Renowned in Hong Kong racing for horses named with the prefix “En”, Ada Wong, owner of Ensued, who runs in this year’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), says her family are always keen on sourcing better quality horses, and that Ensued is one of their success stories.
A five-year-old import, Ensued will make his second appearance in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase. Last year, the horse finished fourth behind Giavellotto from gate eight, while this year he will step away from draw seven.
By Scott Burton
The HK$26 million LONGINES Hong Kong Vase is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Group 1s over 2400m of the year internationally, with three pounds covering the top five runners on official ratings.
Connections of most of the main contenders will have been satisfied after Thursday’s (11 December) barrier draw, though Los Angeles and Ryan Moore must navigate a passage from stall 10 in the first of four top-level contests at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on Sunday afternoon (14 December) at Sha Tin.
By Daryl Timms
Ka Ying Rising has been thrust into unknown territory after drawing barrier one for the first time in his career as he attempts to defend his HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) title at Sha Tin on Sunday (14 December).
Conceding it was not ideal to draw the inside barrier in the 13-horse field, trainer David Hayes said the world’s highest-rated sprinter simply had to jump fast and either take a sit or lead if Zac Purton is unhappy with the pace.
By Maddy Playle and Jim McGrath
Breakthrough Group 1 success is in the sights of My Wish as last year’s Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) hero bids to step up to the elite level in the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on Sunday (14 December).
The standout talent from last year’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which included two agonising defeats in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), My Wish proved he had claims for being Hong Kong’s next star miler with a promising fourth in the G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) in April.
By Tom Peacock
Ryan Moore delivered a timely reminder of his world-leading status with a supreme performance to land a third LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) in a thrilling contest which remained wide open right up to its conclusion at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (10 December).
With four riders tied in the lead heading into the last of the four rounds with 12 points under a scoring format of 12 points for a win, six points for second and four points for third, it was just the kind of competitive event the evening was designed for.
Venezuela will pay tribute to four of its most accomplished jockeys – Junior Alvarado, Javier Castellano, Ramón Domínguez, and Emisael Jaramillo – during a special ceremony Sunday at La Rinconada Racetrack, located in the southern part of the capital of Caracas.
By Tom Peacock
Hiroyuki Uemura is relishing the chance to pit Bellagio Opera against the mighty Romantic Warrior in the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (14 December).
The back-to-back winner of the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) is considered to be the most likely candidate to prevent Danny Shum’s champion from landing the race for an unprecedented fourth time in a row.
By Maddy Playle
Do not underestimate the three-year-old filly Embroidery in Sunday’s (14 December) G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) was the message from Christophe Lemaire on Tuesday (9 December).
The top rider will hunt for a second victory at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races this weekend, having partnered Pride to success in the 2006 G1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m), and he retains the utmost belief in his mount for the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.
By Daryl Timms
Even a supreme optimist would quickly turn into a pessimist if they attempted to offer a calculated argument why any of Ka Ying Rising’s 11 opponents in Sunday’s (14 December) HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) could defeat the world’s highest-rated sprinter.
The market will again offer almost unbackable odds for the David Hayes-trained gelding to claim his 16th consecutive victory.
“It’s quite amazing to think he’ll be in a Group 1 with very good horses and the second favourite will be 20/1,” Hayes said. “You just don’t see that.
