Hong Kong Racing 2014/15

[Kitan]

Going to try and follow it as much as time allows this season. First fixture is tonight.

Race card is here: http://racing.hkjc.com/racing/Info/m...english/Local/

[my miss storm cat]

Think I shall only follow on and off as hk has taken up waaay too much time for me personally. It's addicting.

It will be interesting to see the new aerial virtual replays!

Good luck to Helene Super Star (the former Lines of Battle.. Chadwick up) in the 10th. Breaks my heart to see. Penglai Xianzi... I hadn't realized what a really dismal season he had had as I stopped following last December.

I would imagine the lock of the night would be Calling With Love in the 8th... (Brett Prebble up).

Nice field for the 3rd (sorry for going backwards but that's how I roll ).

Anyway good luck, Kitan, and good luck as always to Mr. Wong Wing Keung and all his Bullish boys (although I doubt Bullish Friend wins tonight. I'd imagine that will be Divine Ten with Dougie Whyte up OR Charles the Great.

Oh hell maybe I will follow along this year.

Hope you kill it!

[Kitan]

First feature of the year tonight where the Dubai winners, Sterling City and Amber Sky meet down the straight five. They both give 20 pounds to the two young hot guns, Peniaphobia (6 for 11) and Rad, who is 5 for 5 and has won all three of his HK starts in devastating fashion. This is a big class test and Whyte can't make the weight, but if he comes back the same as he's been and can consistently put runs together then we're looking at this year's Sprint winner.

1 STERLING CITY 133 D Whyte J Moore
2 AMBER SKY 132 J Moreira P F Yiu
3 CHARLES THE GREAT 131 C Reith J Moore
4 BULLISH FRIEND 120 K C Ng A S Cruz
5 GO BABY GO 116 Y T Cheng C H Yip
6 PENIAPHOBIA 114 M Chadwick A S Cruz
7 BUNDLE OF JOY 113 C Y Ho D J Hall
8 RAD 113 M L Yeung D J Hall
9 SUPER JOCKEY 113 K Teetan A T Millard

[Kitan]

The race was over for Rad before it even started. Thoroughly washed out and lathered up. Willing to give him another chance next time if he's calmer. Sterling City and Go Baby Go got stuck behind the tiring Rad and are worth keeping an eye on for next time. Amber Sky couldn't keep pace with the big weight but that takes nothing away from a great win for Bundle of Joy.

http://racing.hkjc.com/racing/Info/M.../20141001/ST/7 (Video available)

[Kitan]

Just catching up on the SCMP and Sterling City would have finished at least second according to Douglas Whyte. Just leaving that in here for notes...

[Arletta]

Ambitious Dragon returns in the Sha Tin Trophy after 18 month layoff with a bowed tendon.

He was always one of my favorites

http://www.horseracingnation.com/blo...he_Dragon_123#

[Kitan]

International Trial day this Sunday (local, Saturday night in North America) features two foreigners: Spalato (Singapore) and Hana's Goal (Japan)

Sprint:
Horse No. Horse Jockey Draw Trainer
1 LUCKY NINE B Prebble 2 C Fownes
2 SPALATO J McDonald 13 J O'Hara
3 AMBER SKY M Demuro 9 P F Yiu
4 STERLING CITY J Moreira 7 J Moore
5 CHARLES THE GREAT N Callan 11 J Moore
6 AEROVELOCITY Z Purton 1 P O'Sullivan
7 FLAGSHIP SHINE N Rawiller 6 J Moore
8 FREDERICK ENGELS M Chadwick 5 J Moore
9 BUNDLE OF JOY K Teetan 8 D J Hall
10 PENIAPHOBIA D Whyte 14 A S Cruz
11 GOLDEN HARVEST U Rispoli 10 A T Millard
12 EXCITING DREAM C Reith 12 J Moore
13 SMART VOLATILITY G Mosse 4 K W Lui
14 SUPER JOCKEY A Atzeni 3 A T Millard

Mile:
Horse No. Horse Jockey Draw Trainer
1 GOLD-FUN D Whyte 4 R Gibson
2 HANA'S GOAL N Rawiller 2 K Kato
3 AMBITIOUS DRAGON G Mosse 3 A T Millard
4 ABLE FRIEND J Moreira 8 J Moore
5 PACKING WHIZ Z Purton 1 C Fownes
6 RAINBOW CHIC J McDonald 5 C Fownes
7 REWARDING HERO A Atzeni 6 J Moore
8 SAME WORLD C Reith 9 J Moore
9 SECRET SHAM N Callan 7 J Moore
10 LORD SINCLAIR B Prebble 10 S Woods

