HONG KONG SEASON KICKS OFF IN STYLE

By Hong Kong Jockey Club | Monday, September 6, 2010

More than 48,000 fans turned out to welcome the 2010/11 season on Sunday as the Caspar Fownes-trained rising star Lucky Nine excelled in the feature race, the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, expressed satisfaction with the day's turnover of HK$781 million, pointing out that by most important measurements opening day 2010 was an improvement on 12 months ago with gross margin up by HK$3 million on the previous year, betting duty paid to the Government up HK$2 million and the amount retained by the Club for operating expenses and charities contributions up by HK$1 million.

Smaller fields than last year's meant there was a slight shortfall in turnover from 2009 but this was a direct consequence of the shorter break between the seasons.

''There's no doubt the slight turnover dip reflects the fact that this year we had a shorter off season break,'' said Engelbrecht-Bresges.

''Numbers of runners were down by nearly 20 per cent today, but when you see the number of horses trialling you realise that in two to three weeks time we will be back to normal in terms of fields and therefore turnover.

''From the sporting point of view the day was certainly a success, particularly when you see a three-year-old like Lucky Nine able to beat the older horses as he did. It's clear he's a potential star.''

The Honorable Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, was guest of honour on opening day at Sha Tin for the running of the race that bears the title of his office.

In accordance with tradition Mr Tsang teamed up first of all with the Club's new chairman T Brian Stevenson to dot the eyes of an enormous two-metre tall lion, a ceremony at which the Club Stewards were also in attendance.

Then, with all jockeys present to greet the crowd, he declared the new season officially open with the striking of the gong.

And the feature race, the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup, matched the spectacular occasion, with a superb finish in which Lucky Nine, ridden by Brett Prebble, cut down last year's winner Nightlign, the mount of his arch rival, champion Douglas Whyte, in a pulsating finish that confirmed the winner as a likely force to be reckoned with in the top class this season.

''No worries at all. We got the perfect run,'' said Prebble, who came fast and late to snatch the lead 50m from the finish of the 1200m to win by a neck.

''He's going to be even better when we go a bit further with him later in the season,'' said Fownes of the heavily-favoured winner.

''He's a progressive horse, and when he takes the next step up to a mile he's going to be tougher still.

"He definitely does need further, but that was a very good effort at this trip, and the time (1.09.07) was excellent.''

Nightlign put in a bold bid to retain his 2009 title but could not resist the winner's final turn of foot which bucked the trend on a day when runners on the pace seemed to hold a strong advantage over those closing late.

The Jockeys' Challenge went to Prebble whose treble on Lucky Nine, Superior Unit and Royal Pumpkin just trumped Zac Purton's on General Danroad, Namjong Fighters and Fionn's Dragon as last season's narrowly defeated runner-up in the jockeys' championship scored more heavily on placings.

Training honours went to Fownes whose double with Lucky Nine and Royal Pumpkin gave him an early lead in the trainers' championship as the only one to score more than once on a day when eight others opened their seasonal accounts.

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