HONG KONG - FWD CHAMPIONS DAY WEEK NEWS
By Darren Winningham and the HKJC | Monday, May 1, 2023
The 2023 FWD Champions was a massive success for the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
The innovation of the Club never continues to amaze me.
In unprecedented scenes at Sha Tin racecourse thousands of fans, predominantly late teens to mid twenty females queued for hours at every entry point available to the Sha Tin racecourse to come and see their local rock hero Anson Lo and Kelly Chen in a rock concert staged in the main parade ring one hour prior to the first race. The noise was deafening as Anson Lo took to the stage to perform two of his songs – ironically one of them titled “Money”.
After the concert was over the thousands of fans dispersed throughout the venue until Anson Lo made another appearance in the presentation of the FWD Champions Mile (Group 1) – again he was met with screams and cheers from the loyal fans.
The massive crowd of 54,007 attended the course for FWD Champions Day – I think that this would be the largest crowd in the past decade for this meeting. The atmosphere was generated by the large number of first-time race goers who came to see the concert on the track.
A turnover of HK$1,576 million was a colossal result for the HKJC. Read more ...
THE NUMBERS ARE IN AND IT'S A BIG WIN FOR THE HKJC
______________________________________________________________________
Golden Sixty won the FWD Champions Mile (Group 1) with Vincent Ho aboard.
The records broken with this win are astonishing:
1. Golden Sixty has won the past three editions of the FWD Champions Mile – this has never been achieved in the history of this race.
2. Golden Sixty becomes the horse that has won the highest prize money in the history of world horse racing.
3. Golden Sixty’s career earnings now amount to a staggering HK$148 million. This eclipses the HK$137 million that was won by the Australian super mare Winx in her stellar career.
4. Golden Sixty has now won nine Group 1 races – a new Hong Kong racing record.
5. Vincent Ho becomes the first jockey to ride four consecutive winners in the FWD Champions Mile (Group 1).
6. The win took Vincent Ho to claim the mantle for the jockeys with the most wins in this race – he now has four wins.
7. Vincent Ho’s win on Golden Sixty took him to 68 wins for the current Hong Kong racing season. This is a personal best for Ho who continues to thrive in the saddle with the opportunities he is granted.
The real question is will Golden Sixty pursue another Hong Kong record? Read more ...
GOLDEN SIXTY REWRITES THE RECORD BOOKS
______________________________________________________________________
WINNO is in Hong Kong!!
I have decided to head around town to see some of the tourist sites and things to do!
A cheap trip of HK$5 (less than AUD$1) will get you from Wan Chai or Central to Kowloon. The best way to get out is to see the harbour and see this wonderful city that never sleeps. During the day you will see other vessels – other ferries and large barges in the harbour whilst you go across from one side to another. Then if you do the same trip at night, you can see the city skyline and the buildings lit up with neon signs. Amazing! Read more ...
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRY TO SELL HONG KONG TO POTENTIAL VISITORS. HONG KONG SELLS ITSELF
___________________________________________________________________
Earlier in the week Zac Purton said at the press conference, “One thing he has done in his last two gallops that he has not done all season is that he has been a bit keen. I am not sure if I am a bit concerned about that or whether he is just ready to go back to the races” when summing up the chances of Lucky Sweynesse in the lead up to the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Group 1).
Well after his demolition of an impressive international field it appears he wanted to get back to the races and show how great he really is!
He went into the race with two Group 1 victories this season. The Manfred Man charge collected a HK$5 million bonus prize money for successfully completing the third leg of Hong Kong’s three-race Speed Series – the first horse to complete this since Silent Witness who did it last in 2004/05.
He won HK$11.4 million and a bonus of HK$5 million. A massive pay day for the local owners who were celebrating on the track at the official presentations. Read more ...
LUCKY SWEYNESSE MAKES A BIG STATEMENT
______________________________________________________________________
Golden Sixty stands alone as Hong Kong’s most prolific Group 1 winner after his record-setting third G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) triumph at Sha Tin on Sunday, 30 April.
Equal with Beauty Generation’s mark of eight top-level wins before today, Golden Sixty – trained by Francis Lui – added this afternoon’s success to his wins in 2021 and 2022.
Making it an unmatched nine Group 1s for the seven-year-old by Medaglia d’Oro, jockey Vincent Ho also sealed a fourth FWD Champions Mile win in succession to become the HK$20 million contest’s leading rider after breaking his deadlock with Brett Prebble.
Adding to his brilliance in front of a packed 49,496 crowd at Sha Tin, Golden Sixty – based on current exchange rates – is ranked first for career earnings globally with HK$147,930,600, while Winx’s all-time AU$26,451,174 equates to HK$137,530,690.
“Thank you to all of the racing fans and, of course, I am really grateful to be on this horse again. He’s such a superstar and I’m just very grateful and very happy for Golden Sixty of course. Now he looks around and enjoys the crowds and his home turf,” Ho said.
“We got a sneak through the inside, one off and sort of in second position. I told myself before this race to try and enjoy every moment with Golden Sixty because he is seven now and we don’t know when he is going to retire but it’s the best way to enjoy every single step with him.
“I’m nothing without him. All of the credit goes to Golden Sixty,” Ho said. Reac More ...
THERE IS JUST NO STOPPING GOLDEN SIXTY
_______________________________________________________________________
They came, they saw and they were well and truly conquered in the Sha Tin sunshine today (30 April) as Romantic Warrior confirmed himself among the world’s elite with a commanding second consecutive success in the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m).
Pandemic restrictions meant Danny Shum’s gelding beat a purely domestic field when landing the HK$25 million contest in 2022 and the five-year-old faced a sterner test against two G1 winners from Japan and globetrotting British raider Dubai Honour, fresh from capturing two of Australia’s elite 2000m contests.
However, the market spoke volumes about the confidence behind him and the 1.6 favourite delivered in spades, charging into the lead with 400m to run and eased down close to home as Kiwi rider James McDonald stood up in the stirrups to salute an adoring crowd.
“How good are the Hong Kong horses, they’re flying today,” said a beaming McDonald, who is now unbeaten in three rides on Romantic Warrior after partnering him to similarly emphatic victories in the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) and G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) last November and December.
“He’s a world-class horse and put in a performance just like he did in December. There wasn’t one part of the race where I thought he wasn’t right – he was always going to explode for me – and the race panned out beautifully. He’s a world-class horse. It took an absolute weapon (Golden Sixty) to run him down last time but he’s a great 2000m horse and I really enjoy riding him.” Read more ...
ROMANTIC WARRIOR JOINS AN ELITE CLUB AS HE LANDS BACK-TO-BACK WINS IN THE FWD QE11 CUP
______________________________________________________________________
Established as the world’s highest-rated sprinter of 2023, Lucky Sweynesse joined elite company with a runaway win in the HK$20 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (30 April).
The four-year-old continued his rise to stardom and edged closer to embarking on an ambitious path of potentially tackling elite races either in Japan or Australia in the coming months with a devastating display of power and speed, gliding over the closing 400m in 22.26s.
Going into Sunday’s race already armed with a pair of G1 victories this season, the Manfred Man trained four-year-old also collected a HK$5 million bonus for successfully completing the third leg of Hong Kong’s three-race Speed Series.
Only three other horses – Mr Vitality (1995/96), Grand Delight (2002/03) and the legendary Silent Witness (2003/04 & 2004/05) – had previously annexed the Speed Series. Read more ...
WORLD'S HIGHEST RANKED SPRINTER SCORES RUNAWAY WIN IN THE HK$20 MILLION CHAIRMAN'S SPRINT PRIZE
_______________________________________________________________________
I arrived at Sha Tin racecourse on Sunday for the FWD Champion’s Day 2023. It has only been a short four months since I was last here.
I met up with my wonderful, smiling friend Vieri Chan – as usual he was trackside and ready for a massive day.
He presented WINNO with a t-shirt with a hand painted sketch of the Hong Kong champion on it. I did not have much prepared – but I did bring some Australian Tim Tams to which Vieri smiled and said, “I am already fat.”
I provided him with a pink Magic Millions cap for his wife and a blue one for him.
The fun then begins. WINNO declares the winners of the Group 1 races as:
The Sprint - Lucky Sweynesse to be ridden by Zac Purton. The Mile - Golden Sixty to be ridden by Vincent Ho. The QEII Cup – Dubai Honour to be ridden by Tom Marquand
To which Vieri scoffs and shows me his prepared portraits of who he thinks will win.
