HKIR Attracts Worldwide Entry
Updated: October 28, 2015 at 8:17 pm
By Alan Carasso
A total of 209 entries from 11 different countries or jurisdictions have been received for the four Group 1 events that comprise the Longines Hong Kong International Races to be staged at Sha Tin Racecourse Sunday, Dec. 13. A total of HK$83 million (US$10.7 million) is on offer. Of the entries, 152 are horses trained overseas and 57 from Hong Kong, with fully 77 of the nominees International Grade I/Group 1 winners.
“With 77 individual Group 1/Grade I winners nominated for this year’s Longines Hong Kong International Races, we have a real depth of quality that befits this world showcase occasion,” said Bill Nader, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director of Racing. “Hong Kong racing’s poster event is firmly established as a year-end destination for the world’s leading horses and horsemen, and the class of these initial entries emphasizes that fact. We are delighted to have matched the same overall number of nominations as at this stage last year, but the most important thing is the quality of those nominees and we certainly have an abundance.”
Three of the four winners from the 2014 meeting are back looking to pad their resumes. The day’s richest event is the HK$25 million (US$3.2 million) Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m), whose Hong Kong-based defending champion Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) faces a potentially stiff challenge in his title defense. Sir Owen Glenn’s Criterion (NZ) (Sebring {Aus}), an excellent third last year, could make a return trip to Hong Kong pending the outcome of next Tuesday’s G1 Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington and is one of 14 from Australia entered for the race. Cannock Chase (Lemon Drop Kid), recent winner of the GI Canadian International S. at Woodbine, was given entries in the Cup and in the HK$16.5-million (US$2.1-million) Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m), as has Secret Gesture (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the disqualified winner of the GI Beverly D. S. The Cup has been mooted as a possibly year-end and career-ending target for Ireland’s Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), while his compatriot, GI Secretariat S. hero and G1 Cox Plate third Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), could take in the race. Both horses are also engaged in the Vase.
Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) took a pass on this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup meeting in favor of a start in the G1 Japan Cup at the end of November, but connections could very well press on to Sha Tin to bid for a repeat in the Vase. Things come full circle for the popular French galloper Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}), who returns to Hong Kong for the seventh time in his career and is set to contest the Vase for the first time since finishing fifth, beaten just over a length, in his first visit in 2009. Another intriguing entrant from France is the Francis Graffard-trained Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), this year’s G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner who was most recently a good fifth in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Erupt is cross-entered for the Cup and Vase. Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), owned by former HKJC Chief Executive Ron Arculli, could have the final start of his brilliant career in the Vase, a race he won back in 2012. Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}), recent winner of the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) is one of a record 50 HKIR entries from Japan, as is the horse he beat last weekend, Real Steel (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Both are also entered for the Cup, as is the talented New Zealand-bred Volkstok’nbarrell (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). His compatriot, recent G1 Caulfield Cup hero Mongolian Khan (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), holds an entry for the Vase.
The Land of the Rising Sun is also likely to be represented in the HK$18.5-million (US$2.4 million) Longines Hong Kong Sprint by Straight Girl (Jpn) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}), a race in which she finished a length behind Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in third in 2014. The latter returned to action with a disappointing last-place effort in the Premier Bowl H. Oct. 25 following which it was reported that he had bled and suffered a heart irregularity. Though his name appeared on the list of nominees, South China Morning Post reported in their Thursday edition that he would not defend his title.
The Australian entry for the Sprint is short on numbers, but high on quality. Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) is in flying form at present and recently defeated Srikandi (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Manikato S. at Moonee Valley Oct. 23. Terravista (Aus) (Captain Rio {GB}) got the better of Chautauqua in last year’s G1 Darley Classic and those two could square off in that same event in 10 days’ time.
The local Sprint waters run deeper than Aerovelocity. Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) is likely to return to try to improve on his runner-up effort from 2014, while Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}) is a probable starter in the 1200-meter heat after running second in the last two editions of the Mile.
Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) is the world’s top-rated horse over 1600 meters and the defending champion in the HK$23-million (US$3 million) Longines Hong Kong Mile and he should prove a handful for anyone who elects to take him on. The strapping chestnut overcame a high draw and 133 pounds to best Gold-Fun in the Premier Bowl last weekend. But the overseas entry is exceptionally classy, as GI Breeders’ Cup Mile entrants Esoterique (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Make Believe (GB) (Makfi {GB}) and Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are all potential participants. Qatar Racing have entered their G1 Sussex S. runner-up Arod (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), while Godolphin has engaged the talented Toormore (Ire) (Arakan).
A reasonably strong draft of 14 horses was entered from the United States. Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Big Blue Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) was entered for both the Cup and Vase, while Bobby’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) was nominated to the Sprint. Undrafted (Purim) was given an entry in the Sprint and the Mile, but while he is rumored to be an unlikely visitor, the Wesley Ward stable could be represented in the Sprint by Green Mask (Mizzen Mast). Trainer Chad Brown has given Slumber (GB) (Dansili {GB}) options in the Cup and Vase, while Graham Motion has done the same for Photo Call (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Twilight Eclipse (Purim) was entered for the Vase by trainer Tom Albertrani, while top 3-year-old turf horse Om (Munnings) was nominated to the Mile by trainer Dan Hendricks.