Deja Vu All Over Again

My first trip to the International meeting came a decade and a half ago. I was two years into my tenure at the TDN and our-then foreign editor, Howard Bass, got me interested. So, I booked a trip. On United, leaving on a Monday, connecting in Chicago, then on to Hong Kong. I have a tendency to make long stories longer, so I am going to spare you ALL the details, but a snowstorm that shut down O'Hare, in-flight turbulence on a rebooked flight from San Francisco that led to an overnight stay in Anchorage and a touchdown in Hong Kong about 72 hours late and scarcely 48 hours before the races, left a sour aftertaste. Sunline did make it worth the trip, though.

Fast forward 15 years. Same (but different) carrier. Monday morning. Change planes at ORD. A 5 a.m. check of the Weather Channel App carried the fog icon for Chi-town. Well, I wasn't flying until 10 a.m., scheduled to land 11:30-ish, surely it'll burn off by then, right? Um, no. Curses. Foiled again. O'Hare is fogged in to the ground. After about 90 minutes, we push back, Captain J.D. (I think) gets on the horn and says, “Good news is we're on the plane. Bad news is…” The computers were glitchy and this was going to set us back some more. Shortly before that, I got a text that the flight from ORD-HKG had been delayed until 3. I could breathe easier. Until I couldn't. I was facing a 29-minute window to make the flight, ASSUMING (you know what happens when one assumes), all went well from there. Long story longer, it was still pea soup and I think we saw terra firma at about 800 feet crossing over Interstate 294, but we made it, and, in the lone stroke of luck, that flight docked at C18 and my flight was next door at C20. So, here we are, having traversed about 1300 of the 8000 miles, on a crash course with Santa, until we curve gently to the west.

All kidding aside, ever since that first trip, Hong Kong has been 'my thing.' I can't devote the energy to follow every Class 5 and every griffin, but I can hold my own at the top. It's no easy task to leave home during the holiday season, but pretty much since Designs on Rome touched off Military Attack last year, I wanted to make it over for 2015. And I am truly thrilled and excited to be here.

While I am a giant fan of the locals, I also pay a fair bit of attention to the international scene during the course of the year. Anything from the Dubai Carnival to The Championships, from Royal Ascot to the Melbourne Spring Carnival, Breeders' Cup, you get the drift. Each one of those is fantastic on its own. I'd happily soak up any one of them. I saw a tweet Monday that went something like 'unless Silent Witness shows up, I couldn't care less about HKIR.' Keeping in mind that I am seriously biased, the Longines Hong Kong International Races, the turf world championships, trumps all. Here's why.

While the Dubai World Cup program and Royal Ascot do attract a reasonable amount of foreign representation (Hong Kong has done its part in that vein, as has Australia–Scenic Blast, Starspangledbanner, Black Caviar, Brazen Beau, Criterion, etc.), a total of 56 horses were extended HKIR invites. Fully 33 of those were from overseas (a number now diminished by the withdrawals of Erupt, Trip to Paris, Ito and Lovelyn). Thirty-three. To me, that is just phenomenal and makes the HKIR THE melting pot of the world's international meetings.

What is even more surprising or encouraging or interesting or all of the above, is that the connections of these horses are willing to try these races that have, by and large, been dominated by Hong Kong-based horses as far back as the eye can see. I'd obviously have to qualify that statement where it comes to the Vase, as the 'marathon' of the four races has been the domain of European invaders, bar the success of the locally trained Dominant two years ago. Even still, it is utterly fantastic that a world-class trainer like Chris Waller would send up Preferment to take a crack in a race that has never really attracted Australasian 'stayers.' I understand that horses like Dunaden and Red Cadeaux contested the Melbourne Cup, as have others. And, while not Australian or Australian-trained even, it is great to see Aidan O'Brien represented in the Vase by GI Secretariat S. winner and Cox Plate third Highland Reel. And what can you say about Cirrus des Aigles, making his seventh trip over for a sixth start in the same event where it all started at the tender age of three in 2009? In years past, a Ouija Board or a Flintshire would be difficult to oppose, but this year's Vase, for my money, is the most intriguing renewal for several years.

The locals have also maintained a stranglehold on the other three events, in broad terms. I am probably as psyched to see Able Friend in the flesh as any horse that will be entered to run this weekend and I really hope he's able to bounce back from a pretty luckless run in the G2 Jockey Club Mile. He's still more than likely to be odds-on come post time Sunday, but he will face a field much stronger than last year's. Japan's Maurice will have his fair share of backers, while the likes of Mondialiste, Esoterique and Toormore see fit to show up. I'll not be disappointed if the big chestnut prevails, but I'm taking a shot against him.

With reigning Sprint hero Aerovelocity sidelined, Gold-Fun looks the most dangerous in the Sprint and while horses like Peniaphobia will have a chance to keep that trophy in Hong Kong, Japan's Straight Girl, Ireland's Sole Power and even the rare American entrants Mongolian Saturday and Green Mask add some color to the race.

Designs on Rome has every right to improve on his first-up effort behind Military Attack and Blazing Speed in the G2 Jockey Club Cup, but neither will this title defense be easy. The aforementioned Criteron, Australia's 'Iron Horse' will try to improve on his longshot third from last December, while compatriot Lucia Valentina is also in town, neither without a chance. Royal Ascot form is represented by the talented Free Eagle, while the Japanese have a good record in the Cup, and Staphanos, second to Blazing Speed in the QE II Cup and pointed for this since that effort last April, looks a sneaky contender, with Tenno Sho form that has proved strong.

So, sure, the trip was off to a rocky start. Hell, I had to deal with no Internet access on this long-haul segment of the journey (kinda wish someone had said something BEFORE we left so the people I promised I'd be in contact with–sorry, kids–could have been forewarned). But beginning with tonight's IJC at iconic Happy Valley and concluding with the races at the weekend, I really and truly could not be more juiced.

Click Here for a free daily subscription to TDN.