WINNO'S WINNERS: THE HONG KONG SPECIAL
By Darren Winningham | Saturday, December 10, 2016
The 2016 Longines International Race day will be held at Sha Tin race course in Hong Kong on Sunday. After attending the meeting on at least five occasions I can honestly say that this is one for your bucket list – if you are a punter, an owner, or just an enthusiast of horse racing – no other club does this it better than the Hong Kong Jockey Club!
The meeting is features the Hong Kong Cup, the Hong Kong Vase, the Hong Kong Mile and the race that I love, the Hong Kong Sprint. These are all Group 1 races on one day with the added bonus of international horses, jockeys and trainers coming together for such a wonderful spectacle.
NB: As this form assessment was made prior to race-day, please check final fields and track conditions for any changes on the day.
Race 1
An open field to start off the day with many horses resuming from spells or short layoffs. I am tipping Zac Purton to open the day with a win aboard Jing Jing Win (4) – trained by expat Aussie David Hall. The gelding has two wins from two career starts and won a barrier trial impressively at Sha Tin a week ago. He has drawn well and I think he is a good thing. In the same barrier trial the John Size trained House of Fun (12) finished a nice second – the magic man Joao Moreira takes the ride. Victory Machine (8) trained by the astute John Moore I think will fill a place – I would suggest you forget the geldings last start failure at Happy Valley. Some horses just do not go well there. Back to Sha Tin and with the services of the Hong Kong International Jockey Championship winner Hugh Bowman aboard he will be given every chance.
Selections: 4-12-8-2 rough chance 14
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Race 2
Willy Way (12) looks well placed in this grade and is looking for a hat trick of wins – again Zac Purton is aboard. I am declaring this one my best bet of the day! Ishvara (1) is coming back sharply in grade and has a fair bit of weight – but does get a 4.5 kilogram weight relief for apprentice Dylan Mo. Moreira rides Easy Hedge (13) and it has been well supported at all starts since resuming from a spell but has yet to post a win. Amazing Beauty (2) is to be ridden by Brett Prebble (who always seems to get a winner or two on these days). It has been racing consistently and on his effort last start should be right in this.
Selections:12-2-1-13 rough chance 6
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Race 3
Beat the Clock (11) looks a stand out here as well – nice form and was very unlucky last start. Winner’s Way (3) – I probably should be tipping this (Winno’s Winners) on top here – a gelding trained by Tony Cruz and to be ridden by Matthew Chadwick. In his last start he was held up in the straight at a vital stage. He will be in the placing’s here! Booming Delight (5) resumes for John Moore and Hugh Bowman. This is an import from the UK and has been trialling well. My Hong Kong spy tells me to anticipate a large plunge late on Super Talent (14) – up in grade and down in weight – he will be well supported and should be in the finish.
Selections:11-3-5-14
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Race 4 – 2016 Longines Hong Kong Vase (Group 1)
There are many horses and trainers that have travelled to Hong Kong for this race and it is always hard to line up the best form and the one that has travelled and settled in the best. Highland Reel (1) is from the Aidan O’Brien team and has the services of the inform Ryan Moore – the Hong Kong spies tell me that the stallion has settles in well and has thrived since arriving. Big Orange (3) comes off an unsuccessful Australian campaign that included a run in the Melbourne Cup. One Foot in Heaven (7) is trained by the Frenchman Alain de Royer Dupre. There are reports that the horse has not travelled well and that his bloods have been off since arriving in Hong Kong – so may be worth being cautious here if you like him. I think that Eastern Express (11) is the best of the local chances and has been freshened with a recent 1200m barrier trial to get the gelding ready for this race.
