Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham looks back on the HKIR and takes a look at Wednesday's Happy Valley card live on Sky Sports Racing.
The week that was! ✔️
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 8, 2024
Another @LONGINES #HKIR is in the bag after today's greatness... #HKracing pic.twitter.com/DcTcAoWCCj
Four thrilling G1 contests are in the books and the fireworks have fallen silent so let’s assess the File’s winners and losers from the LONGINES HKIR Awards of 2024.
Star of the Show
ROMANTIC WARRIOR, of course.
Danny Shum’s gelding powered to a historic third HK Cup success - recording a career best 129 Timeform rating by forging clear of two high-class Japanese rivals with James McDonald saluting an adoring crowd - and his blend of speed, courage and dependability make him a formidable athlete by any standards.
He’s likely to fall just short of ending the year as the world’s highest rated horse but his body of work at home and abroad is exceptional – and the plan to tackle dirt in the Saudi Cup next February gives him a chance to do something truly unprecedented.
Best Supporting Player
Yes, he was helped by the fact that Golden Sixty has retired – and tough trips for key rivals - but VOYAGE BUBBLE went about his Mile business in typically stylish manner.
J-Mac summed him up by saying “he’s a fair dinkum G1 horse who just gives his all.”
Sounds right enough.
Rising Star
But not in the way most people expected.
KA YING RISING went off at 1.1 for the Sprint but didn’t flash the dazzling brilliance shown in previous wins, holding on by just half a length from Helios Express after being pestered on the pace for the first 800m.
Zac Purton and David Hayes insist the new king of the HK 1200m division is appreciably better than he showed on his first venture into G1 company – and they might be right – but let’s hold fire on the ‘genuine superstar’ label just for the moment.
Making Britain HKIR Great Again
GIAVELLOTTO’s best form gave him a much better chance than the Vase market indicated and he justified Oisin Murphy’s view that HK was an ideal destination with a striking burst to beat fellow UK raider Dubai Honour emphatically in the Vase.
Twelve years had passed since Britain’s last HKIR win (Red Cadeaux in the Vase) but it would be no surprise if Marco Botti sends Giavellotto back to Sha Tin 2025.
And, after one of the most valuable successes of his career, I wonder if the HK door might open for a Murphy winter stint in the next year or two?
Better Luck Next Year
Japan is set to end 2024 winless in foreign G1s from upwards of 60 attempts but their high-class HKIR runners made a notable impact again, with two thirds and a second on the board before Liberty Island and Tastiera chased home Romantic Warrior.
Regroup and go again will be the mantra and, whether it’s in Europe, America, Australia or HK, it will come as a big surprise if the Land of the Rising Sun doesn’t end that global G1 drought in 2025.
What Might Have Beens…
Slow starts from wide draws tend to be problematic whatever the grade or distance in HK and Sunday’s G1s were no exception.
Japanese filly Stellenbosch did well to finish third from gate 14 in the Vase having been left poorly placed in a dawdle, while Soul Rush, Antino and Galaxy Patch were all left in tough spots before getting in each other’s way at a crucial point in the Mile.
Galaxy Patch endured a nightmare trip from gate 14 under Vincent Ho. It’s hard to know exactly where he would have finished with a smooth run but you can be sure he’ll give Voyage Bubble much more to think about when they meet again in 2025.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie…
It wasn’t to be for the Antipodean trio as Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight, smart sprinter Recommendation and G1-winning miler Antino beat just one, two and three rivals respectively.
And slim pickings for Aidan and Ryan
Moore emerged pointless from Wednesday’s IJC, while Aidan’s long trip (delayed 24 hours by a cancelled plane) proved fruitless as Luxembourg, Continuous and the diminutive Content and Wingspan failed to shine in the Vase and Cup.
If You Build It….
Just under 70,000 citizens at Sha Tin and well over 10,000 more watching from Happy Valley helped generated record HKIR turnover of £173m with almost £48m sourced from abroad in the World Pool.
Punters clearly love global festivals with high-class runners from all over the world. Or, to nick a phrase from another Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come.”
Spirits rising as spotlight turns to Valley
Personal punting fortunes perked up considerably as Giavellotto helped offset heavy dim sum expenses on Sunday but it’s back to Happy Valley on Wednesday for another night of tricky handicaps.
A short summary of what to expect is nine challenging handicaps in which the draw and jockeyship will play their usual key roles.
The ongoing rivalry between Purton and McDonald will be a running story and, although jet lag has hindered form study, I’m happy to nominate YOUTHFUL SPIRITS and SIMPLY MAVERICK as two solid win and place contenders.
A fiery front runner, Youthful Spirits failed to fire on his first three starts this season but he showed much more dash last time, blazing through the first 600m in 33.32s and only nabbed late by a winner who’s gone in again and another bang-in-form rival.
Aussie handler Mark Newnham and South African rider Luke Ferraris have forged a strong bond and, with blinkers for the first time, Youthful Spirits will make them all go in the Nightjar Handicap at 1.45 if he channels his early fire in the right manner.
Simply the best
McDonald has ridden 13 winners from just seven meetings and, with trebles at the last two fixtures, it’s remarkable to realise the Kiwi ace has already trousered his percentage of well over £6m in prize money in a little under four weeks.
Logic suggests his decision to take the HK plunge can only be a matter of time but, in the meantime, SIMPLY MAVERICK can add to his pre-Christmas swagbag in the Sea Eagle Handicap at 2.50.
Already a three-time winner over 1650m at the Valley, this gelding went close on his reappearance and caught the eye again on his latest start, forced to switch then go back from gate 12 under J-Mac and doing well to finish a close fifth in the circumstances.
Stall 1 looks much more favourable here, especially given the lack of front runners in opposition, and Simply Maverick looks booked for a ground-saving run which in turn ought to see him bang there once things get serious again.
Wednesday’s Valley Views
- 1.45: Youthful Spirits
- 2.50: Simply Maverick
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