By Alan Carasso
With a few notable exceptions, Sunday's Jockey Club programme at Sha Tin Racecourse has attracted more than two dozen of Hong Kong's top gallopers, each of whom have an eye on the Longines Hong Kong International Races, now just over three weeks away.
Reigning Horse of the Year Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is set to face eight other rivals as he preps for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in defence of his title in the G2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m). Winner of 11 of his 26 local appearances, including the 2018 Vase, the 6-year-old carries a five-pound penalty, yet is six pounds better at the weights with his re-opposing stablemate Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}), who bested the first-up Exultant in the G3 Sa Sa Ladies' Purse H. (1800m) Nov. 1.
Last year's Classic Series sweeper Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) will be the long odds-on jolly to win the G2 Jockey Club Mile and take his record to 13 wins from 14 career starts. Though the 5-year-olds domestic rating has skyrocketed to 127-three clear of the veteran Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus})–Golden Sixty will enjoy one more start with a break in the weights, as he carries 123 pounds to Southern Legend's 128 under the conditions of the race. