Loves Only You among big names in Hong Kong International Races
Loves Only You, who won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, tops a list of 21 international shippers among the horses selected to compete in the Hong Kong International Races on Dec. 14 at Sha Tin Racecourse.
As of Nov. 24, the Hong Kong Jockey Club listed 48 selected runners for the four Group 1 races on the HKIR program. The roster of prospective starters reflects horses the HKJC expects to be among the entries taken the week of the races, so few defections should be expected.
Easily the best Hong Kong-based horse among the selected runners, and the sure favorite for the $3.35 million Hong Kong Mile is Golden Sixty, who ran his winning streak to 14 with an electrifying victory last weekend in the Jockey Club Mile, his first race since July and his lone prep for the HK Mile, a race Golden Sixty won a year ago.
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Golden Sixty is one of 13 selected runners for the HK Mile, which is expected to include 3-year-old filly Mother Earth, one of five Aidan O’Brien-trained horses on the HKJC list. Also in the Mile is Indy Champ, fourth this past weekend in the Group 1 Championship Mile and, along with Loves Only You, one of 12 Japan-based horses selected to start in HKIR races. Danon Kingly, Salios, and Vin de Garde are the other Japanese horses in the mild, and Vin de Garde, unplaced in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, is flying along with Loves Only You from California straight to Hong Kong.
Loves Only You is one of 13 horses selected for the program’s richest race, the $3.86 million Hong Kong Cup. The international horses should dominate this 2,000-meter race, and the other overseas hopefuls are Hishi Igazu and another talented Japanese female in Lei Papale; Dubai Honour, a live chance based in England with trainer William Haggas; and three Ireland-based horses, Japan and Bolshoi Ballet for O’Brien and the Group 1-winning 3-year-old, Mac Swiney, trained by Jim Bolger. All in all, this looks like a very strong renewal of the Cup.
The strength of the 2,400-meter, $2.57 million Hong Kong Vase also comes from outside Hong Kong, with England-based Pyledriver the top-rated horse among the selected runners. Broome, a surprised third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, and Mogul, are the two O’Brien-trained probables, while Glory Vase and Stay Foolish come from Japan, Ebaiyra from France.
The $3.08 million HK Sprint over 1,200 meters looks moderate at best this year, with three Japanese horses expected to face 10 Hong Kong sprinters.
Sha Tin: Chevalier Handicap
Excellent Proposal and Lucky Express, two of the horses selected for the Hong Kong Mile, are among a dozen entrants in the featured Chevalier Handicap on Sunday at Sha Tin.
One of three entrants, along with Silver Express, for trainer John Size, Excellent Proposal will break from post 2 under Joao Moreira, Lucky Express from post 7 under Zac Purton in this 1,600-meter Class 1 handicap for horses rated 110-85.
Size ran one-two in the featured eighth race at Happy Valley this past Wednesday night with Scores of Fun under Purton and Drops of God under Moreira.
Excellent Proposal rated among the top tier of Hong Kong 4-year-olds during the 2020-21 racing season and finished a closing fifth going 1,400 meters in a Nov. 13 Class 1, his first start since March. Lucky Express, also 4, got the jump on his stablemate and won that Nov. 13 race, though it’s Excellent Proposal who stands the better chance of coming forward Sunday.
The feature goes as race 7.
There’s another horse worth monitoring Sunday, lightly raced 5-year-old My Sugar in the 10th race. This is a Class 2 handicap over 1,400 meters, which has proven My Sugar’s sweet spot. After he began racing in cheek pieces last season, My Sugar won two of his final three starts, and he’s begun his current campaign with wide-margin victories in Sha Tin Class 3 handicaps.
First post for the card, which includes a Japan Cup simulcast, is 11:45 p.m. Eastern on Saturday night. Catch all the action at DRFBets.com.