Selections:1-3-11-7
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Race 5 - 2016 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (Group 1)
Australia is represented here with Takedown (12) trained by Gary Moore and ridden by Tim Clark who has partnered the gelding for 3 wins and 2 seconds from five rides. Takedown (12) has settled in well since travelling from Perth to Hong Kong. This is a horse that does not give in, will be in the finish and will do Australia proud! I always have the belief that a horse must run 1.08 or so to win this race each year so I am looking for one that can do that. I think the John Moore trained gelding Not Listenin’ tome (4) fits that bill. Not Listenin’ tome (4) had a nice hit out in a barrier trial that he won on 2 December with Sam Clipperton riding. It is the battle of the Moore family in Hong Kong – with brothers Gary and John squaring off in this race! This could be a battle supreme. I tell you what if Gary beats his older brother in this race and wins – watch out for the celebrations and frivolity that will follow. He sure knows how to celebrate a feature win!
Lucky Bubbles (2) has Brett Prebble on board here and he does have a distinguished record in winning this race over the years (he has won the race three times – and holds the record for the most wins currently). The five year old gelding has not been seen at an official trial since running a close second to Not Listenin’ tome three weeks ago. My Hong Kong track man says the horse has been working well and is primed again for a big run here. He also believes that he goes better with a break between runs. My old favourite Aerovelocity (1) won this race in 2014.I was present on that occasion to see him destroy a quality field with Zac Purton on board. He is getting old now and is an 8 year old gelding but he will always try his hardest.
The Japanese owned and trained Red Falx (9) has run 1.07.2 in Japan over 1200m. If he produces that form here in Hong Kong on the weekend he will break the race record set in 2006 by Absolute Champion who won the race emphatically in a time of 1.07.80. The other Japanese runner Big Arthur (6) has drawn wide in barrier 13 and has posted a time of 1.07.6 in Japan. In his last start in Japan he just never got a look at them and was badly held up for a run when defeated by Red Falx – it could pay to overlook that run. I do not think he is no Lord Kanaloa, who won this race in 2012 and 2013.I attended both of those races races and, to be honest, it was an amazing feeling to see such amazing wins both times. I think that if Big Arthur can get a position and not be caught 4 or 5 wide on the track he may be in the finish.
Selections: 4-2-12-6 rough chance 1 & 9
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Race 6
Racing Supernova (9) comes off a last start victory over this course and distance in a nice time. I have noted that Moriera has hopped off the gelding to ride Blizzard (6) in this race whoalso has been racing consistently in his recent starts. Purton rides Mr Bogart (7) who I think is the obvious danger in the race. Lucky Year (3) drops back sharply in class here, however, he has not run over the 1400m in his previous 14 career race starts.
Selections: 9-7-6-3
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Race 7 - 2016 Longines Hong Kong Mile (Group 1)
Another amazing race bringing together some great horses from around the globe. The Hong Kong champion Able Friend (1) has drawn badly in barrier 14, but does have the “Magic Man” Joao Moreira aboard this week – he has ridden the gelding to seven wins previously – so he knows him well! He has been unlucky and suffered multiple injuries since finishing third behind Maurice in last year’s Hong Kong Mile. Will he be at his best to win this weekend? Only time will tell – but rest assured if he looms up in the final 100m listen to the noise from the parochial Hong Kong crowd as they cheer on their champion.
Beauty Only (5) has a good record here at the track and Zac Purton has a great record on the six year old gelding – with 3 rides for a win and two seconds. The two representatives from the John Size yards – Contentment (2) and Sun Jewellery (13) - have both been performing well over the mile in recent starts. I cannot get a good gauge on the Japanese trio of Logotyoe (3), Neorealism (7) and Satono Aladdin (12) but on times alone they would be right in this race. The other interesting runner is the John Moore trained Joyful Trinity (14) to be ridden by Gerald Mosse. Whilst I think he may struggle in Group 1 company he does race on his home track and should be set for this race by the astute Moore.
Selections: 5-2-7-13 rough chances 1 & 14
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Race 8 - 2016 Longines Hong Kong Cup (Group 1)
This race is the final Group 1 race on the day. The highest race in prize money with HK $25 million on offer and it looks an open affair where anything could win! A Shin Hikari (1), who won the HK Cup in 2015, and Maurice (2), who won the HK Mile in 2016 clash in what could be considered the “Clash of the Titans”. It has been well publicised that this is the final race start for both horses with both being sent to stud after this run. All I can say is “WOW” this could be one of those races to go down in all time equine immortality if these two are left alone in front over the final 100m and battle out the finish!
