MOORE, CRUZ AND CHADWICK LAUNCH SEASON WITH WINNING TREBLES
ALMOST 50,000 fans welcomed in the new racing season in Hong Kong on Sunday and went on a betting spree, investing $HK833 million, which was over $HK2 million more than last year.
The 125th anniversary season began spectacularly at Sha Tin with Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges pleased with the overall atmosphere and results of the meeting.
The Honorable Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and also the Patron of the Club, performed the striking of the ceremonial gong in the parade ring to declare the new term underway.
This was preceded by a splendid lion dance featuring 125 lions, one for each season of the Club's illustrious history, and Mr Tsang, accompanied by the Club's Chairman, Mr John C C Chan, officiated at the eye-dotting ceremony.
Out on the track, the feature race named after the guest of honor, the HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup, producing a thrilling finish with $6 chance, Nightlign, getting the verdict by a nose from the second favorite, Tuscan Spirit. Top pick, Medic Power, was a neck back in third, in a popular result for players.
“He's always been a nice horse, but he has had issues,” winning trainer Almond Lee said. “First he got a stress fracture shortly after he arrived here, then he was too coltish and had to be castrated so he hasn't been the easiest to train.”
“Today everything worked out for us. He had the lightest weight, a good draw, he got a nice ride from Jeff [Lloyd] and he’s won in a bob-of-heads photo. It might not be easy for him to follow up as he climbs the ratings, but I expect I’ll keep him to 1200m anyway. There is a Gr.3 race on October 4 over 1000m but I have that race in mind for Sun Trooper.”
Lee later trained a double on the card when Wine Win saluted in the Sheung Wan Handicap under Greg Cheyne, a new face to the jockeys’ ranks.
Training honors on the day, however, went to Tony Cruz and John Moore, who both prepared trebles. Cruz’s winners were each partnered by Matthew Chadwick. Last season’s champion apprentice scooped the Jockey Challenge in the process and will see his claimers’ allowance cut from 7lb to 5lb for the next meeting at Happy Valley on Wednesday evening.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. IT WAS TAKEN BY KENNETH CHAN.