We disagree on only one, the QEII Cup – Vieri thinks the local champion will win – Romantic Warrior ridden by James McDonald.
The bet is on – who is the better tipster! Read more ...
VIERI CHAN – A GOOD ARTIST, YES ... BUT CAN HE PICK A WINNER? THAT IS THE QUESTION!
_____________________________________________________________________
I think I can safely say there are no better facilities for all types of patrons in the world like Sha Tin offers to the racing fraternity.
The crowds bring spirit and atmosphere and on these special occasions where Hong Kong versus the World they are extremely parochial and supportive of their local runners, trainers, and jockeys. The noise is amazing when one of their own horses win these featured races.
The track rated “GOOD”. The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
Ten races to bet on – some amazing fields with the feature races: A day where we may see some long-standing records broken!
Race 1
Class 4 over 2000 metres.
A tough race to start the day – so many to carry large weights so I went looking for those carrying some lighter weights here.
Reach Goal (9) will be partnered by Silvestre De Sousa. His last three runs have been at Happy Valley. He is best ridden quietly and then sprinting home late – that mission is nearly impossible at Happy Valley. Onto this large Sha Tin track this weekend – I think he will indeed be belting home late. Read more ...
WINNO'S WINNERS: HONG KONG - FWD CHAMPION'S DAY
_____________________________________________________________________
Seven races in three countries and some 16 months have passed since William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour was first set for the international racing stage at the 2021 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin.
On that occasion, he more than confirmed the quality of his three-year-old form with a closing one and a quarter lengths fourth to Japan’s Loves Only You, who earlier that year had also won the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m), in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).
However, a fruitless 2022 season followed and some debate continues as to whether he has recaptured his best form or improved in 2023 despite his two Gr1 wins in Australia in March and April. That debate may well be adjudicated in Sunday’s HK$25 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m).
Issy Paul, the gelding’s regular rider and assistant to Haggas, has been by his side – and on his back – in Australia and Hong Kong and is best placed to offer some insight into his progress. Read more ...
WELL TRAVELLED DUBAI HONOUR ON A MISSION
_______________________________________________________________________
Lucky Sweynesse was defeated in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint in December by Wellington who he meets again Sunday in the FWD Chairman’s Sprint (Group 1).
Since then, he has won his past four starts showing continual improvement.
He has been up since September 2022. It has seen him post six wins in his eight starts this preparation. Manfred Man trains the
horse and has strategically spaced his runs out for the extended preparation racing him once a month.
In the media conference held at Sha Tin on Thursday morning jockey Zac Purton raised concerns with the recent manners of Lucky Sweynesse on the track in his work.
He went on to say that he rode him on the track on Thursday, “One thing he has done in his last two gallops that he has not done all season is that he has been a bit keen. I am not sure if I am a bit concerned about that or whether he is just ready to go back to the races.”
“He has had a long season and he has been pulling a little bit in his trackwork, so I’m not sure if he’s just gone over the top a little bit or not, but all the other signs he’s giving me are that he's still in his best form. Read more ...
LUCKY SWEYNESSE LOOKING TO EXTEND HIS IMPRESSIVE WINNING SEQUENCE IN THE FWD CHAIRMAN'S SPRINT
____________________________________________________________________
Top Hong Kong jockey Vincent Ho is seeking to break a personal record on FWD Champions Day 2023.
Ho’s previous 67 wins came in the season (2019/20). He now sits on 67 and is looking to post his most successful season ever.
With over twenty meetings remaining in the Hong Kong Racing season – the way he is going he could possibly ride 100 winners in the current season.
Ho has ridden 50 winners in his past five seasons in Hong Kong – something that he is extremely proud of, particularly when you are up against the likes of Zac Purton and Joao Moreira.
With the departure of Moreira, the opportunities have swelled for Ho, and he has taken it all before him.
Ho already created history back on 19 March when he became only the second home grown jockey to ride 500 winners in Hong Kong following in the steps of Tony Cruz. Cruz who holds the record for local home-grown jockeys of 946 wins prior to retiring and becoming a prominent Hong Kong trainer. Read more ...
