NEW HONG KONG RACING SEASON TAKES OFF!
While the news channels kept showing the same footage of the events which happened ten years ago on 9/11, this was the day in the Chinese almanac to start new things – businesses, new jobs and a new racing season.
With race-goers starved for action for the past few months, they came out in droves and the FULL HOUSE sign was up before the start of the first race.
And which went to Darren Beadman on the Danny Shum trained Planet.
Being the hot favourite for the race, it gave punters the start they needed – A winning one.
The big race for the day – the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup – saw the hot pot, Little Bridge, upset by the biggest tip on -track – Joy And Fun.
HKJC’s paddock parade expert Jenny Chapman was on fire with her tipping and put this one on top at 10 to 1 – trained by Derek Cruz and ridden by Brett Doyle.
It was such a decisive win too, which made Little Bridge look pretty ordinary.
What a great training effort by the lesser – acclaimed Cruz brother who poured a great deal of work into the horse during the off-season and which was extremely well-ridden by the underrated Brett Doyle.
And what a great horse Joy And Fun is and which has overcome so many injuries and remains one of our favourite horses.
Sadly, Hong Kong’s “beloved” Chief Executive – Donald Tsang – never made it to the presentation ceremony.
Perhaps he knew the reception which would have greeted him.
In “The Donald’s” place was Acting Chief Executive Henry “Horse Face” Tang, also not exactly one of government’s most popular people with the public.
It was a “subdued” presentation.
The next big surprise was when Jacky Tong started the season with a bang for himself and his old boss – Caspar Fownes by winning – and easily – on Victory Mascot at, er 100 to 1!
Tong had given it a long tune-up behind the barriers before the start of the race and by the way he punched the air, saluted the crowd and did somersaults on the back of the horse, we reckon it was no surprise to the hard-working jockey.
Fownes came desperately close to winning the Group 2 Centaur Stakes in Japan when Hong Kong’s Lucky Nine, brilliantly ridden by Brett Prebble, was just pipped on the line by the four-year-old filly Aishin Virgo and with his Green Birdie ridden by Tye Angland running a real beaut of a race to come in fourth. But there was much more drama to come.
Prebble seemed to think he had won the race, the Enquiry sign didn’t help and the race-caller didn’t help matters with his muttering.
At the end of it all, the results stood – well, the first three places did. Green Birdie had been disqualified for causing interference.
It was another Japanese Odyssey that was so-close-yet-so-far and one he’d probably wanna forget completely for the trainer Caspar Fownes.
By now, he probably needs to be taken kicking-and-screaming to have some sushi.
Unfortunately, Green’s Birdie was demoted to 14th subsequent to the Steward’s Enquiry for interference.
As for the race-call from Japan, good grief, what a loada old crap.
The rest of the races in Hong Kong had, mainly, hot-pots or those well in the money winning and we were spot on when saying that despite ten rides for the day, Dougie Whyte would not win the Jockey Challenge.
Jeff Lloyd did at odds of 70 to 1.
Whyte must, however, have taken great satisfaction in beating the David Ferraris-trained red hot-pot Bear Hero, a horse he was down to ride, but with the owner deciding to go with 10-pound claimer Alvin Ng.
That pointing of the finger to the stands by Whyte as his ride King Mossman went past the winning post was as if to say to Bear Hero’s this owner,
“Don’t ask a boy to do a man’s job!”
All in all, it was a good day’s racing.
We saw some good young horses, we saw some very good riding.
It wasn’t exactly a firecracker of an opening to the season.
But it wasn’t a damp squib either.
We won and that’s what it’s all about.
Comments