Hong Kong Festival

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Those that feel this is the true international championships rather than the Breeders Cup have plenty to support their theory based on this years likely renewal...

**Hong Kong Vase
6-4 Dylan Thomas, 7-2 Quijano, 9-2 Red Rocks, 6-1 Doctor Dino, 9-1 Vital King, 16-1 Sky Conqueror, Bussoni, Macleya, 20-1 Syllabus, Viva Macau, 25-1 Egerton, 50-1 Arch Rebel, 66-1 Sculptor, 100-1 Ever Bright

**Hong Kong Sprint
6-4 Sacred Kingdom, 2-1 Miss Andretti, 8-1 Absolute Champion, Benbaun, 12-1 Why Be, 14-1 Marchand D'Or, 16-1 Sunny Sing, 20-1 Scintillation, 25-1 Desert Lord, 33-1 Galeota, Royal Delight, 50-1 Sunny Power, 66-1 Tiza,

**Hong Kong Cup
6-5 Viva Pataca, 2-1 Ramonti, 9-2 Vengeance Of Rain, 10-1 Shadow Gate, 16-1 Pressing, Bullish Luck, 25-1 Art Trader, 40-1 Musical Way, 50-1 Royal Prince

**Hong Kong Mile
7-2 Excellent Art, Darjina, 9-2 Kongo Rikishio, 8-1 Creachadoir, 12-1 Able One, Floral Pegasus, Good Ba Ba, 14-1 Spirito Del Vento, The Duke, 16-1 Al Qasi, Joyful Winner, Kildonan, 20-1 Down Town, 66-1 Egyptian Ra,
 
Preview from Hong Kong site

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races 2007 will welcome several of the greatest names in world racing to Sha Tin on Sunday, 9 December.

Four Gr.1 races, worth a collective HK$62m (approx.US$8m) in stakes, have lured 28 international runners to join 22 from Hong Kong. Overall, there are 21 individual Gr.1 winners from 12 racing jurisdictions.

"We can hardly wait for the most prestigious day in Hong Kong sport. We believe our aim to host the Turf World Championships is borne out by the quality of the selections announced," said Mr William A Nader, Executive Director, Racing, of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

"We are thrilled that Europe's Horse of the Year, six-time Gr.1 winner Dylan Thomas could possibly make the final appearance of his brilliant career in Hong Kong by going head-to head in the Vase against last year's Breeders' Cup Turf hero, Red Rocks. Dylan Thomas would be the highest-rated horse ever to race in Hong Kong from an international rating of 128."

"In the Cup we can look forward to another Classic renewal with our local champions Vengeance Of Rain and Viva Pataca meeting Ramonti, a triple Gr.1 winner in Europe this year," he added.

"The Mile is equally exciting as both Darjina, the highest-rated female in the world, and Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Excellent Art face strong opposition from local stars that include Good Ba Ba and Floral Pegasus.

"And to cap it all, a world crown is on the line in the Sprint. We have lured the brilliant Australian mare Miss Andretti to tackle Sacred Kingdom, quite possibly Hong Kong's next international superstar, and the defending titleholder, Absolute Champion. Europe's leading sprinters Benbaun and Marchand D'Or will also be present.

"These fields underline the championship status of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races and the countdown has begun to one of racing's truly great occasions on Sunday, 9 December," Mr Nader concluded.



CathayPacific Hong Kong Vase

Gr.1 - 2400m - HK$14m - (US$1.8m)

British and French-trained contestants have won this title in 11 of its 13 editions and the challenge from Europe is stronger than ever with Dylan Thomas from Ireland joined by Gr.1 winners from Britain, France and Germany.

