It had that Wow factor because those of us there at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday night were able to see just what it means to watch some of the best riders in the world throwing everything they’ve got into winning.
It was exhilarating stuff, it was world class entertainment of the sporting kind and showed why with the right marketing and the blinkers removed, these international jockeys competitions are showcases needed to take horse racing to another level- and attract a wider audience.
Before telling us that “this is what we live for”, show us why. It’s like explaining the difference between baseball and cricket. It’s kinda like assuming we’re dumb and dumber.
James McDonald winning almost every big race in Australia is one thing. It’s become par for the course. But to see him matching skills and wits with Tom Marquand, Hollie Doyle, Ryan Moore and Mikhael Barzalona from the UK and Europe showed how the best bring out the best in each other.
Yes, Zac Purton won the Cup for the home team with another brilliant display of world class riding despite not riding a winner. Not to dismiss this, his third win in this competition as hollow, but this year’s one really was a combined show of talent and strength with at least five winning riders.
Speaking to some Hong Kong racing fans, they’ve already embraced and adopted the Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle as their own.
Ryan Moore will always be an old favourite, whereas the efforts of Mikhael Barzalona’s last to first win on Elon was more breathtaking than watching James Brown strut his stuff onstage and scream, “I Feel Good!” Ugh!
As for J-Mac, he showed exactly why Now is him time and how and why all the world is his stage. He is a key part of the changing of the guard and is a great young ambassador for the sport.
At a time when that glass is often half empty, if only the Hong Kong Jockey Club were able to bottle Wednesday night’s excitement and positive on-course atmosphere and sprinkle it throughout Hong Kong, the world just might shake off its funk.
Right, Brother James?
