HKIR 2015: A Postscript

Just when you thought you were done with me…HA! I'm like that itch that won't go away. If you'll indulge me for a few more minutes, I promise not to bother you again for a while. I find myself in one of those spots. You know, you've been there…vacation for a week, come back a need a vacation? Yeah, that's where I'm at. I estimate that I got conservatively 25 hours of sleep over the six nights I lodged in Hong Kong and I don't sleep particularly well on planes. Instead, I write.

I boarded the first of the media 'coaches' to Sha Tin around 9:45 Sunday morning, and, with better than two hours until the 12:25 first post, the place was jammed. South China Morning Post blogged that there were 50,000 people there at that stage and I believe it. More than 85,000 showed for the day overall, an impressive 9% more than last year. I can attest to the fact that it was pretty crowded, as I tried to watch the Vase outside from one of the aisles and it took me forever and one day to find my way back to the press center.

Anyways, let me review the four international races in brief. As expected, the Vase remained a European phenomenon, but just when it looked like Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) would pull a Doctor Dino, along came Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). First 3-year-old male, first HK winner for Aidan O'Brien. Ponder this for a minute: Highland Reel began the season in France, ran next in Ireland, won in England, traveled to the U.S. and won, placed in one of the Australian biggies and closed the year victoriously in Hong Kong. Pretty impressive. Great ride from Ryan Moore (no shock), as he didn't panic when Harbour Master (Mizzen Mast) made that middle move and he knew he had enough beneath him to grab the more-seasoned Juddmonte runner. Not sure what kind of money it takes to move a win pool of this size by four full points, but that's what happened, and as is so often the case, this late infusion proved smart.

I'd pretty much settled on Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) as my best of the meeting shortly after the Jockey Club Sprint a few weeks ago, didn't love the draw, but knew if anyone could pull it off, it was Joao Moreira. You also have to have the engine to get you there, but Peniaphobia crossed and cleared relatively easily, went hard in the second 400 and had just enough to hold out Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}). Our American runners didn't embarrass themselves completely. Mongolian Saturday (Any Given Saturday) couldn't go with the winner early and drifted noticeably towards the stands at the quarter pole, but finished fifth with some decent horses behind him. Green Mask (Mizzen Mast) was really always against it despite those fast works and was never a threat in eighth.

I didn't really love Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Heo {Jpn}'s win in the Yasuda Kinen, tough though it is to win that race. More impressive was his tough-trip score in the Mile Championship, same race used by Hat Trick (Jpn) before he came to Hong Kong to annex the 2005 Mile. I was really taken aback by his body language during the week. He was very hot Thursday morning on a morning that was cool and not especially humid, but was better Friday and Saturday. Again, Moore was passed by a rival, this time none other than Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal), but quickened home best to enter the Japanese Horse of the Year discussion. As for Able Friend, I was relieved that he was cleared to run, but he's certainly lacked the dazzling turn of speed that won him all those races. Three losses in a row now at a mile, let's see what happens in the Stewards' Cup next month, assuming he shows up there, with last year's Derby winner Luger lying in wait. I went for Danon Platina (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn} at massive odds, who found as much traffic as our buses from Sha Tin back to Hong Kong Island.

Not sure what to make of the Cup. I said a few weeks ago that I could envision a Japanese quinella, but A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) wasn't one of those. Staphanos (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was and he was pretty much a no-show Sunday. Not sure why I didn't consider A Shin. I mean, he'd only won eight of 10 from the front, he was probably always going to be loose. Bygones. Nuovo Record (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) was the one I'd warmed up to over the course of the week and she certainly ran well. I was and remain a Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) fan and given the dynamics of the race, he performed admirably to be fourth. Given a less-than-ideal preparation, however, I could never have had him at under 2-1.

Some odds and ends from the day: Richard Gibson, who trained the aforementioned Doctor Dino to those back-to-back wins in the Vase, was either elated or really disappointed that Gold-Fun and Giant Treasure (Mizzen Mast) ran second in the Sprint and Mile, respectively. Both of those runners were imported to Hong Kong by Pan Sutong, the uber-successful businessman, whose Akeed Mofeed (GB) won the Cup a few years ago. Highland Reel made it a good day for Coolmore, and the stud's day was further enhanced by third-placings by sons of their Dylan Thomas, whose sire Danehill is nothing short of legendary in Hong Kong. Blazing Speed (GB) turned in a typically honest effort in the Cup and should be tough in races like the Hong Kong Gold Cup and Queen Elizabeth II S. going forward, while Not Listenin'tome (Aus) anchored the Hong Kong trifecta in the Sprint. He looks an interesting sort for the HK Speed Series in the New Year.

Speaking of 2016, let's take a quick peek ahead. Trainer John Size elected not to try to rush Luger (Aus) to make the Mile and instead is set to bring the 2015 Hong Kong Derby winner back in the Stewards' Cup in a mile division that it suddenly a bit more open than one would have thought. The turn of the calendar also means the 4-year-olds are the focus in the Classic Mile, Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby in January, February and March, respectively.

HKIR day showcases some of the horses that will go on to those races, such as Sun Jewellery (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), who defeated a group of older horses in the always-contentious 1400-meter Class 1 following the Cup Sunday afternoon. Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), already a Group 2 winner in New Zealand and Australia, Group 1-placed in Oz and one of the high-priced imports this year, belied odds of 16-1 to win over a mile Sunday and bears watching. Thewizardofoz (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) was perfect in three tries last year, but has been rolled at odds-on in each of his starts this season, including a first-up loss to the progressive Blizzard (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}), who also figures prominently in the 4YO series. Also keep an eye on Hero Look (Ire) (Lope de Vega), winner of this year's G3 Premio Parioli in Rome, who finished an eyecatching second ahead of Thewizardofoz on his local debut Nov. 29.

Tip of the cap to the HKJC's on-air talent of Mark Richards, newcomer John Blance, who's doing a fine job and paddock analyst Jen Chapman, who seems to always be on the mark. They put on an entertaining and informative show. Special thanks to Barry and Sue for allowing to make the trip and to cover the event as I like, and, as mentioned in my blog Saturday, thanks to Pat Cummings for making all this happen and to the Club for their hospitality. Having concluded my third trip, one thing has not changed and that is that we visitors are treated first class. It's always a pleasure to come back to Hong Kong and here's hoping I'll be back, perhaps as early as this time next year.

International week is a source of tremendous passion for me and I hope that came through in my various writings, of the serious and less-serious varieties. Happy holidays to all TDN readers and followers on social media. I truly appreciate you taking the time to read.