Selections

Dylan Thomas - The highest-rated horse ever to race in Hong Kong with Gr.1 triumphs including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, two Irish Champion Stakes and the Irish Derby.
Quijano - Joint-highest rated horse in Germany and successful in his homeland's most prestigious race, the Grosser Preis von Baden, in September.
Red Rocks - British-trained Breeders' Cup Turf hero and Classic placed in 2006; third in his repeat Breeders' Cup bid last month.
Doctor Dino - Globetrotting winner of the Man O' War Stakes at Belmont Park. Has also placed at the elite level in Singapore, Britain and France.
Sky Conqueror - Trained in Canada and first past the post in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Gr.1) at Churchill Downs.
Bussoni- Gr.2 Bosphorus Cup triumph in Turkey added to Gr.2 and Gr.3 European wins this term.
Egerton- Triple Group race winner in Germany and former runner-up in the Grosser Preis von Baden.
Vital King - Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby champion last season and finished strongly for 4th in the CX International Cup Trial recently.
Arch Rebel - Best achievement when coming within a nose of victory in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (Gr.2) last month.
Syllabus - Close 4th to Vengeance Of Rain and Viva Pataca in the Hong Kong Gold Cup last season.
Viva Macau - Gr.1 placed in France and 3rd in the Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup in June.
Sculptor - New Zealander successful in the Saab Quality at the Melbourne Spring Carnival
Ever Bright - One of Hong Kong's up-and-coming stayers and winner of the Gr.3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup in May.
Macleya- Dual Group winner in France in 2007 and short-head second in the Gr.1 Prix Royal Oak last start.


The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint

Gr.1 - 1200m - HK$12m - (US$1.6m)

Hong Kong horses are unbeaten in the sprint since 2002 with four of five quinellas going to locally trained horses. The home defence is formidable, as is the challenge from abroad led by sensational Australian mare, Miss Andretti.

Selections

Absolute Champion - World's top-ranked sprinter for 2006 after winning this race by a record margin of over four lengths.
Benbaun - The first overseas horse home in the Sprint for the past two years; 3rd in 2006 and he landed a first Gr.1 win in Prix de l'Abbaye last month.
Sacred Kingdom - Simply awesome in his rout of Hong Kong's finest in the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial last weekend in track record time.
MarchandD'Or - Twice victorious in Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest also twice placed in Gr.1s on his last two starts.
Scintillation - One of the best sprinter-milers in Hong Kong of recent seasons and triple domestic Gr.1 winner.
Tiza- Formerly triumphant in a South African Gr.2 and twice a winner in French Gr.3 sprints in 2007.
Desert Lord - First past the post in last year's edition of the Gr.1 Prix de l'Abbaye and runner-up in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr.1) this term.
Why Be - Clearly the highest-rated horse in Singapore and winner of the Lion City Cup (SingGr.1-1200m) and a phenomenal 20 races overall at home.
Galeota- In form British sprinter, Gr.1 runner-up to Cape Of Good Hope at Royal Ascot (at York) two years ago, and a Listed winner on his last start.
Royal Delight - Bypassed the Sprint Trial to remain fresh for the big one having won the HKGr.3 Premier Bowl in then track record time.
Sunny Sing - HKGr.1 winner over a mile in 2006 but also successful in Hong Kong sprints at Pattern level.
Sunny Power - Yet to finish out of the quinella in six 1200m starts and runner-up to Royal Delight in the Premier Bowl.
Miss Andretti - Five-time Gr.1 winner and one of the best Australian sprinters of the decade. Clear leader of the Global Sprint Challenge.


The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile

Gr.1 - 1600m - HK$16m - (US$2.1m)

Asia's premier turf mile has produced an even spread of Asian winners since 2001. However, the European challenge for this year's Mile is perhaps the strongest ever.

