3 minute read

It was as usual a very good day for Hong Kong racing.

As mentioned the Covid restrictions have now been lifted and we cannot praise enough the work of the HKJC in getting through all the problems that they encountered.  A crowd of 54,000 were on the track to see some very good racing and they were very enthusiastic – giving Joao Moreira a hero's ovation as he brought home the winner in the first race and then  providing great support for their favourite horses.

Lucky Sweynesse won the Sprint and although he is entered in the Yasuda Kinen that is up to a tough 1600m and probably too soon.  The Everest is another option and one that is favoured by jockey Zac Purton and the owner is currently offering the option of going nowhere!  Voyage Bubble's fourth in the race was a very good run and the Derby winner should be able to continue to provide good results in future.

The Mile saw Golden Sixty crowned as the biggest prize money winner in racing, surpassing Winx's bank roll with his third consecutive win of this race.  It was his 9th Group 1 too and he is certainly a horse that would be in the top echelon wherever he raced.

Beauty Joy under Hugh Bowman ran a very good second having started at 20/1 and while Bowman was saying "nobody cheers you for coming second" we pointed out to him that it helps pay the rent!  Aegon and My Oberon were fifth and sixth but the prize money was very respectable.

There was no pace in the Cup and while some were saying the ground wasn't the best for Dubai Honour we felt it was more the lack of pace as in the back straight he seemed to get into a flat spot and it was hard to put in a finish after that but that was what Romantic Warrior did and produced a very good closing run much to the relief of his trainer!  The Japanese runner Prognosis produced a very good effort and should be watched in the future.  Geraldina had one of those days – having a bit of a hissy going out on to the track and continuing in a similar vein before the start.  Her mother would not have approved!

Hong Kong showed off their best horses and those horses did the right thing for their connections and their fans.

And a "ps" Zac Purton is going to stay for the 2023-2024 season.  See you in December champ!