Cup:
Horse No. Horse Jockey Draw Trainer
1 MILITARY ATTACK Z Purton 4 C Fownes
2 DESIGNS ON ROME J Moreira 10 J Moore
3 BLAZING SPEED N Callan 6 A S Cruz
4 DOMINANT G Mosse 12 J Moore
5 CALIFORNIA MEMORY M Chadwick 2 A S Cruz
6 ENDOWING B Prebble 7 J Size
7 BUBBLE CHIC K Teetan 1 D J Hall
8 WILLIE CAZALS D Whyte 9 A S Cruz
9 SUNNY YING N Rawiller 3 J Moore
10 MR GNOCCHI U Rispoli 5 C S Shum
11 HELENE SUPER STAR M Demuro 8 A S Cruz
12 TRAVEL BRAND A Atzeni 11 C H Yip

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Kitan

International Trial day this Sunday (local, Saturday night in North America) features two foreigners: Spalato (Singapore) and Hana's Goal (Japan)

Awesome to see uber-horse Spalato there especially (and very cool that James McDonald is riding).

His replays, for anyone who cares...

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pa...?HorseID=42803

Good luck to two of my favorites of all time, Lucky Nine and California Memory.

Nice fields! Good luck to you.

[my miss storm cat]

Hope you did well, Kitan.

Nice wins by Able Friend, Blazing Speed and Peniaphobia and, of course, I'm thrilled my old guys were so game.

Poor Lines of Battle. Don't think he likes it there much. Are the Helenes jinxed? Aside from that one amazing season Helene Pillaging had (I'm sure you remember him)...

Fun watching HK replays but alas... it will never be as good as it was a few years back with all the members of the old guard.

[Kitan]

I didn't play---I was away all weekend and only got a chance to watch the replays late last night. Able Friend will take some beating in the Mile! HK will never be the same. I have nothing against Flindell but he doesn't bring any excitement to his calls...

Some lineup in the jockey challenge too!

McEvoy, Soumillon, Smullen, Fukunaga, J. McDonald, Khumalo, Moore, Hughes, I. Ortiz, Purton, and two local jockeys TBD tomorrow.

Selected runners for the HKIR also come out tomorrow. Red Cadeaux and Farraaj have already arrived.

[Kitan]

Just had a closer look at the Sprint...

Huge run from Lucky Nine first up. Couldn't get a run, ended up last, and flew with a big finish. No horse older than 6 has won the HK Sprint but he could be the first...

Spalato apparently was a bit lame, even potentially prior to the race.

Sterling City got into trouble again. Three poor runs from him on paper this season but he's had excuses in all of them. Might be the forgotten one at a monster price come the big day, especially if Jo sticks on.

Aerovelocity had a torrid time in the straight, and that's an understatement.

Golden Harvest and Smart Volatility both closed well. The HK group seems very closely matched this year.

It was a big effort from Peniaphobia, but I wonder how much that will take out of him, and he also did avoid trouble. Promising 2yo in the UK but he's still technically 3...

[Kitan]

LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (G1) - Turf 1200M

Horse Name Country / Region Age Sex Trainer Wt. Int'l Rating
LUCKY NINE (IRE) LUCKY NINE (IRE) HK 7 g Caspar Fownes 126 120
SPALATO (NZ) SIN 5 g John O'Hara 126 120
SOLE POWER (GB) SOLE POWER (GB) IRE 7 g Edward Lynam 126 118
STERLING CITY (AUS) STERLING CITY (AUS) HK 6 g John Moore 126 118
BUFFERING (AUS) AUS 7 g Robert Heathcote 126 117
GORDON LORD BYRON (IRE) GORDON LORD BYRON (IRE) IRE 6 g Tom Hogan 126 116
SNOW DRAGON (JPN) SNOW DRAGON (JPN) JPN 6 h Noboru Takagi 126 115
PENIAPHOBIA (IRE) PENIAPHOBIA (IRE) HK 3 g Tony Cruz 126 114
AEROVELOCITY (NZ) AEROVELOCITY (NZ) HK 6 g Paul O'Sullivan 126 112
SMART VOLATILITY (AUS) SMART VOLATILITY (AUS) HK 6 g Francis Lui 126 112
FLAGSHIP SHINE (AUS) FLAGSHIP SHINE (AUS) HK 5 g John Moore 126 110
GOLDEN HARVEST (AUS) GOLDEN HARVEST (AUS) HK 6 g Tony Millard 126 109
STRAIGHT GIRL (JPN) JPN 5 m Hideaki Fujiwara 122 110
LITTLE GERDA (USA) JPN 5 m Ippo Sameshima 122 109

LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (G1) - Turf 1600M

Horse Name Country / Region Age Sex Trainer Wt. Int'l Rating
ABLE FRIEND (AUS) ABLE FRIEND (AUS) HK 5 g John Moore 126 122
GOLD-FUN (IRE) GOLD-FUN (IRE) HK 5 g Richard Gibson 126 122
GLORIOUS DAYS (AUS) GLORIOUS DAYS (AUS) HK 7 g John Size 126 121
GRAND PRIX BOSS (JPN) GRAND PRIX BOSS (JPN) JPN 6 h Yoshito Yahagi 126 119
AMBITIOUS DRAGON (NZ) AMBITIOUS DRAGON (NZ) HK 8 g Tony Millard 126 117
FIERO (JPN) JPN 5 h Hideaki Fujiwara 126 116
CAPTAIN CAT (IRE) CAPTAIN CAT (IRE) GB 5 g Roger Charlton 126 115
TRADE STORM (GB) TRADE STORM (GB) GB 6 h David Simcock 126 115
WORLD ACE (JPN) JPN 5 h Yasutoshi Ikee 126 114
SECRET SHAM (AUS) SECRET SHAM (AUS) HK 5 g John Moore 126 111
HANA'S GOAL (JPN) JPN 5 m Kazuhiro Kato 122 114

LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (G1) - Turf 2000M

Horse Name Country / Region Age Sex Trainer Wt. Int'l Rating
CIRRUS DES AIGLES (FR) CIRRUS DES AIGLES (FR) FR 8 g Corine Barande-Barbe 126 123
DESIGNS ON ROME (IRE) DESIGNS ON ROME (IRE) HK 4 g John Moore 126 123
MILITARY ATTACK (IRE) MILITARY ATTACK (IRE) HK 6 g Caspar Fownes 126 123
BLAZING SPEED (GB) BLAZING SPEED (GB) HK 5 g Tony Cruz 126 121
CALIFORNIA MEMORY (USA) CALIFORNIA MEMORY (USA) HK 8 g Tony Cruz 126 118
CRITERION (NZ) CRITERION (NZ) AUS 4 c David Hayes 126 117
ENDOWING (IRE) ENDOWING (IRE) HK 5 g John Size 126 117
FARRAAJ (IRE) GB 5 g Roger Varian 126 115
ARCHIMEDES (JPN) JPN 5 h Hideaki Fujiwara 126 111
MEINER LACRIMA (JPN) JPN 6 h Hiroyuki Uehara 126 111
PLEASURE GAINS (GB) HK 5 g Manfred Man 126 111
SAME WORLD (GB) SAME WORLD (GB) HK 6 g John Moore 126 110
HELENE SUPER STAR (USA) HELENE SUPER STAR (USA) HK 4 g Tony Cruz 126 109

LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (G1) - Turf 2400M

Horse Name Country / Region Age Sex Trainer Wt. Int'l Rating
FLINTSHIRE (GB) FLINTSHIRE (GB) FR 4 c Andre Fabre 126 124
DOMINANT (IRE) DOMINANT (IRE) HK 6 h John Moore 126 119
CURREN MIROTIC (JPN) JPN 6 g Osamu Hirata 126 116
EMPOLI (GER) EMPOLI (GER) GER 4 c Peter Schiergen 126 115
RED CADEAUX (GB) RED CADEAUX (GB) GB 8 g Ed Dunlop 126 115
BUBBLE CHIC (FR) BUBBLE CHIC (FR) HK 6 g David Hall 126 112
PARISH HALL (IRE) IRE 5 h Jim Bolger 126 112
WILLIE CAZALS (IRE) WILLIE CAZALS (IRE) HK 6 g Tony Cruz 126 111
RAINBOW CHIC (IRE) RAINBOW CHIC (IRE) HK 5 g Caspar Fownes 126 110
KHAYA (NZ) KHAYA (NZ) HK 5 g John Size 126 103
WAYFOONG EXPRESS (IRE) WAYFOONG EXPRESS (IRE) HK 4 g Richard Gibson 126 102
JUST THE JUDGE (IRE) GB 4 f Charles Hills 122 111
SNOW SKY (GB) GB 3 c Sir Michael Stoute 121 113

[Kitan]

Form Guide first edition: http://corporate.hkjc.com/image/2014...RM_GUIDE_E.pdf

Just the Judge is out, Criterion had a mild bout of colic but will run...

[my miss storm cat]

I'm assuming, from the tone of reports over the past few days, that Buffering will be a go but too bad about Meiner Lacrima (hope he's alright).

