With Dubai done and dusted, there’s a mini interval on the international stage – well, except for the fledgling The Championships in Sydney – but soon after, the intermission will be over and Hong Kong’s spring features, the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup and the Champions Mile, will be upon us.
The field for the QE II Cup (April 26) will be announced next week, the Champions Mile (May 3) the week after. There’s just one problem – there’s not going to be too much “international” about the international features at this stage … if at all.
On Wednesday night, the trainer of a Group Three-winning galloper, rated just into triple figures, approached Jockey Club officials to ascertain whether his horse would get a run in the QE II Cup.
Somewhat reluctantly, they conceded the horse would “in all likelihood” get a spot in the field at this stage, with no international invitees accepting their spots as yet.
It’s not unheard of for lower-rated horses to get a run in the spring features – Derek Cruz had Wrath Of Fire (91) and Crackerjack (86) run off low marks when 10th and 14th behind Military Attack respectively in 2013 – but at least that year, there was international competition in the form of Japanese Derby winner Eishin Flash, Dubai Duty Free winner Sajjhaa, Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach and champion South African mare Igugu.
One gets the sense that the Jockey Club would love to have those types here this season, but it is looking increasingly unlikely. Nothing looks like continuing on from Dubai, quarantine rules out horses currently in Australia – at least out of the QE II Cup, unless they enter quarantine this weekend – and instead, the hope of the side becomes Japan. Or maybe the United States, with American galloper Finnegan’s Wake some hope to make the trip – and wouldn’t it be ironic if he performed well after Hong Kong almost upset the Americans at their own game, dirt sprints, in Dubai?
The question is, why is it becoming so hard to attract international horses to these features? It’s not like they are lacking for prizemoney – the QE II is worth HK$20 million, the Champions Mile HK$14 million.
Is it perhaps because Hong Kong’s horses are too strong on their home turf these days?
The December international meeting would suggest this is the case, this season saw three of the four internationals won by Hong Kong horses – and, for that matter, nine of the 12 placegetters were locals too.
Throw in top performances on the world stage and it suddenly doesn’t look as palatable an option as it once did.
There’s no doubt the Champions Mile will be impacted because of the presence of Able Friend. I mean, who would want to come and take on the imposing chestnut on his home turf? It looks a futile exercise.
Prominent owners, the Wertheimer brothers, admitted as much after their galloper Solow trounced his rivals in the Dubai Turf on Saturday night.
In a casual chat with Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges post-race, they dismissed thoughts of a potential Champions Mile campaign solely because Able Friend seemed an insurmountable barrier. A clash between the chestnut and the grey at Royal Ascot in the Queen Anne Stakes is not off the agenda, yet, but coming to Hong Kong where it is already advantage Able Friend was seen as a waste of time.
And it is hard to see many of the other overseas entries disagreeing with that point of view, even if it is a horse race and anything could happen. Who knows, Able Friend could be pulled out the week of the race and suddenly the race looks a lot softer.
But the QE II Cup, at first glance, appears a far more open affair – Designs On Rome is a terrific horse, but far from dominant; Military Attack has had myriad issues; Luger looks a potential superstar on his Derby win but still has to step up; and the rest, the likes of Blazing Speed, California Memory, Helene Super Star, Endowing, they are well exposed.
Maybe four-year-olds like Got Fly or Helene Happy Star could step up and feature, but it still looks a race in which an international visitor could be competitive.
There’s still time to change tack and point towards either race, but it’s looking increasingly dire for the Jockey Club. Let’s hope it happens, though, or the spring features will look like any normal domestic Group One in Hong Kong.
