THE OSCARS OF THE RACING WORLD.
When the nine-year-old Able One nearly led all the way in the Cathay Pacific International Mile at over 60 to 1 for Jeff Lloyd, one of the more, er, mature jockeys riding in Hong Kong, many around us seemed to be suffering from lock-jaw. One would think, the galloper was sent out to set the pace for the stable’s main hope- and hot pot- Xtension. However, Able One simply kept going and going and with all the efforts to wear it down failing. It was the third win for this amazing galloper in this same race.
As for Xtension, did Darren Beadman give the horse too much to do? Did it get caught up in a traffic jam? Was it a good thing beaten? Maybe, maybe not.
As we watched the race unfold and 400 metres from the winning post, we had given up on Xtension. He was too far back and was lucky to run a place.
There is no substitute for experience- that combination of professional “old cobblers” in Able One and 50-year-old Jeff Lloyd- and with an outstanding effort by the second placed Cityscape from the UK which raced for most of the race four wide and with no cover.
Hong Kong’s International Race Day had it all- great rides, some of the world’s greatest jockeys and trainers and attended by a real Who’s Who of the racing world.
It was The Oscars of the Turf World.
And the Grammys.
When Caspar Fownes’ Lucky Nine ridden by Brett Prebble won the International Sprint in a tight finish, we had to say, we told you so.
There has been a spring in Caspar’s step for weeks and we tipped Lucky Nine to win 5 days ago.
After its last hard luck story in Japan, Lucky Nine was overdue a win. It got it at Shatin on Sunday.
Well done, Cas!
You deserve it, mate.
And what a season jockey Craig Williams is having.
Having been unfortunately deprived of riding Dunaden to victory in the Melbourne Cup, Williams was back on it on Sunday and rode a brilliant patient race to win the Cathay Pacific Vase.
He has truly become a world class jockey.
The win also underlined a great training effort by Mikel Dizangles.
It was the kinda stuff movies are made about.
The best and most dramatic race, however, was saved for the last International Cup race.
After his last ride on California Memory, word around town was that Matthew Chadwick would lose the ride. He didn’t.
Chadwick repaid the loyalty of the horse’s owners and that of trainer Tony Cruz- and in spades.
The new C Team knew exactly what they were doing and the confidence which “Cruzy” exuded to us a few weeks ago about his galloper and in his jockey was not waffle.
It was unlike all the piffle we had to endure from Aussie race-caller David Raphael.
Can some shut this bloke up?
Before the race, he was fawning over Ambitious Dragon.
After the race, he was fawning over California Memory.
Someone, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEASE, SHUT HIM UP!!!!
He really is a dreadful and overrated bore in love with the sound of his own voice.
Hong Kong racing loss is now Aussie racing’s pain the arse.
The new C Team knew exactly what they were doing and the confidence which “Cruzy” exuded to us a few weeks ago was not waffle.
It was unlike all the piffle we had to endure from Aussie race-caller David Raphael.
Can some shut this bloke up?
Before the race, he was fawning over Ambitious Dragon.
After the race, he was fawning over California Memory.
Someone, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEASE, SHUT HIM UP!!!!
What about Ambitious Dragon?
When Douglas Whyte asked for that effort we have come to expect from the galloper, it came to win- easily- but then, just as quickly, could not get on with it.
Either the bubble has burst, or that last run when Maxime Guyon rode it, had knocked the stuffing from outta it.
Sorry, Hong Kong’s “best” horse looked ordinary.
California Memory, however? This horse could be something truly International and fly the flag for Hong Kong.
The Cup races apart, Hong Kong International Races Day was a feast for racing enthusiasts.
The “supporting card” was equally exciting.
There was some outstanding tipping from Trackside’s Jenny Chapman, great race-calling from Darren Flindell, goofy people dressed as “horses”, fireworks, plus great rides by Tim Clarke aboard Andreas Schutz’s Viva Freedom, Jeff Lloyd combining with John Moore again and bringing home another longshot in Majestic Falcon- the horse’s owner looked to be suffering from shock- and the wins of two seriously good Hong Kong gallopers- Moore’s Captain Sweet and, especially, John Size’s Fay Fay.
At the end of the day, there were winners and losers.
The greatest and biggest winners were, however, Hong Kong racing- and racing enthusiasts.
It was where champions met and is an event that is in a class and group all its own.
Comentarios