Hong Kong expert JA McGrath marks your card with a betting strategy for the showpiece International Races card at Sha Tin on Sunday [Dec 14]
The climax to Hong Kong’s wonderful showcase week of racing takes place at Sha Tin on Sunday [Dec 14] with the Longines-sponsored HKIR featuring at least two world-renowned champions in Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior.
However, the mood locally has been tempered by last months’s devastating fire that swept through a residential apartment complex at Tai Po in Hong Kong’s New Territories, 15 miles north of the racetrack, killing 160, with many unaccounted for. The HKJC have donated HK$170m (approx $21.8m /£17m) towards a fund for the victims.
It is to be hoped that some high-quality racing action on the track might help lift the city in such sad times leading up to Christmas. Here’s a look at the four Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) and the betting opportunities that are presented with the World Pool in play – not least in races where the favourites look impossible to oppose.
Hong Kong Vase (6.10am GMT)
An intriguing renewal in which Giavellotto defends his crown against hot opposition.
Irish St Leger winner AL RIFFA is the choice. He was given very little chance when seventh at his last start in the Melbourne Cup, beaten essentially by the draw in gate 19, which will have convinced jockey Mark Zahra to go back at the start. Consequently, he was giving the leaders 15-20 lengths advantage in the middle stages of the two-mile contest.
McMonagle, who has ridden Al Riffa in all five of his wins, is reunited with him in this suitable race.
Sosie goes in as next best after making the farm in the last two Arcs, with Giavellotto and Bundle Award also worth considering for multiples.
Hong Kong Sprint (6.50am GMT)
Never bet against a a true champion – and KA YING RISING is just that. Make no mistake: He’s the real deal.
That said, gasps could be heard amidst the small crowd gathered in the Sha Tin parade ring for the barrier draw when it was revealed he had drawn gate one.
For some, this was audible acknowledgment of a potentially cracking draw considering he is now jumping away cleaner and slicker from the starting gates. He could bounce to the front and make all.
For others, though, the gasps were admission of a fear that were he to miss the break even half a beat, he would be in danger of getting trapped on the inside rail. Zac Purton, the eight-time HK champion jockey, will need to be on high alert. The first few strides are crucial.
Coming here only two months after beating Australia’s best in the Everest in Sydney, Ka Ying Rising bids to record his 16th consecutive win, at the same time becoming the seventh dual winner of the Sprint. He would also be equalling the great Golden Sixty in establishing such a winning sequence.
So, the question is this: is Ka Ying Rising nailed on? My answer is a resounding YES. He is the veritable ‘good thing’ that simply cannot be opposed. Mark him as your ‘banker.’ Now to find horses to couple with him in the exacta/forecast/quinella (or whatever you like to call it !) …
The 13 runners for this HK Sprint are classy and strong representation in a division typically dominated by the locals.
Nine of the past 10 runnings have been won by Hong Kong-trained horses, the one exception being Japan’s Danon Smash (2020), ridden by Ryan Moore.
Interestingly, this time Moore has been booked for another Japanese contender, the six-year-old Satono Reve, drawn in gate four. The son of Lord Kanaloa is well known to local punters, having twice filled minor placings behind Ka Ying Rising in the past 12 months.
As such, Satono Reve goes in top of the list to take in multiples with the favourite.
Yet another Japanese, the eight-year-old Win Carnelian, a shock winner of the G1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in September, also comes into the reckoning, as too does Lucky Sweynesse, who won this two years ago.
They’re all in the mix for the exotics – but Ka Ying Rising is an absolute standout. Don’t oppose him for the win.
Hong Kong Mile (8am GMT)
This fascinating renewal sees the defending champion Voyage Bubble dropping back in distance after finishing a solid second to Romantic Warrior in the Jockey Club Cup, over 2,000 metres (1m2f) last time.
Purton retains the ride, but there is a significant negative with the draw — he must start from 12 in a 14-runner field, while chief danger MY WISH jumps from gate two. The latter should enjoy the run of the race.
Although Voyage Bubble showed his great versatility in becoming only Hong Kong’s second Triple Crown winner, he tends to live Romantic Warrior’s shadow, so this races offers an opportunity for him with that megastar running in the Cup.
However, the Mark Newnham-trained My Wish is promising and is almost certainly better than his last-start fourth behind Galaxy Patch, who got up on the rail in the Jockey Club Mile. My Wish missed his cue that day when they were lining up to challenge in the straight and can make amends here. He rates a confident selection.
The classy Japanese Soul Rush, who defeated Romantic Warrior in the Dubai Turf in April, also has solid claims, while others to note are globetrotting Docklands and in-form Sunlight Power.
A win bet is suggested on My Wish, with forecast options headed by Sunlight Power, though the others mentioned must come into the mix.
Hong Kong Cup (8.40am GMT)
Hong Kong’s other local hero ROMANTIC WARRIOR, with James McDonald aboard, faces only six rivals and will start from gate two, a nice draw from the 2,000-metre (1m 2f) start in front of the grandstand.
He is bidding to win the race a record fourth time and looks to be many lengths ahead of his rivals and, like Ka Ying Rising earlier on the card, looks impossible to oppose.
There were those who felt he might be vulnerable on his last start when resuming after a break of over six months and surgery on an injured fetlock but he confounded the critics and beat Voyage Bubble comprehensively.
Now for the place options. The unstoppable Francis Graffard saddles the most likely to fill second with Deauville G1 winner Quisisana, whom the trainer predicts will relish the drop back in trip from a mile and a half. He reckons that was a bridge too far on her two most recent outings.
Joseph O’Brien’s untapped Galen could have a significant bearing on how this race is run. He can lead, which he did when beating Jan Brueghel in a Group 3 at the Curragh, and he is ridden by Ireland’s new champion jockey, Dylan Browne McMonagle. Joseph and DBM could be a duo to fear on the international circuit in years to come.
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