Selections

Kongo Rikishio - Runner-up in the Yasuda Kinen after he set a track record in the Yomiuri Milers' Cup (Gr.2).
SpiritoDel Vento - A triple Group race winner in France who was very impressive when taking the Gr.2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at the Arc meeting.
The Duke - Curtain call for last year's hero of this race, also 2nd and 3rd in previous years. To retire after a remarkable fourth consecutive Mile assault.
Able One - Mastered several high profile rivals when an all-the-way victor of the Champions Mile.
Al Qasi - Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam returns to his former base with this Gr.3 winner and Gr.2 runner-up in his most recent appearance.
Floral Pegasus - HKGr.1 winning miler who came within a nose of winning the MBHK Derby in March; very encouraging runner-up in the Mile Trial.
Good Ba Ba - Captured the Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial at the weekend and connections feel he can peak on 9 December.
Joyful Winner - Dual HKGr.1 winner and 2nd and 3rd in the last two editions of the Champions Mile.
Kildonan - Multiple Gr.1 champion in South Africa for international trainer Mike de Kock.
Down Town - In the form of his life, he lowered a mile track record dating back to 1983 when taking out the Sha Tin Trophy last start.
Egyptian Ra - HKGr.3 winning frontrunner last season and competitive in the best local races of late.
Excellent Art - Leading 3yo male miler in Europe; St James's Palace Stakes winner and three times runner-up since, including the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Creachadoir- Runner-up in the Irish and French 2000 Guineas in May and subsequently purchased by Godolphin.
Darjina - The world's highest-rated female thoroughbred after her defeat of Ramonti, George Washington et al in the Prix du Moulin, her third Gr.1 mile triumph in 2007.


The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup

Gr.1 - 2000m - HK$20m - (US$2.6m)

The world's richest race on turf over 2000m features former winner Vengeance Of Rain facing his old foe Viva Pataca and Ramonti, triple Gr.1 winner for Godolphin this year.

Selections

Ramonti - Triple Gr.1 winner in Europe since finishing third in the Mile at this meeting in 2006. Now steps-up in trip for another testing mission in HK.
Vengeance Of Rain - Horse of the Year, six-time Gr.1 champion, including the CX Hong Kong Cup, Audemars Piguet QEII Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic placing him in the top-ten of all-time international stakes earners.
Viva Pataca - Four Gr.1 titles, including a commanding victory in the 2007 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup from top international rivals. Rounded off preparation by dominating the Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial.
Pressing - Career highlight arrived with a comfortable victory of the Gr.1 Premio Roma earlier this month.
Shadow Gate - Defied a very wide trip to prevail in the Gr.1 SIA Cup at Kranji in May.
Bullish Luck - Evergreen former Horse of the Year and twice HK's Champion Miler; he finished an unlucky-in-running 2nd in this race in 2004.
Art Trader - Worthy finish in 3rd to Viva Pataca in the Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial following 5th in this race last year.
Royal Prince - 4th in the Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial and further improvement expected.
Musical Way - Hat trick of stakes race glory in Europe this autumn, principally the Prix Dollar (Gr.2) at Longchamp.
Declarations for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races 2007 are on Thursday, 6 December, the same day as the barrier draw in the Sha Tin parade ring.
 
Creachadoir could do very well in the mile...right type of race for him. Just a question of weither he is a true Group1 horse.
 
I think most will agree this is a far superior race meeting than what the Breeders Cup has to offer.

Especially after this year at Monmouth. I have heard on the grapevine (might not be true though) that Aidan O'Brien is more interested on focussing on Australia next year. So I wouldn't be surprised if he put the Turf candidates on the plane to Australia for the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate.

I was in Hong Kong exactly one month ago, and can tell you a day at a meeting in that country leaves you in awe. I went to the Happy Valley meeting on a Wednesday night, where the first race starts around 7:30pm-8:00pm. With over 50,000 people in attendance, a seat in the member's stand, 4 course meal, endless supply of alcohol and refreshments, and the RHKJC betting computers next to one's table, it was nothing but HEAVEN!

Not bad for $40 a head.

I am looking forward to all the races. Particularly the Cup, where two of the best horses in the world, Viva Pataca and Vengeance of Rain will go head to head. I think Viva will win, but after VOR's slashing 1st up 5th, just beaten a nose to finish 3rd, I wouldn't be surprised if he did something special second up.

