Japanese Contingent Imposing on Hong Kong Champions Day

Hong Kong racing, despite nearly two years of social unrest and pandemic restrictions, perseveres April 25 with three group 1s featuring substantial internationally proven talent.

Admittedly, the visiting team is exclusively from Japan. But the quality of those raiders makes FWD Champions Day worthy of international notice on the final big day of the Hong Kong season.

Champions Day bookends the four group 1 events of December's Longines Hong Kong International Races and brings back some stars from that event's past. Pandemic-related restrictions have been loosened slightly to permit some spectators at Sha Tin Racecourse and the Hong Kong Jockey Club hopes that bodes well for the future after a long string of closures of off-track wagering shops, cancellation of a handful of race meetings, and empty grandstands.

"FWD Champions Day is a celebration of all things great about Hong Kong racing," said HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. "The Club has wholeheartedly embraced Government policy over the past year with an unstinting intention to ensure the health and safety of all of the customers and employees, and I am hopeful many more of our loyal fans can eventually follow suit and also return to the races."

The HK$25 million (about US$3.2 million) FWD QE II Cup (G1) is the primary target for the visiting squad, which makes up more than half the seven-horse field for the 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles).

Loves Only You , a 5-year-old daughter of Deep Impact  from the Storm Cat mare Loves Only Me, comes to the QE II Cup off a hard-fought third in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic Presented By Longines (G1) March 27 at Meydan Racecourse. Daring Tact, by Epiphaneia, was named 2020 Japanese champion 3-year-old filly after sweeping the filly Triple Crown and finishing third behind only Almond Eye  and Contrail in the Japan Cup (G1).

They are joined on the entry list by Glory Vase, the runaway winner of the 2019 Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1), and Kiseki , whose only group 1 win came three years ago despite some close finishes in the interim.

Glory Vase's participation was cast into doubt when he was put on a watch list April 22 with lameness in his right front leg—a not-infrequent precaution by the safety-forward Hong Kong Jockey Club which does not always precede a scratch.

Starring for the home squad in the QE II is Exultant, last year's winner and the reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year. The 7-year-old Teofilo  gelding has specialized in longer distances but proved his versatility at 2,000 meters a year ago. Furore, last year's local 4-year-old champion, was withdrawn after turning up lame in preparations for the race.

"The Japanese look very strong," said trainer Tony Cruz, who will saddle Exultant and expected pace factor Time Warp . "Exultant is in tip-top form and Time Warp will run very well. But the Japanese are very impressive."

The first running of the QE II Cup marked a state visit by Her Majesty in 1975 when Hong Kong was still a British colony. The Queen returned to view the event a second time in 1986.

Each of the other two races features a star.

The entire field for the HK$18 million (about US$2.3 million) Chairman's Sprint Prize (G1), save only one, is local. But the visitor, Danon Smash  is one of the day's top contenders and a force internationally.

The 6-year-old is a son of Lord Kanaloa , who twice landed the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1). Danon Smash made that a father-son affair by winning December's renewal and backed that up with a win in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1) in March.

None of the Hong Kong-based horses in the Chairman's Sprint Prize has anything like Danon Smash's recent form. Jolly Banner, Rattan, and Wishful Thinker all return after finishing second, third, and fourth in the December race but all were long odds that day and will be again.

Adding faith to the evidence, trainer Takayuki Yasuda pronounced during morning trackwork April 22 he feels Danon Smash now is the equal of his legendary sire.

"Last December I honestly thought Danon Smash was not equal to the level of Lord Kanaloa at that stage. But, after winning that race, he improved a lot," said Yasuda, not normally given to bold prediction. "I think Danon Smash has reached the same point as Lord Kanaloa now. He has matured and improved significantly in the latter part of his career. I am really excited for the race this weekend."

Leading Hong Kong rider Joao Moreira takes over riding duties on Danon Smash, who in the past has toted the likes of Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore, and Yuga Kawada. Even he was surprised by Yasuda's proclamation.

"Lord Kanaloa is the best sprinter I have seen turn up here in Hong Kong," Moreira said. "So I am very surprised Mr. Yasuda has put Danon Smash on his level. But I am very pleased to be riding him."

The race is contested at 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs).

Champions Day takes its name from the HK$20 million (about US$2.6 million) Champions Mile. This year's version, however, is an all-Hong Kong affair and little enough of that with only six set to face the starter.

The Mile does have the shining star of the local racing scene in the form of Golden Sixty. The 5-year-old is looking for his 14th straight win and fourth group 1 victory. If he's to be dethroned, it might be at the hands of Southern Legend, who missed upsetting Golden Sixty by just a head three starts back in the Stewards Cup (G1).