VINCENT HO'S STELLAR SEASON SET TO CONTINUE
_____________________________________________________________________
Golden Sixty stepped out on the course proper at Sha Tin on Thursday in his final hit out in the lead up to the HK$20 million FWD Champions Mile on Sunday.
He was ridden by his regular jockey Vincent Ho who was happy with the effort after clocking 1m 26.5s (33.3, 30.2, 23.0) over 1200m. The final 400 metres was impressive.
Golden Sixty is looking for a hat trick of wins in the FWD Champions Mile (Group 1) after winning for the first time in 2021. He then ran a slashing race demolishing the opposition in 2022.
Trainer Francis Lui said: “He looked great when he walked past (after galloping). Everything is smooth and I am very happy with him.”
No horse has won the FWD Champions Mile three times.
Vincent Ho and Australia’s Brett Prebble are the only jockeys with three wins in the race.
Come Sunday the record books could be re-written! Read more ...
GOLDEN SIXTY PRIMED TO COMPLETE A HAT-TRICK OF FWD CHAMPIONS MILE VICTORIES
______________________________________________________________________
Zac Purton believes Prognosis’ hopes of extending Japan’s stunning recent run of success in the HK$25 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (30 April) rests on the raider’s capacity to relax and settle.
Renowned for an occasionally fiery temperament, Prognosis possesses a lethal finishing kick with that powerhouse acceleration propelling the Deep Impact five-year-old to five victories from eight starts.
Trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, Prognosis will chase a maiden Group 1 victory at the weekend under Purton, who has thoroughly researched the bay’s racing habits and is aware of what can potentially go awry.
“He’s been plagued with a lot of injuries throughout his career and he’s had a bit of a stop-start career but he’s trained by a very good trainer and his last-start win (in the G2 Kinko Sho, 2000m at Chukyo) looked impressive,” Purton said.
“From what I can gather, he can be quite a strong and eager-going horses so we need to hope – in a small field – that the speed is going to suit us and try and get him to relax.
“It looks like he hasn’t reached his full potential yet. He’s on the way up. He’s not the highest-rated (113) horse from Japan to come here so he’s got a little bit to find on ratings but he looks like he’s in good form and he could be a chance.” Read more ...
PURTON DISCUSSES PROGNOSIS AND WEIGHS UP THE JAPANESE ENTRY'S CHANCES IN THE FWD QE11 CUP
_______________________________________________________________________
Silvestre de Sousa believes Money Catcher has the potential to scale horse racing’s pinnacle.
Twice victorious at Group 3 level in Hong Kong, Money Catcher finished third in the 2022 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and also in February’s G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) – form around Golden Sixty and Romantic Warrior that De Sousa hopes can one day transform into Group 1 glory for trainer Frankie Lor’s charge.
“He’s been quite consistent, but I think he is going to hit the line sometime and pinch a Group 1, I just don’t know when but I think he can win one.
“He hasn’t finished too far from the good horses, so that’s the dream. One day maybe they get stuck behind and he manages to get his head in front,” De Sousa said.
FWD Champions Day this Sunday (30 April) at Sha Tin provides Money Catcher with another crack at the top-level in the HK$25 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) when he faces Group 1 winners Romantic Warrior, Dubai Honour, Danon The Kid and Geraldina.
“I galloped him, he feels good and he hasn’t changed much – he’s a bit of a pro,” De Sousa said. “Obviously it will be a tough race with the Japanese horses coming in but I think he should run well.” Read more ...
MONEY CATCHER TRYING TO RISE TO GROUP 1 GLORY
_______________________________________________________________________
Already armed with some tantalising success at her first foray into Hong Kong racing last year with Laws Of Indices, Sydney-based trainer Annabel Neasham returns to Sha Tin for Sunday’s (30 April) HK$20 million FWD Champions Mile (1600m) with My Oberon.
Sent out at 54/1 in last December’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), Laws Of Indices finished third to Hong Kong glamour horses California Spangle and Golden Sixty and boasts a similar profile to My Oberon.
Both geldings are Irish-bred and started their racing careers in Europe before being offered for sale and making their way to Neasham’s Warwick Farm stables.