The Sprint is another exciting race. I think Miss Andretti is the one to beat, as she is arguably the best sprinter in the world. Her two performances back from Europe have been nothing but sensational. I also like the local Sacred Kingdom, and the one to really throw in for odds is Singapore's Why Be. An awesome talent in his own right that has won 20 of his 25 starts.

Not too sure on the other races. I wouldn't mind seeing Good Ba Ba win the Mile, and Dylan Thomas win the Vase.
 
I think most will agree this is a far superior race meeting than what the Breeders Cup has to offer.
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I like the HK meeting but c'mon - far superior?

No Juvenile races? No dirt races? The beaten favourites from the BC Mile and BC Turf being the likely favs for the Mile and Vase? A group of 10f horses that aren't within 5lbs of Curlin?
 
Most people I have talked to about the BC this year (and they were Americans that attended the meeting) have said it was one of the worst meetings they have attended in years. A joke, considering the slosh pit they raced on at Monmouth.

Yes it is a superior race meeting, it IS the turf championships of the world.

America only attracts horses from Europe and North America. Hong Kong attracts everyone, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Australasia and America.

They don't have juvenile races GF because the Griffins don't start their racing until the new year. Plus the Griffins are a mixture of Southern and Northern hemisphere 2yo's and 3yo's. Its not realistically possible to have the best 2yos from Australasia and New Zealand compete, as its only 4 months into our season, and they are months behind the northern hemisphere horses.

Just a group of 10f horses, um probably the best horses in the world actually GF on turf. Go through the form of Viva Pataca and Vengeance of Rain, enough said. Dylan Thomas is no slouch, neither is Ramonti, Bullish Luck, or Quijano.
 
Most people I have talked to about the BC this year (and they were Americans that attended the meeting) have said it was one of the worst meetings they have attended in years. A joke, considering the slosh pit they raced on at Monmouth.
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If Hong Kong was hit by the same weather front as Monmouth was this year I don't suppose too much fun would be had. Nevertheless, it still provided us with a hell of a champion in Curlin.

Yes it is a superior race meeting, it IS the turf championships of the world.
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The idea of denoting a race as a "world championship" ahead of time is totally unrealistic. Say Doctor Dino wins the HK Vase by a neck - nobody is going to consider him the World Champion 12f horse.

The Arc meeting has far greater claims to being the best single day's turf racing in the world - but even massively prestigious and valuable races like the Arc itself can't be guaranteed to produce the best performance in the world.

America only attracts horses from Europe and North America. Hong Kong attracts everyone, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Australasia and America.
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Where the South American horses entered? And is a single Canadian and a single South African really representative of world racing? If attracting horses from all around the world is the criteria, then Dubai World Cup night is the clear winner.

They don't have juvenile races GF because the Griffins don't start their racing until the new year. Plus the Griffins are a mixture of Southern and Northern hemisphere 2yo's and 3yo's. Its not realistically possible to have the best 2yos from Australasia and New Zealand compete, as its only 4 months into our season, and they are months behind the northern hemisphere horses.
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So the best 2yos in the world will be defined by races like the Dewhurst, National Stakes, Lagadere, Boussac, BC Juvenile and their Australian/Asian equivalents -just like the best in every other age and distance category should be defined by results across a series of races throughout the season (of which the Hong Kong international races are perfectly worthy examples).

Just a group of 10f horses, um probably the best horses in the world actually GF on turf. Go through the form of Viva Pataca and Vengeance of Rain, enough said. Dylan Thomas is no slouch, neither is Ramonti, Bullish Luck, or Quijano.
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Looking at the last update to the world rankings, only 5 of the top 22 turf horses in the world are running at Sha Tin. Only two of those, Ramonti and Viva Pataca, are running in the HK Cup.

How can you call it the World Championship over 10f on turf when there's no sign of the winners of the Prince of Wales Stakes, the Juddmonte International, the Arlington Million, the Irish Champion Stakes, the Cox Plate or the Tenno Sho? Yes, many of those missing winners are now been injured and/or retired, but that's what you're going to get if you hold the race in the middle of December.
 
