Many people around the world will tune in to Sha Tin on Sunday just to watch the four international races, but the six races made up of local horses are not only just as intriguing – they are a good pointer to the future.
The undercard is as good a guide as there is to Hong Kong’s future prospects at its biggest meeting, a fact that has been proven time and time again.
Last year, two of this Sunday’s favourites – Able Friend (Mile) and Aerovelocity (Sprint) – were winners on the undercard. Aerovelocity was heavily backed to win a Class Three over 1,200m, just nosing out evens chance Silly Buddies, while Able Friend never looked in doubt, cruising to the line to win the Class Two over 1,600m a start before winning the Classic Mile and beginning his path to the top of the horse ranks in Hong Kong.
Sprint contender Flagship Shine also won on the card, taking out the Class One over 1,400m, while another winner was Tony Millard’s Super Jockey, who only just missed out on making the Sprint field.
A year earlier, Frederick Engels beat Rich Tapestry in the Class Two over 1,200m, with both returning to run third and sixth respectively in the 2013 Hong Kong Sprint.
Why is it such a good guide? Not only is it a card restricted to better horses, purely because they have banished Class Four and Class Five races, but in a society where the concept of “face” and pride is critical, every owner wants to be seen to win on international day. They may not be winning an international race, but they have won on the most prestigious day in Hong Kong, a day when international racing fans see them as a prominent owner.
It is why trainer David Hayes referred to it as “show-off day” during his stint in Hong Kong.
In fact, Hayes is responsible for one of the more notable “show-offs” when he produced debutant All Thrills Too to win the Class Three over 1,200m in 2000 after more than halving in price. A year later, he ran a terrific third to Falvelon in the Hong Kong Sprint before taking out the race in his own right in 2002.
This year, the strength of the undercard is solid, with the Class Three 1,400m and the Class Two 1,600m in particular looking strong.
Here are four horses to keep an eye on for next year, all running on Sunday’s undercard.
Wonderful Moments
Trainer: John Size
Likely race: Mile
John Size took this five-year-old from a rating of 71 to 101 at the final three of six runs in his first preparation last season. He won the last race of last season in a blanket finish, holding out Rewarding Hero and Travel Brother in the Sha Tin Mile Trophy. He steps out for the first time this season in the first race on Sunday, the 1,400m Class One, and meets only five rivals. This time next year, expect to see him take the spot of Glorious Days as Size’s Mile representative.
Teofilo Calva
Trainer: John Size
Likely race: Sprint
Size may also find himself represented in the Sprint by Teofilo Calva, who has been a classic example of patience as his runs need to be spaced. There was some talk that he’d try to sneak into this year’s Hong Kong Sprint field by winning a Class Two race on November 23, but he was beaten by a short-head and aspirations for this year’s feature faded. He will likely step up to Group company later this season with an eye to next year’s internationals.
Packing Pins
Trainer: Ricky Yiu Poon-fai
Likely race: Mile/Cup
A veteran of only two starts but he has already been touted as Group One material by good judges. He ran time and spaced a fairly good Class Four field on debut, and while he was beaten a nose by Strathmore at his second start, he was slow to jump and found himself further back than anticipated. He charged to the line and his effort to finish as close as he did was exceptional. He steps up to 1,400m for the Class Three ninth race, which looks one of the highlights of the day as he takes on a promising horse in Star Track as well as Pan Sutong’s Derby-bound debutant Giant Treasure.
Beauty Only
Trainer: Tony Cruz
Likely race: Cup/Vase
Formerly known as Gentleman Only when trained by Stefano Botti in Italy, he is two-from-two in Hong Kong and he is slowly building towards March’s Hong Kong Derby. He has his third straight run at a mile in the Class Two 1,600m to end the programme, and already looks in need of further. It wouldn’t surprise to see him lead the Hong Kong charge towards the Vase next year.
