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And ANZAC Day in Australia where we remember the 169,000 horses who went to war and only one came back.
When in Hong Kong we like to attend the Dawn Service but this year we are again watching everything from afar.
There are 3 Group 1 races and while the fields are smaller than usual the strong Japanese contingent has brought a lot of value to the fields, especially in the QE II where to clash between the Japanese girls Daring Tact and Loves Only You promises to be a beauty.
The first of the G1s is Race 5, the Sprint over 1200m with a field of 13. The local sprinters are not as strong as in previous years so it is expected that the Japanese star sprinter Danon Smash will do just that and smash the field. Of the locals, Stronger was finishing off in great fashion in the Sprint Cup (and no, we don't think Amazing Star can do it again) and is on 9.6 while Wellington was third in that race and comes in here on 4.9. We have a roughie here too in case you are playing mutliples and that is Sky Field on 30.0. He's coming out of gate 1 and if he gets a good starts could figure in the finish. As mentioned previously Danon Smash will come out of gate 5, which looks like being the lucky gate.
The Mile is Race 7 and has a field of 6 locals. Golden Sixty is odds on as he goes for his 13th consecutive win and provided there are no major problems should win this. His trainer has chosen to drop him back in trip rather than go to the QE II, and this should suit. We are putting in a roughish roughie in Mighty Giant for the quinella although Southern Legend is the more favoured way to go. Mighty Giant has gate 1 and if Hamelin can keep him in a good position we like his chances and he's the outsider so best value. And of course Golden Sixty has drawn Gate 5.
The QE II looks like being a "made in Japan" affair and the question is can their 4 runners fill the top four placings? Daring Tact has the runs on the board as the unbeaten winner of the Japanese Triple Crown for females then taking third place in the Japan Cup behind Almond Eye and Contrail. Her first start this year was on a yielding track and she was not at her best but she should be on top form for this, and those watching track work say she has been impressive. Also her jockey shares a family name with the winner of the US Masters. She is just into odds-on. Loves Only You showed great form recently in Dubai in the Dubai Sheema in a tight finish in the race won by Mishriff. She has also won over 2200m so the trip is no problem and local hoop Vincent Ho is riding in great form. She is coming out of Gate 5 too and her odds of around 7.0 in Hong Kong are only this big as the locals are putting money on last year's winner Exultant who is now on 6.6.
Glory Vase has won here before and has survived a scare during the week but has been given the all clear by the vets and is on 8.9. The fourth Japanese contender is Kiseki who tried to win the Japan Cup by racing furiously and setting up a huge lead but of course he was then swamped. Chad Schofield has the ride and should Time Warp not lead (unlikely) he could well take the lead on but hopefully maintaining a bit more energy.
There are two Class 2s of interest to close off the program. Race 9 sees our friend Tourbillon Diamond (ex Eric The Eel) take on the likes of Savaquin and Charity Go and those three will do us.
The last race sees the new kid on the block Courier Wonder step up to take on some of the more experienced horses over the 1200m. He looks a definite banker and will probably start odds-on. We think the main rivals will be Duke Wai on 8.1, Lucky Patch on 10.0 and Wind N Grass on 17.0.