The April 24 FWD Championship Day at Sha Tin Racecourse includes three international group 1 races that, thanks to continued pandemic restrictions, have no international competition this year – but still draw a lot of attention. much attention.
In recognition of its merits, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, in cooperation with health officials, continues to attract top foreign horses to four major global racing days in 2020 and 2021. This time, the planning of the event coincided with the strictest government regulations and the Club chose to make the April 24 meeting at Sha Tin Racecourse a business for all locals. direction.
The picture is not entirely bleak.
First, the regulations are being relaxed – a little bit but it makes sense. For the first time in weeks, owners are allowed onto the track and winners will be posed with their horses underneath the victory arch on the grandstand apron. All out-of-the-way betting shops are back up and running.
In addition, the government has reopened a carefully controlled biosecurity corridor between Sha Tin and the HKJC training facility at Conghua on mainland China. That frees the horses that would otherwise be stuck up north.
Perhaps more importantly on the day, there were enough good locals to make the three races worthwhile in their own right.
The focus is on the local FWD Championship with Horse of the Year Sixty gold Pursue history on several fronts while facing an emerging young opponent California Spangle.
Golden Sixty will set the record for most Hong Kong wins with 21 if he lives up to Mile expectations. With the first or second, he will also surpass the record earnings of HK$106,233,750 (about US$13.5 million) set by Beauty generation.
Golden Sixty, one Medaglia d’Oro gelding, scored lightly in another perfect Hong Kong record when he was beaten in consecutive races earlier in the season. But he made an impressive comeback in his final game, winning the Presidents Cup (G2), traveling the same 1,600 meters on April 3, and after he secured a No 2 advantage for the Champion. Mile, driver Vincent Ho said all systems work.
“He is 100%,” Ho said. “He’s on the right track and is quicker than last time. He’s always had a fighting heart. Since his last start, he’s been training more physically and we’re going into this race with confidence.
“Every time being on top of him is a privilege and to win over him is definitely something really special,” added Ho. “Words are hard to explain but every time it’s goosebumps and it’s different every time.”
Golden Sixty coach Francis Lui singled out BMW Hong Kong Derby runner-up California Spangle as the main threat, even though he lost Romance Warrior in that last race. California Spangle, a 4-year-old by Starsangledbanner and jockey Zac Purton will start at stall 5 with another speedster, Healthy Happy just inside of himself.
“This is going to be his toughest race ever because he’s running with champion horses, all the good horses are in. It’s a strong field,” said the coach. Tony Cruz talks about the California Spangle.
“I think the distance is the perfect one for him. I believe he is still making progress and I believe that if he achieves his own path he will run a great race. Healthy Happy is the only horse that can spoil the race for us.”
The two companion races also feature quality schools.
Romantic Warrior won six of its seven starts in Hong Kong with a second goal in the Hong Kong Classics Cup, the only shortcoming on that record and Welcome marked the stars in the FWD QE II Cup (G1) at 2,000 meters (about 1/4 mile). Opposition includes czar winner of the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1) in both the course and the second distance re-start.
The President’s Sprint (G1) at 1,200 meters (about six ropes), looks like a contest with a matching 11 field. Wellingtonone It’s all too hard gelding, having consecutive wins at the Queen’s Silver Cup (G1) and the Sprint Cup (G2).
Sky Field started for the first time since winning the crash-ridden Longines Hong Kong (G1) sprint in December. Wellington finished seventh in it and came back, as it were. Hot king shrimpWednesday in December, PC patchfriday, and Lucky patchwho visited the post as a favorite but couldn’t hide his helm in the pile of posts.
