Hong Kong International Races – Sun 13 Dec 2009

The four most prestigious horse races in Hong Kong will be held on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse. Australia is represented by three horses in the Hong Kong Sprint and one in the Hong Kong Mile.

Hong Kong International Sprint

The Group 1 HK$12,000,000 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint for three-year-olds and upwards over 1200 metres has a full field of 14 starters. The 3 Australian horses are all fancied in the early betting market. All Silent is early favourite at $4.20. Trainer Grahame Begg is hoping he can reproduce his form from the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington in November where he showed an explosive last to first sprint. He was drawn the outside barrier (14). The HK Sprint was first run in 1999 and only one horse has ever won from a double-digit barrier – that was Silent Witness in 2003 from Barrier 11.

Next in the early market is Hong Kong star Sacred Kingdom(HK) at $4.60. This horse was bred in Australia and won this race in 2007. Next is Scenic Blast at $6.50, Apache Cat at $10, California Flag (US) at $13 then Total Gallery (IRE), Inspiration (HK) and Laurel Guerreiro (JAP) all at $18. Inspiration won this race last year and is also Australian bred. His trainer John Moore is also Australian-bred as he is the son of legendary jockey George Moore.

Jo’s tips: 1. Sacred Kingdom, 2. All Silent, 3. Scenic Blast

Hong Kong International Mile

The Group 1 HK$16,000,000 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile for three-year-olds and upwards over 1600 metres has a full field of 14 starters. It is the richest international mile race in the world. The early betting market has Hong Kong horses as the first 3 favourites in the betting. Good Ba Ba is $2.80 favourite as he won this race in 2007 and 2008. No horse has ever won one of these International Races three times in a row.

Next in the early market is Happy Zero at $3.80 followed b Egyptian Ra at $15. Egyptian Ra was 3rd in this race last year and is the second-highest rated horse in Hong Kong. Next is French filly Sweet Hearth at $17 and Fellowship also at $17. Australian runner Racing to Win is $18, as is Sight Winner.

Jo’s tips: 1. Good Ba Ba , 2. Happy Zero, 3. Racing To Win

Hong Kong International Cup

The Group 1 HK$20,000,000 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup is the world’s richest turf race over 2000 metres and has 10 starters. The early favourite is Collection at $2.80 ahead of Presvis at $3.50, Vision d’Etat at $6, Eagle Mountain at $8 and Ashalanda at $14. Eagle Mountain won this race in 2008 but has had some injury concerns this year.

Presvis is trained by Luca Cumani and is a well-travelled horse who won the QEII Cup at Sha Tin in April, scoring fast-finishing seconds on either side of that run in Dubai and Singapore. French stallion Vision d’Etat won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot in June and won last year’s French Derby.

Jo’s tips: 1. Presvis , 2. Vison d’Etat, 3. Collection

Hong Kong International Vase

The Group 1 HK$14,000,000 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase over 2400 metres has a field of 13 starters. It was first run in 1991. The betting is fairly open with the early favourite the Irish star Youmzain at $4.20, who is three-time Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up.

Next in the market is Viva Pataca at $4.80, Spanish Moon and Thumbs Up both at $8.50, Daryakana at $9, Cirrus Des Aigles at $10, Kasbah Bliss at $16, Buccellati at $17 and Jaguar Mail at $18. Jaguar Mail ran 3rd in this race in 2008.

Jo’s tips: 1. Viva Pataca, 2. Youmzain, 3. Jaguar Mail

View all the latest Hong Kong International Racing Odds