Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham previews Wednesday's card at Happy Valley live on Sky Sports Racing.
Warrior up for the Cup as J-Mac makes a plea
Over to you, Horse of the Year jury.
That was the message from James McDonald after ROMANTIC WARRIOR completed a flawless campaign at Sha Tin on Sunday and it looks like Danny Shum’s ageless gelding will be back as a nine-year-old whatever happens when the end-of-season gongs are handed out.
Long priced File fancies Numbers and Deep Monster ensured the 1.1 favourite didn’t have things all his own way in the final G1 of the season and a major shock looked on the cards as the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup came to the boil.
Derby runner-up Numbers ran the race of his life to stay within half a length - and McDonald received a deserved careless riding ban for hampering Deep Monster and Joao Moreira -but the Kiwi was elated with his “immortal” partner and insisted “he should be Horse of the Year.”
Rising to the challenge of a rival
But how do you overlook the world’s highest rated horse when judging HOTY honours?
Romantic Warrior is 6-6 with five G1s on his dance card this season, while KA YING RISING in unbeaten in eight with five G1s including that historic Everest success last October.
On balance, McDonald seems unlikely to get his wish, but the horse who has accomplished more on the global stage than any other over the last four years doesn’t need another ceremonial gong to cement his legacy.
Shum is planning a break at the HKJC’s Conghua training centre for his pride and joy this summer and will take his time before deciding on targets for a gelding who now has 15 G1s and over £25m in prize money.
Maybe there will be talk of avenging that agonising defeat on dirt in the 2024 Saudi Cup, or perhaps sights will be set closer to home with a fifth Longines HK Cup in December as the main priority.
But Romantic Warrior’s feats over various distances are unlikely to be matched by any HK horse for many moons – and his entire career shows exactly what can be achieved when a high-class horse is campaigned with skill, precision and global ambition.
Joao climbs aboard a Legend
Zac Purton dominated the early part of Sunday’s card – winning three of the first four races – and the Aussie will be firmly in the spotlight at Happy Valley on Wednesday as a double would make him the first rider to reach 2,000 HK winners.
A powerful book of nine rides gives him a great chance of reaching a remarkable milestone and it’s probably worth assessing the card through the Purton prism.
Early market signals suggest Withallmyfaith will be the shortest priced Purton mount of the night and David Hayes’s gelding – consistent in better company of late – has the champion for the first time against a middling crew in the Rhine Handicap at 12.40.
Purton barely had to move a muscle as Armor War Eagle cruised clear at the Valley four weeks ago and a 10lb hike won’t stop Mark Newnham’s gelding going well again in the Sauterne’s Cup at 13.40.
Hayes supplies one of the main dangers again in the reliable All Round Winner but GLITTERING LEGEND is one to note for those who prefer a bigger price.
Rated 104 for James Fanshawe after a Newcastle Listed win, this gelding is getting into the groove for his new handler David Eustace. This is his Valley debut, so he can’t be recommended unreservedly, but he showed bright speed from the off when third in a warm AW handicap last time and the fact that Eustace has booked Joao Moreira for the first time is notable.
Witness ready to take the stand again
Crossborderdude and Spirit of Peace bring solid recent form to two divisions of the Ciron Handicap at 2.10 and 2.40, though the fact that they are both drawn 10 shouldn’t be forgotten given that gate is a tepid 4-113 over 1200m on the B track in recent years.
But the draw is of little concern for Purton’s last two mounts of the night.
HORSEPOWER has a solid record over the minimum trip at the Valley, winning three last season, and he’s weighted to go close again in the Garonne Handicap (3.15) with a 6lb pull for a strong finishing second to Casa Of Honour last month.
And then we come to HONEST WITNESS in the concluding Seine Handicap at 3.50.
It’s taken a while for this Aussie import to click in the fabled Silent Witness colours but he’s thrived since forcing tactics were adopted, just lasting home from a mark of 48 then bolting up off 53 on his latest start.
A 10lb hike for his Class 3 debut asks a new question, but Honest Witness clocked a fast time with the promise of more to come last time and the fact that Purton is working to get down to 118lb (8st 6lb) for the first time in ages tells its own story.
Wednesday’s Valley Views
- 13.40: Glittering Legend (EW)
- 15.50: Honest Witness
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