A Group 3 and Listed winner in England, and also Group 1-placed in the G1 Prix d’Ispahan (1850m) in France in 2021, My Oberon made a sparkling Australian debut when he won the G2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley in October, 2022.
The six-year-old has had five starts for Neasham, with the gelding’s most recent race rated one of the best of his career when he finished a narrow second to Mr Brightside in the G1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick Racecourse on 1 April.
England-born Neasham, who is in her third year as a head trainer, believes perhaps the biggest benefit she gained from racing in last year’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races was identifying the right type of horse needed to tackle the elite in what is regarded as the world’s most competitive racing jurisdiction. Read more ...
ANNABEL NEASHAM SETS MY OBERON FOR SUNDAY'S GROUP 1 FWD CHAMPIONS MILE
____________________________________________________________________
There is no just better place to spend a midweek night other than HAPPY VALLEY racecourse - an absolutely spectacular racetrack in the middle of Hong Kong island.
A great night out racing and a must experience event when you come to Hong Kong. The track is rated ‘good’ and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
Nine races to bet on – here we go!
Race 1
Class 5 over 1650 metres.
A few runners coming back from Class 4 to this Class 5 race – they must contend with some massive weights.
I like one down in the weights with Matthew Chadwick to ride – Hang’s Choice. Look he is still a maiden but his recent effort at Sha Tin would suggest that he is ready to win.
Angels Hunter (8) has drawn well and should race handy for Jerry Chau. He seems to race better when drawn closer in. He looks well placed and should be competitive.
The two dropping in grade are Theta Hedge (4) and Happy Jai Jai (1) - they could run bold races in this easier grade.
Selections:
10 – Hang’s Choice
8 – Angels Hunter
4 – Theta Hedge
1 – Happy Jai Jai Read more ...
WINNO'S WINNERS: HAPPY VALLEY, APRIL 26, 2023
________________________________________________________________________
“Ni Hao” from WINNO in Hong Kong – that means “hello” in Chinese!
And I am “Wo Hen Hao” – which means “I am very good” since arriving in a city that I love!
I have arrived in Hong Kong safe and sound. I was here in December, but this is the first time since 2019 that I will attand the FWD Champion’s Day race meeting (at Sha Tin on Sunday).
WINNO looks at the things that have changed in Hong Kong in the past four months!
With the world opening Hong Kong was one of the last nations to lift restrictions on travellers coming to the nation and the associated restrictions due to COVD-19.
International travellers are free to come to Hong Kong, and there are no more restrictions upon arrival!
Hong Kong has already dropped the vaccination requirement for locals and international arrivals. Unvaccinated residents and non-residents are now able to enter the city without restriction.
What is different since my last trip to Hong Kong in December: Read more ...
A BIG 'NI HAO' FROM WINNO IN HONG KONG (APRIL 26)
_____________________________________________________________________
Vincent Ho is one of Hong Kong racing’s biggest names and at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (26 April) the local ace can reach a new personal best.
Ho has ridden 513 winners across his career in Hong Kong and racked up a swag of Group 1 triumphs aboard Golden Sixty, Loves Only You, Southern Legend and Stronger. With 67 wins in the bag this season, the 32-year-old has already equalled his previous best set in 2019/20 and is currently on track to smash that figure out of the park across the remaining 24 fixtures.
The quiet achieving Ho has ridden 50 or more winners in each of his last five seasons and insists he is taking it one race at a time: “I’m just doing my best on every horse – that’s it.”
Buoyed by his famed association with Golden Sixty, which will see Hong Kong’s champion chase a record third straight HK$20 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) this Sunday (30 April) at Sha Tin, Ho’s five chances at the midweek fixture are Circuit Elite, Scotch Tycoon, Win Win Fighter, Majestic Victory and Jumbo Fortune.
Scotch Tycoon lines up in the first section of the Class 4 Daejeon Handicap (1200m) for trainer Francis Lui. The Rich Enuff gelding’s last run in the grade returned victory in 2022.
“I think it is better, Class 4, it’s still not easy to carry the big weight because he isn’t really a big horse. He has the ability, for sure, I think he’ll still have a chance,” Ho said. Read more ...
VINCENT HO READY TO CLAIM A PERSONAL BEST (APRIL 26)
More articles
|