THOMAS GIVING RIGHT SIGNALS

Dylan Thomas delighed connections with a strong canter at Sha Tin on Monday morning as preparations are finalised for his tilt at the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase on Sunday.


"He's thriving in this good weather and he seems in good order. We just kept him ticking over in Japan as well as we could, and I've been very happy with him since he's been here," said Pat Keating, Aidan O'Brien's travelling head lad.

"This track will suit him much better than Monmouth Park where he was never travelling on the very soft ground. He's had a long season, true enough, but he seems to be holding his form - he's a tough horse. You only have to look at his record for proof of that."

Ballydoyle's other runner in the weekend showpiece, Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Excellent Art, also worked. O'Brien meanwhile will arrive at Sha Tin on Wednesday.

Elsewhere leading Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint fancy, Miss Andretti, last week voted Australia's Horse of the Year, pleased Lee Freedman with a light jog on the sand under her regular partner Scott Magee.

"I'm very happy with what I saw this morning. She's relaxed, her weight is good, and she's raring to go," enthused Hall of Fame trainer Freedman.

"On Tuesday we will look to give her a decent gallop on the course proper and that should bring her to her peak. The new facilities here are great and my foreman Scotty tells me she's settled in really well."
 
DYLAN IMPRESSES IN HONG KONG WORK

Aidan O'Brien's Dylan Thomas wowed work watchers on the turf course at Sha Tin on Wednesday morning prompting Stan James to cut him to 6-4 from 7-4 for the Hong Kong Vase.


The son of Danehill - who only re-routed to Hong Kong after failing to clear quarantine in Japan owing to antibodies showing up in a blood test - cantered on the all-weather and then worked seven furlongs on the grass.


Neil Morrice of Stan James said: "Typical of the progeny of Danehill, Dylan Thomas is physically impressive and he delighted Aidan doing a final split of 23.4 seconds.


"Afterwards Aidan was forthright in his appraisal of Dylan's prospects in the Vase, stating that the colt is getting bigger and stronger all the time. He pointed to the colt's long hard season, but also praised his great will to win."


Meanwhile Stan James were impressed with the display Hong Kong Mile candidate Darjina gave in front of her trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre.

The Prix Moulin winner looks to have settled-in well and Morrice added: "Darjina looked on top of her game and we've shortened her into 7-2 from 4s."
 
TV details from the RP:

"All four will be shown ‘as live' after a short transmission delay on At The Races on Sunday morning, starting at 6am."

Why the HKJC insist on putting stupid delays on the broadcast of these races is beyond me.
 
I am going to back Darjina. I am slightly uncomfortable that she has been on the go since April, but I can't let the opportunity to back her on good quick ground pass.

Any Excellent Art backers around?
 
Looks a cracking card.

I've gone for Absolute Champion in the Sprint, Miss Andretti might just get beaten by the draw. Benbaun should run well.

The Cup may fall to Vengeance Of Rain, who could just be rounding into top form.
 
Looking for a little bit of value, I'd look at:

Sprint: Absolute Champion (8/1)
Vase: no bet
Mile: Darjina (9/2)
Cup: Vengeance Of Rain (9/2)
 
Sacred Kingdom beats Absolute Champion in the Sprint impressively.

Looks like the locals filled the first 5 places again.
 
Dylan Thomas
impossible postion, sad to see him beaten after such a good year.


The sprinter looked really good, best sprinter in the world.
 
...and never really travelled and finished in mid pack.

Doctor Dino wins nicely; Arch Rebel runs a cracker in 4th for Noel Meade and Fran Berry.
 
DT was slow in the stalls
but I agree he was gnot going well , especially in tha slow pace with this such a good horse on this ground.

It was sad to see him beaten, I think he was the best horse in the world this season but after this and the Bc Manduro is going to win the title of horse of the year.
 
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