No one could have scripted it any better- not even the great Paddy Chayeksky, Alfred Hitchcock, or even, Hunter S Thompson.
While Adele sang how, “We could have had it all,” the HKJC ensured racing fans actually DID have it all- a racing theatre that the Club should bottle and sell and keep as a time capsule in that Racing Museum few visit ‘cos many don’t even remember it exists.
There was Karis Teetan, the real find of this racing season, deservedly riding his fiftieth win. Remarkable, remarkable, remarkable.
Neil Callan, who has done it the tough way by fighting suspensions and keeping out of harm’s way and the Stipes, was there keeping Caspar Fownes in the hunt for the Trainers Premiership with Zac Purton, the new Champion jockey of Hong Kong, going all out to break Douglas Whyte’s record of riding 114 winners in a season.
The Zac Attack might not have broken that record, but he gave it his all. And that’s all that matters.
Not to be outdone or forgotten in the new soft-shoe shuffle where many wanted to see his incredible thirteen year reign as Hong Kong’s champion jockey end, before severe dehydration got the better of him, Douglas Whyte left with a double including winning on a future global sprinting star in Luger.
It was the Trainers Premiership, however, that held most interest- a real seesaw battle between Caspar Fownes and John Size, which didn’t really go down to the wire per se, but still had Darren Flindell wetting himself- and what great calls the big fella made this season. He’s our version- not answer- of Ric McMahon.
Highlights; The battles between Designs On Rome and Able Friend.
The great riding displays on EVERY race day by Purton, Whyte and Moreira.
The feats don’t fail us now partnership of John Moore and Tommy Berry- and what trailblazing rides they had- and with designs on even greater International success in the future.
Those Happy Wednesday Nights with Ben Semmens and that international cast of thousands which no other racing club can replicate and which, sadly, few outside of Hong Kong- and quite a few even IN this city who even WORK for the HKJC- prattle on about despite never have been part of the experience- and you know who you are- will never understand.
There was Caspar making it all happen and calling on all his reserves to bring a smile to his Dad’s face and never giving up on his other child- Lucky Nine.
It was a brilliant season- all those twists and turns, that long and winding road that led me to your door,
It was also a great win for Hong Kong- a rare win and which brought a politically and socially divided city together.
Thank you, Winfried, the best CEO of any racing club in the world, and who can accept it all, and who knows who and what comes from a good place.
Hans Ebert
© Fast Track 2014 All Rights Reserved No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author, unless otherwise indicated for stand-alone materials.
Comentarios