Picture: Hong Kong Jockey Membership
FWD Champions Day will probably be held at Shatin Racecourse on Sunday. The three Group 1 Stakes races attracted, as ordinary, a fantastic worldwide discipline regardless of the energy of the house groups. Like virtually all prime races around the globe, these are a part of the World Pool, which is a mixture of bets from 27 international locations.
The Chairman’s Dash Prize (G1) is held over roughly 6 furlongs and is mainly a car-in-rising race towards the world. The winner has dominated native sprinters in his previous 19 begins, however he must cope with Japanese star Satonorev, who completed second final 12 months. Donnacha O’Brien is with the Comanche Courageous and seems to be at a loss, however keep in mind that O’Brien received final 12 months’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at odds of 20-1.
The FWD Champions Mile (G1), which extends one other 400 meters, will entice a full discipline of 14 horses, pitting top-rated home runner Voyage Bubble towards fellow top-rated worldwide runner Jantar Mantar of Japan. Jantar Mantar, winner of 4 G1 stakes races, is the son of Met Mile (G1) winner Pares Maris, and received the Mile Championship (G1) held in November with a superb time, beating the fifteenth publish out of 18 runners. He did not run effectively right here two years in the past, however he hasn’t performed a lot fallacious since then.
Voyage Bubble obtained aid by avoiding Romantic Warrior, however is winless in three races this 12 months. He additionally received the Hong Kong Mile (G1) in December, so he is in a great class and has sufficient pace to keep away from site visitors jams. Docklands misplaced to Voyage Bubble by two and a half lengths in December, however had a superb victory over this distance at Royal Ascot.
Since 2000, solely two worldwide horses have received the mile, so native horses are taking a look at that as a bonus. Put up location and site visitors are key to success.
9 individuals will compete within the FWD QEII Cup (G1), which can run roughly 1 1/4 miles. Romantic Warrior has received this race thrice, however faces a tricky problem from worldwide horses. Masquerade Ball is essentially the most extremely regarded of those horses, successful at this distance in his second race again in Japan. Karandagan, who ran final, has received 5 consecutive G1 stakes, together with the Cima Traditional in his earlier race. The Masquerade Ball is scheduled to begin late with jockey Christophe Lemaire again within the saddle.
Romantic Warrior hasn’t performed something fallacious since returning to racing in November, with a formidable 14 of 16 wins over lengthy distances. Danny Shum’s masterful dealing with makes it higher than ever at seven years previous. Sosie received the Hong Kong Verses (G1) in December and is at his greatest on strong monitor. Coach Andre Fabre is a daily on the Sha Tin Winners Circle, as is rider Maxime Guyon. Robust tempo will assist his possibilities.
All eyes are on Automotive in Rising, who will prolong his successful streak within the dash to twenty. Satonorev will probably be a worthy second place. The mile is a more durable take a look at because it includes a clockwise circuit round a big horse discipline. Jantar Mantar will probably be troublesome to defeat regardless of the place you draw it. To finish the worldwide theme, we’re in search of Socie to win the Romantic Warrior and Masquerade Ball in QEII.
Covers the whole Hong Kong Thoroughbred season. horse racing nation This occasion was made potential via sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Membership.