It will be a bold move to see Japanese jockey Yutaka Take take A Shin Hikari to the lead again like last year. I don’t think the other jockeys will be being caught with their strides pulled down like they were last year. Queens Ring (12) won a Group 1 in Japan last start and I thought the run was full of merit – the five year old mare is looking for a hat trick of wins this weekend at Sha Tin. Designs on Rome (3) is probably best of the local chances. If there is genuine speed on here watch out for him peeling wide on the track and making a barnstorming run down the outside. The other local Blazing Speed (4) is certainly not out of this race. He has proven Group winning form here at Sha Tin and will be thereabouts.
Selections: 2-12-3-1 rough chance 4
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Race 9 – Lord Kanaloa Handicap
A race aptly named honouring the feats of the Japan sprinter Lord Kanaloa who won the HK Sprint in consecutive years in 2012 and 2013. Mr Stunning (9) was slowly away last start and really didn’t get much luck – this time the four year old gelding has drawn wide and may need some luck. New Asia Sunrise (2) has been working well on the track and should be in the finish – Brett Prebble aboard. Line Seeker (1) was well ridden last start by Zac Purton – his rating has gone up and he has paid for this by carrying top weight of 60.5 kilograms. Being drawn handy this week compared with the other fancied runners could mean that he may get the better run.
I would like to highlight one that my Hong Kong track spy tells me has been working well – and does race well fresh. Like him I am concerned with barrier 15, however, Invincible Dragon (15) will probably get back and sprint late. For the superstitious I am sure there will be some interest with horse 15 from barrier 15!
Selections: 9-2-1-4 rough chance 15
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Race 10
The unlucky Pakistan Star (5) finally gets his chance to shine on the big stage! Last start he just seemed out of sorts making his run through the pack and nearly got there at the finish. Look for Matthew Chadwick to settle and come down the outside with an uninterrupted run here. Western Express (13) formerly a Brisbane horse that raced as “Cardless Cash” when trained by Lawrie Mayfield-Smith is now trained by John Size and was dynamic first up in Hong Kong winning a Class 3 race in extraordinary time. He has had a barrier trial to top him off nicely for this run on 2 December with Moriera in the saddle on that occasion as well. Lucky Girl (3) is a lightly raced five year old gelding from the Yip yards – should be right in this race here. Spicy Sure (6) is coming back in class here and will appreciate the nice barrier – number 7.
Then you have to think about the 2016 Queensland Derby winner – Eagle Way (2) who has been transferred from the Gold Coast stables of Bryan and Daniel Guy to John Moore. Moore has had lots of recent success in this race over recent years and has a knack of producing a special one on this day. My Hong Kong spy says that the South African new comer to Hong Kong – Nassa (9) has been trialling well over 1000m. He thinks that we should keep our eye on this one in coming weeks.
Selections: 5-13-6-3 rough chances 2, 8 & 9
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Quadrella (races 7 to 10) - 1,2,5,7,13 / 2,3,12 / 1,2,9 / 3,5,6,13 - cost is $180 to $1
Small Quaddie (races 7 to 10) 2,5,7 / 2,12 / 2,9 / 2,3,5,6,13 - cost is $60 to $1
Mad Quaddie (races 7 to 10) 2,5 / 2 / 2,9 / 5,13 - cost is $8 to $1
Treble (races 8 to 10) 2,3,12 / 1,2,9 / 3,5,6,13 - cost is $36 to $1
Jockey Challenge
Well as you all know the Hong Kong racing scene is dominated by Joao Moriera and Zac Purton – my assessment says that the Magic Man will defeat Zac by only 2 points. Keep your eye on the markets – there may be some value if one of them has any scratchings in the races.
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