Smiles all round after first billion-dollar haul of season

The champagne glasses were clinking in the officials' bar at Sha Tin last night as the first $1 billion turnover of the new season was celebrated. The exact figure was $1,018,216,609 and there were 30,192 racegoers on course to help boost the tally with another 7,822 doing their bit from Happy Valley.

There is normally little unusual about billion-dollar turnovers in Hong Kong but to come so early in the season is a slight surprise. 'I think that is why we should have a small celebration. There is a very good feeling about this just now,' said director of racing Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. Last season it was not until the end of September that the magic billion-dollar mark was reached.

There is little doubt some keen racing has contributed to the interest and it is good to know that, with the quality or horses here already and those coming in, it should only get better.

'We are very confident about this. Good, clean racing with exciting finishes, good jockeys and trainers will also translate ultimately into good turnover,' said Engelbrecht-Bresges.

What has become noticeable in these early season meetings is that despite the obvious difference in fitness of some horses, there has been a much greater number of tight finishes.

It can scarcely be coincidental that this has happened under the new regime of former Irish Turf Club senior handicapper Ciaran Kennelly. There is still tinkering with the rating bands system so that, where possible, there will be full fields of 14, but there can be few who doubt the decision to switch to ratings racing has been a success.

Mick Kinane is leading the Emirates World Jockeys' Series by 12 points after his success in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last Saturday. He won on the brilliant Giant's Causeway and now has Montjeu to look forward to in the Arc.