXY PATCH has come along way since winning his maiden at Morphettville in South Australia and returned with a bang first up to claim the G2 Sha Tin Trophy over 1600m. With a pair of Gp3 wins accumulated at the back end of last season the victory made it three on the bounce for the highly talented son of WANDJINA. He's yet to win at the highest level and from the outside draw it probably won't be today, but he does possesses a world class turn of foot through the final 300m, if given the right tempo to play.
Selections : 3,2,1,12,6
Race 8
"LONGINES"
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CUP
(G1 - 2000m - Set Weights)
$40 Million HKD
#1 ROMANTIC WARRIOR needs no introduction following five consecutive G1 wins last campaign and the excitement is brewing surrounding his attempt at a third consecutive G1 Hong Kong Cup.With GOLDEN SIXTY retired, and enjoying life in a lush green Japanese paddock, ROMANTIC WARRIOR is now the undisputed King of Kong.With James McDonald somewhat motionless throughout his victory first up in the G2 Jockey Club Cup, it's unadvisable to suggest he'll get beat.Having said that, there are a number of highly talented individual visitors here that he hasn't previously met, and the majority have settled in nicely during the week.
#4 TASTIERA won the Japanese Derby for booked rider Damien Lane in 2023 but hasn't been able to win a race since.However, he arrives in excellent shape following a courageous chase in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn behind subsequent G1 Japan Cup winner DO DEUCE.He maps to race handy, and more than likely box seat, whilst potentially even holding ROMANTIC WARRIOR hard up against the rail.His best is still to be seen, and there's a real chance he announces that today on this incredibly big stage.
#9 LIBERTY ISLAND was at the peak of Japanese racing as a 2yo/3yo filly after winning four consecutive G1 races over varying distances.She then ran a superb 2nd in the 2023 G1 Japan Cup behind the worlds highest rated galloper EQUINOX.A spell followed her 3rd in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic behind REBEL'S ROMANCE over 2400m with the world literally at her feet.However, a down the track finish first up in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn, after covering ground and working on speed, has a few notable people in world racing concerned and perplexed.
#3 STRAIGHT ARRON is heading towards another crack at the G1 Honk Kong Cup following a brilliant final 600m split first up in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy.With a change of stable to Ricky Yui, from Casper Fownes, during the off season break a different preparation has followed.His luckless fourth in the G1 Hong Kong Cup behind ROMANTIC WARRIOR last year certainly gave us a taste of what he's capable of delivering, so I'd treat him with some caution and a dash of respect.
#8 ENCOUNTERED struggled with the depth of opposition for most of last season but ran a cracking race second up for the new stable of John Size.The former Manfred Man trained runner certainly knows how to win, with eight career victories to his name, and ultimately finished a credible eight in the G1 Hong Kong Mile last year.With Hugh Bowman up from a low advantageous draw he's worth including in the wider exotics, particularly after a luckless trail in the G2 Jockey Club Cup.
Selections : 1,4,9,3,8
R9 - 13,3,12,1,6
R10 - 10,12,2,9,6