Hong Kong: Sun Jewellery Handicap tops second-to-last day of season

There are two days of races remaining in Hong Kong’s 2017-18 season, beginning with Wednesday’s eight-race program at Happy Valley Racecourse. The season ends on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse. The 2018-19 season begins in early September.

Wednesday’s leading race is the $237,003 Sun Jewellery Handicap at six furlongs on turf, which will have 12 starters.

Archippus, who was eighth in a similar race on June 13, is the 133-pound highweight, but much of the focus will be on Fortune Booth (121 pounds) and Solomon’s Bay (115). Fortune Booth will be ridden by Zac Purton, who goes into Wednesday’s program with a three-race lead in the jockey standings over Joao Moreira, who rides Solomon’s Bay.

Fortune Booth was beaten a nose in a six-furlong handicap at Happy Valley in May.

Solomon’s Bay was a troubled fourth in a handicap at Happy Valley on June 13 in his second start in Hong Kong. This will be the first time Moreira will ride Solomon’s Bay.

Moreira has won the last three riding titles in Hong Kong. This will be his last day of racing at Happy Valley for the foreseeable future. He will begin riding in Japan later this year on a full-time basis.

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Purse increases for next season

Purses in Hong Kong will rise by approximately 5 percent for overnight races in the 2018-19 season, and have been increased 8 to 12 percent for the four international Group 1 turf races at Sha Tin Racecourse in December, the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced last week.

The Group 1 Hong Kong Cup will be worth approximately $3.56 million compared to $3.19 million last December, while the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile has been increased from $2.93 million to $3.18 million.

The Hong Kong Sprint has a purse of $2.54 million from $2.35 million last year. The Hong Kong Vase has been increased to $2.54 million from $2.29 million.

Overall, there will be a record purse distribution of $155.45 million for the 88 days of racing between Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses. Overnight handicaps, a staple in Hong Kong races, will range in value from $87,921 to $334,484.

Group 3 stakes have been increased 8 percent, to $414,123, while Group 2 stakes will be 6 percent higher, to $541,546.