Hoping Ambitious Dragon will be good to go...

[Kitan]

Took a quick look at the card at Happy Valley tonight. Seems like I only like the odd numbered races...

Race 1:
#2 New Pet: Competitive in C4 last season. Solid return on the AWT and then had two rough trips at the mile. Drops into C5 on the cutback as Prebble gets aboard. Good price to start the card.
9, 10, and 11 the main exotics uses.

Race 3:
#2 Ensemble: Favoured on the drop to C3 with JMo. Proven over the course and distance and in the class. The one the beat.
#11 Brilliant Proposal: Does his best running over the course and distance. Solid first up run and gets in light. The firmer the better.
#3 Speedygonzalez: Returns to the Valley where he's won 5 of his last 6. Only two tries at 5f so unproven there.

Race 5:
#2 Golden Bauhinia: Posted three deep over 6f last out. Will prefer the cut to 5f and will get a good trip. Three of Irad's rides are no hopers (reflected in his 70-1 odds to win the challenge) so hopefully he does well here.
#12 Flashing Guy: Course and distance is where he's done his best work by far. Khumalo's best chance.
#10 Ocean Roar: Won in identical conditions two back and had a tough trip last time. Double digit odds.

Race 7:
#11 Five Step: Has had a chance to mature over the break and I really liked his trial the other day. There's speed to burn in here and he's got the right running style. A few others in here that seem more likely have had their chances so I'll take a 40-1 chance first up for Khumalo.
#9 Vara Pearl has a good shot with the slight stretchout.

Race 9:
#9 Bespoke Collars: Should get a perfect trip from gate four. Favourite should get home first in the last.


Khumalo at 8-1 looks a good shout to win the IJC.

[Kitan]

Results...

Originally Posted by Kitan

Race 1:
#2 New Pet: 6TH

Race 3:
#2 Ensemble: 6TH
#11 Brilliant Proposal: 4TH
#3 Speedygonzalez: WON @ 5-1

Race 5:
#2 Golden Bauhinia: 9TH
#12 Flashing Guy: 8TH
#10 Ocean Roar: WON @ 10-1

Race 7:
#11 Five Step: 9TH
#9 Vara Pearl: WON @ 5-2

Race 9:
#9 Bespoke Collars: 9TH


Khumalo at 8-1 looks a good shout to win the IJC.

Field of six to kick off the card on international day...
http://racing.hkjc.com/racing/Info/m.../20141214/ST/1

[Kitan]

Barrier draw results have just been posted. Able Friend drew widest of 11 in the Mile but other than that it doesn't look that bad for the favoured runners...

[Kasept]

HK: http://pdfs.thoroughbreddailynews.co...f/HKIR2014.pdf

[ADJMK]

Wouldn't it be nice if over here in N.A we could get explanations as to why a horse didn't run up to expectations.
I guess that's why we have to listen to Steve's show for any info.

"Hong Kong stewards will today take the unprecedented step of releasing key evidence for its inquiry into Singapore sprinter Spalato's failure in the Jockey Club Sprint on November 23"


http://racing.scmp.com/freeservice/n...s20141210c.asp

http://www.hkjc.com/english/corporat...121001522.html

[Kitan]

Originally Posted by ADJMK

Wouldn't it be nice if over here in N.A we could get explanations as to why a horse didn't run up to expectations.
I guess that's why we have to listen to Steve's show for any info.

"Hong Kong stewards will today take the unprecedented step of releasing key evidence for its inquiry into Singapore sprinter Spalato's failure in the Jockey Club Sprint on November 23"


http://racing.scmp.com/freeservice/n...s20141210c.asp

http://www.hkjc.com/english/corporat...121001522.html

Or be able to have video access to every horse's workout with comments from the connections

http://campaign.hkjc.com/en/2014-hki...trackwork.aspx

Love the HK International Day and am getting pumped for it by watching some of my favourite races.

Vase:
1997 (Luso): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca8ISNfAKs8
2005 (Ouija Board): http://racing.hkjc.com/racing/video/...no=03&lang=eng

Sprint:
2003 (Silent Witness): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6aH3Eu-Jss
2001 (Falvelon): http://racing.hkjc.com/racing/video/...no=03&lang=eng

Mile:
2000 (Sunline): http://racing.hkjc.com/racing/video/...no=05&lang=eng
2009 (Good Ba Ba): http://racing.hkjc.com/racing/video/...no=07&lang=eng

Cup:
2003 (Falbrav): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27fKnc7uRzg
1991 (River Verdon): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZDyqGWLwDA