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The Longines Hong Kong International Race Week is finally here, and stars from all over the world gather in this city.
Here’s some (educated?) speculation about what might be happening in Hong Kong’s biggest week of horse racing.
Moreira returns a winner
Joao Moreira’s imminent return has drawn a lot of attention, with the magician missing his flight in Brazil on Sunday night, adding another element of drama to the game.
Moreira has not ridden in Hong Kong since Sept. 21 because of a hip problem, and the Jockey Club made the law when he announced plans to ride farewell to the city on International Day, saying he must be in town by Tuesday for a medical.
However, with the Brazilian due to arrive in Hong Kong later on Tuesday, officials backed down and allowed Moreira to undergo a fitness test on Wednesday morning.
Moreira confirmed postal His mishap at the airport will not affect those plans, and he is expected to land Tuesday.
Now all that remains is to pass the medical – which Moreira is “very confident” he will do after playing two matches in Brazil at the weekend – and do what he does best at Sha Tin – win.
Moreira had flown the Japanese raiders Resistencia, Lei Papale and Glory Vase.
He’s chasing his third Hong Kong Vase win at the Glory Vase, and overseas fixed odds bookies list him as the favorite at $2.70.
After 1,234 Hong Kong winners, four jockey titles and seven International Day Group 1 victories, it seemed only fair that Magic would bid farewell to his Hong Kong fans with a win.
Japan is punters’ best friend again
Japan’s Raiders feasted on the past three International Days – returning to the Land of the Rising Sun with seven of the past 12 HKIR features – and it wasn’t always those with a name in the market that got chocolate.
Admire Mars wins the 2019 Hong Kong Mile for $27, Danon Smash wins the 2020 Hong Kong Sprint for $22, Normcore wins the 2020 Hong Kong Cup for $10, all 27 in the last three HKIR meetings The same wager on the Japanese runner resulted in almost tripling the punter’s money.
With 14 Japanese horses expected to line up at Sha Tin this weekend, it will be a surprise if they fail to secure some trophies for a fourth consecutive International Day.
Horses like Gendarme, Lei Papale and Geoglyph could start at attractive prices, another double digit Japanese winner wouldn’t be a shock, keep an eye out for less popular horses from the Land of the Rising Sun who might will help.
Hong Kong and Japan share the first group of spoils
While Japan are sure to be at the coal face on Sunday, it will take a huge effort from attackers elsewhere to taste first-group glory.
The only coach to break the Hong Kong-Japan tie since Flintshire won the 2014 Hong Kong Vase for France was Aidan O’Brien, thanks to Mogul’s 2020 Vase title and Highland Reel’s success in the 2015 and 2017 Vases.
Japan have tasted success 11 times in that time, Hong Kong 14, and it is O’Brien’s vase runners who have the best chance of grabbing some spoils for the Europeans this year.
The Stone Age has landed in the city in a similar figure to Mogul, the three-year-old horse entering the vase from behind the second during Keeneland’s November Group One Breeders’ Cup Turf (2,400 metres).
In overseas markets, he’s been voted the second-best vase behind Glory Vase, but whether he’s good enough to beat the Japanese star on his favorite track is another question entirely.
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