Danon Smash followed in the footsteps of his sire Lord Kanaloa with a thrilling victory for Japan in the 2020 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), their third in the HK$22 million contest’s 21-year history.
They came, they saw, they tried to blunt his dash, but they failed to conquer Golden Sixty: Hong Kong’s burgeoning hometown hero dismantled his international rivals in the HK$25 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin with an exquisite performance.
Zac Purton has crowned a week of stellar milestones by becoming the first rider in history to partner nine LONGINES Hong Kong International Races winners after Japanese mare Normcore upstaged Win Bright and Magical in the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges saluted Hong Kong's “unique spirit and resilience” after a successful staging of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races featuring G1 glory across four world-class features shared between Japan, Ireland and Hong Kong at Sha Tin today (Sunday 13 December).
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at Happy Valley.
Hong Kong Selections for Saturday, December 12, 2020 at Sha Tin.
On addition to her looks, the race record of the Japanese 2-year-old filly Sodashi merits attention. A rare white Thoroughbred, Sodashi is unbeaten in three starts, including two Grade 3 races in September and October. Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse, Sodashi will be favored to win her Grade 1 debut in the $1.2 million Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at a mile on turf.
Forgotten Jewel was undefeated in three starts from February to July, racing at tracks in Western Australia. How that form translates to tougher races in tracks around Melbourne in the state of Victoria will be better known on Sunday when Forgotten Jewel starts in a seven-furlong handicap at Bendigo Racecourse.
Criaderas ran largely to bettors’ expectations with an eight-place finish in the $5.26 million Golden Eagle Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 4-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Australia on Oct. 31. Criaderas had his stakes debut in the Golden Eagle and can win his first race at that level in Saturday’s Group 2 Villiers Stakes at a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
Win Bright is zero for his last four in Japan, his home base, finishing seventh, eighth, ninth, and 10th in those starts, but when Win Bright has left Japan for Hong Kong, he has been awesome.
