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Hong Kong International Races: Aussies set for the rich Sprint

6th December, 2016
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Hong Kong at night (via Wikipedia Commons)
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6th December, 2016
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The Hong Kong International Races have shaped up, with a host of international horses and local hopes heading to Sha Tin to capture the big prizes on offer.

Tonight starts the week with the International Jockeys Challenge (IJC) at Happy Valley, where 12 of the best jockeys from around the world take part in four handicapped races.

Dunedoo’s own Hugh Bowman is listed as Australia’s sole representative but Zac Purton, based in Hong Kong, is technically an Australian entrant as well even if he’ll be racing for Hong Kong in the listings.

The likes of Bowman, Purton, ‘Magic Man’ João Moreira, Japan’s Ketia Tosaki, Ireland’s Pat Smullen, Douglas Whyte – still facing charges from Perth stewards for not riding out in the Kingstown Town Classic on Scales Of Justice – and more champion riders, are all taking part.

Their mounts were allocated via a random draw and some have fared better than others. South Africa’s defending champion Gavin Lerena says he’s simply hoping for the best from his mix of horses.

Bowman has a better set of rides than last year, with two last start winners, while Moreira looks less fortunate even with handicap conditions and will need to be at his imposing best.

It’s hard to ignore the IJC during the lacklustre summer racing back home but even then, it’s only four races that decide victors.

The lack of sample size and the quality of jockey engaged means it’s more luck than skill that ends up deciding the winners and losers. Local hoops have an natural advantage on home soil, too.

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All in all, you’re a tough marker if you put much on who wins and who loses, but it remains of interest to racing fans. The first IJC race is scheduled as Race 4, from 11pm.

Hong Kong International Races

Sunday, December 11, is when the big Group 1 races are run: The Hong Kong Cup (2000m), Hong Kong Mile (1600m), Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), and Hong Kong Vase (2400m).

55 entrants include 24 Group 1 winners, with 27 runners from nine jurisdictions. That’s about as good as it gets.

I’ve said before that December races are an after-thought for Australian horses, who’d mostly rather win around September-November, while Europeans deem to track too firm. The strict drug rules mean American horses won’t compete either, ruling out the likes of California Chrome,

Still, each of the winners from last year are back, including one of Japan’s best in Maurice, the complicated but flying A Shin Hikari, the globetrotter in Highland Reel, and Hong Kong’s own Peniaphobia.

Australia only has two horses taking part, which is about par over the last few years.

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Rebel Dane and Takedown are both competing in the Hong Kong Sprint, the richest weight-for-age sprint in the world. Both are given some chance by the books, with $21 and $9 odds respectively in betting.

The early favourite is the former Australian Lucky Bubbles, who won a maiden in Gosford before being sold to Hong Kong, and has been super in his last five runs, but hasn’t won at Group 1 level yet.

Rebel Dane is taking part in his 22nd Group 1. He popped up to win for the second time at the top level, taking the Manikato at massive odds last start. He’s never disgraced at Group 1 level when going well, and races best fresh which is how he’s being prepared by Gary Portelli.

Reports were, after the Manikato, that he’d seek a home at stud as he is a stallion but a roll of the dice in a rich overseas Group 1 obviously tempted connections. He’ll be ridden by Ben Melham.

Takedown also broke through at Group 1 level, winning the Perth Winterbottom Stakes, after impressing at Group 2 and 3 level. He secured a late invitation just before winning the Winterbottom which looks even better for the Hong Kong recruiters.

The hulking gelding, who is only four, is trained by Gary Moore, and has travelled well. He’s been given time to acclimatise and will be ridden by Tim Clarke. He’s a live chance.

Japanese horse Big Arthur is on the second line of betting, having won eight from 13 starts, including a Group 1 win. Forget his last run before this race, as he went to the line untested. That race, coincidentally, was won by Red Falx, who is also in the race and looks like he is flying.

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Other horses of note include top line performer Aerovelocity, who won this race in 2014, Peniaphobia who won in 2015, and former Australian Not Listenin’Tome, who placed twice at Group 1 level on home soil and was third in this race behind Peniaphobia last year.

It looks set to be a cracking race, even if it would’ve been great to see a top-line horse like Chautauqua try and win in Hong Kong again, after he took the Chairman’s Sprint earlier this year. (He was spelled after a disappointing spring.)

Read more: Your complete guide to Hong Kong horse racing – my 4000 word guide!

We’ll take a closer look at the other races later in the week.

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