The HK racing roller coaster is cranking up again and the Season Opener features a potent mix of past, present and perhaps future stars. David Hayes is back on the trainers' rota after a 15-year absence, while Alexis Badel starts his first full season and Zac Purton and Joao Moreira have 19 rides between them as the Sky Sports Racing cameras focus on Sha Tin. The live action runs from 6am to 11am on Sunday morning and recent news suggests some major European stars could be heading this way once autumn turns to winter.
Doors start to open for major Euro raid on HKIR
HK has its sights set firmly on Euro stars with just over three months to go until its end-of-year showpiece. Covid-19 travel issues seem set to rule out raiders from Japan, Australia and America on December 13th. But hopes are high for numerous European big names to head east for four LONGINES HKIR G1 contests worth over £9m.
The South China Post's Tom Biddington has revealed that the HKJC, who are working with Government to create an elite sports quarantine protocol, has received an encouraging response from a string of leading trainers and riders. "We want to show we can do things that not many other people can do," said HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
"The feedback we have got from major European stables is extremely encouraging," he added. "I can say their interest – definitely fuelled by the prize money, which is a major competitive advantage – is significant."
Badel signs in for Super return
Hong Kong racing's French connection has always been strong - Maxime Guyon, Gerald Mosse and Olivier Doleuze making a major impact in recent times - and Alexis Badel hopes the foundations laid by several short-term winter stints hold firm as he begins a first full season.
Badel, who made a big impression with 26 winners worth over £3m in prize money last term, says it was "only a matter of time" before he made a full time commitment to HK and his eight rides on Sunday include two old allies.
Perfect Match trialled just fairly last week ahead of his reappearance in Sunday's feature at 9.35, while Super Wealthy gave Badel an anxious moment in his latest trial, rearing badly as the gates opened. Douglas Whyte's gelding won three from four last season and has to be high on the short list for the finale at 10.45, though it's well worth noting that the Durban Demon told the HKJC's Edward Sadler that "I'd be very surprised if he won with the condition that he's in."
Applause primed as Size bids to buck slow-starting trend
Whyte's fears that Super Wealthy could be super rusty after a six-month break only increase the confidence behind Beauty Applause, who looks well worth noting as he bids to give John Size an opening day winner for the first time since 2011.
Size's stellar HK career has been based on giving horses time to reach peak form but it looks like the eleven-times champion is keen to hit the ground running and banish memories of a 2019-20 campaign that yielded several major wins but also a lengthy bout of seconditis.
The laconic Aussie saddles eight runners concluding with Beauty Applause, who beat Super Wealthy when the latter made his debut last December and caught the eye several times once upped to Class 2. Beauty Applause has galloped right through the summer and trialled strongly twice under Moreira of late. He ought to be fully primed first time up, so everything looks in place for him to go very well indeed.
Karis primed for Computer love
Size saddles three for the HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup at 9.35 - namely Champions Way, Beauty Legacy and Shining Ace - but Moreira feels that Champion's Way may well find the 1200m trip on the sharp side on his first run since the Derby in March.
Neil Callan's biceps could be in for a test as fiery stablemate Beauty Legacy returns to sprinting but Karis Teetan looks in for a smoother transit aboard Computer Patch, who thrived under the care of John Moore last season and looks a danger to all on his debut for Tony Cruz judged on his latest impressive course and distance success.
Hayes and Hall on the ball with new recruits
David Hayes has made a habit of winning on his first day in new surroundings throughout his long training life.
The colourful Aussie has warned against expecting fireworks in the early stages of phase two of his HK career but don't be surprised if the lightly-raced Metro Warrior - who showed plenty of promise for Moore - gives him something to smile about in the 8.00.
Sumstreetsumwhere has also had a change of trainer and the switch from Peter Ho to David Hall has worked a treat based on an impressive course and distance win in July. The six-year-old dropped a long way in the weights for his previous yard but the way he powered clear of useful rivals at Sha Tin's closing fixture suggests he can salute again at the first of a new campaign.
Mingling tills jingling as global interest grows
Last season's HK betting turnover figures, published this week after a Covid-hit campaign, contained several striking stats. Football betting took an inevitable big hit with over 3,000 games cancelled, while HK's Mark Six Lottery left a major financial hole when suspended in February, but racing turnover remained vibrant with global interest continuing its remarkable surge.
International Commingling accounted for ‘just’ £340m in racing turnover four years ago but, with 50 betting partners from 27 countries and jurisdictions headed by the UK, Australia and the USA now aboard, that figure has rocketed to almost £2.3b. In other words, we have reached a point where almost one dollar in every five bet on HK racing comes from foreign markets. And, with the World Pool model set to be extended, the scope for further expansion is clear to see.
