With the National Hunt season now dominant at home, aficionados of high-class Flat racing get their final fix for the year when Sha Tin racecourse stages the Longines Hong Kong International Races on Sunday.
Although the races themselves take place early in the morning for UK viewers, the way these particular contests pan out make them well worth setting the alarm clock for.
By its very nature racing in the Far East tends to produce closer finishes than in Europe, fast ground and rapid acceleration being the nature of racing there. What these races may have lacked in the past is just a little bit of class compared to the best Group 1s in Europe, but that gap is being bridged every year and the 2015 renewal of the meeting is as good - if not better - than has ever been staged. With a typically strong European challenge, we look set for a fantastic feast of racing.
Hong Kong Vase
Last year’s winner, the admirable Flintshire, is back to defend his title and is the horse to beat on Timeform ratings by a clear margin. Having finished runner-up in the Arc for a second-successive year, Flintshire’s preparation has been almost identical and he has a very solid look. There is a temptation to crab him for a relatively moderate win record, though he normally contests the very best races so it wouldn’t be too wise to hold that against him here, where he has the field held on form.
With a solid European contingent joining Flintshire, and the very smart Australian-trained Preferment, the locals look to have it all to do to keep this prize at home. Ming Dynasty, Cannock Chase, Dariyan and Highland Reel all have the ability to take a race of this nature and it would be no surprise were the visitors to dominate the finish.
Selection: Flintshire
Hong Kong Sprint
This is going to be fast and furious, with 14 runners powering around the right-handed turn bound to make for a superb spectacle. Gold-Fun is the clear standard-setter, his win last time being one of the best sprinting performances of 2015. With a perfect draw, the race looks tailor-made for him.
Peniaphobia could well emerge as the main danger, though on the face of it his draw in the widest stall appears to be a real negative. However, it could wind up working to his advantage as more patient tactics might help him here, going off too hard part of the reason he couldn’t give Gold-Fun more to think about last time. Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Mongolian Saturday is another to consider, but this is all about Gold-Fun if he turns up in his best form
Selection: Gold-Fun
Hong Kong Mile
There’s not much more that can be said about Able Friend, who has dominated the Hong Kong scene over the last few years with a come-from-behind style that is simply thrilling to watch. While written off in some quarters following a below-par effort last time, that race didn’t really pan out for him and it is worth remembering that he had returned as good as ever over an inadequate trip the time before. Quite simply, quotes of odds-against are probably too big and it would be a major surprise were he not to win.
If she can rebound from a poor effort last time, Esoterique may well emerge as the main danger to Able Friend. This tall filly has plenty of ability and the sex allowance she receives brings her to within striking distance of the favourite. Beauty Flame, Maurice and Mondialiste are all worthy of consideration, the imposing Maurice in particular being one that fills the eye.
Selection: Able Friend
Hong Kong Cup
Fast ground, 10 furlongs and a reasonable draw in stall 9: everything looks in place for Free Eagle to take the Cup back to Ireland for the second time and give Dermot Weld, so often a trailblazer in winning the biggest prizes abroad, just his second win in a major race here 24 years after Additional Risk won the Mile. Free Eagle has long since promised to put up a top-class effort, but he won’t actually need to do that to take this. A repeat of his high-class European form would be more than enough, and he rates as the best bet on the card.
Last year’s winner Designs On Rome had a prep run when finishing sixth over a mile last time and is likely to be a much different proposition with that under his belt, while Criterion is respected but may be at his very best on softer ground. Blazing Speed and Military Attack also enter the equation, but it is quite rare for a European with the credentials of Free Eagle to target this race and he is therefore fancied to land the day’s biggest prize.
Selection: Free Eagle
