Dress Rehearsal Time for Hong Kong International Races

Preliminary sparring comes to an end Nov. 19 at Sha Tin Racecourse as many of Hong Kong's top horses tighten things up for the biggest day of the season, the Dec. 10 Hong Kong International Races.

Three group 2 events lead directly into the four group 1's on the December card, which also promises to have the usual quality slate of visitors from abroad.

There are two big holes in the preliminary round. Hong Kong's three-time and reigning Horse of the Year Golden Sixty and recent Cox Plate (G1) winner Romantic Warrior are taking a pass and going directly into the Internationals.

There's plenty left to enjoy, though.

The Jockey Club Sprint (G2) at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) has a showdown between generational rivals 5-year-old Lucky Sweynesse and 7-year-old Wellington. The field for the Jockey Club Mile (G2) includes California Spangle and Voyage Bubble, neither of whom will miss facing Golden Sixty, winner of the last three editions.

The Jockey Club Cup (G2) is 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) and has Hong Kong champion stayer Russian Emperor  facing some younger talents including Straight Arron.

Wise handicappers will take most of the early-season results with many grains of salt.

For example, Lucky Sweynesse comes into the Sprint after finishing second in two straight races. But jockey Zac Purton reckons the excuses were more than sufficient.

"First-up this season he carried a big weight (135 pounds) on a wet track, which doesn't suit him. And last time he carried a lot of weight (135 pounds) again in a handicap and he improved a bit. I think he's come on again since then," the six-time Hong Kong champion jockey said.

"Set weights and penalties suits him better, of course. But I just think he's turned the corner and he's improved and I'm happy with where he's at."

The Cup serves as a prep for both its 2,000-meter counterpart in December and the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2 miles) Hong Kong Vase (G1) so a good run might be equally important as the placing—purse earnings aside, of course.

Russian Emperor will be the focus but others pointing toward the 2,000 meters a month down the road could incude Senor Toba, Money Catcher, and Straight Arron.

"Straight Arron is going very well. We were happy with his trial. Two thousand (meters) is his distance and we are confident in him," said jockey Vincent Ho, who is pushing for one of the coveted spots reserved for locals in the Longines International Jockeys Competition.

"Last year, he was still a little bit immature but he kept coming. He should now be pretty fit and we can hopefully do well on Sunday. Of course, it's a tough race but then we can look forward to the Internationals. I hope he can be competitive being more mature and also 2,000 (meters) being his distance. He's a nice horse."

The Jockey Club Mile figures to be super competitive with Golden Sixty on the sidelines and Healthy Happy, Beauty Joy, and Beauty Eternal taking on California Spangle and Voyage Bubble.

Trainer Francis Lui's decision to skip the race means Golden Sixty, now 8 years old, will be going into the Mile in December off a 224-day break. But Ho, who also pilots the Hong Kong star, was beaming after his performance in a Nov. 14 barrier trial at Sha Tin—a late-running first place in 1:10.57 for 1,200 meters.

"He's still very light on his legs," Ho said. "He doesn't feel like an 8-year-old. He's amazing. He still feels young, competitive and when I ask him to pick up, there is no turbo lag. It's an instant reaction. It's so good."

Golden Sixty has won 25 of 29 starts and holds enough Hong Kong records to fill several trophy cases.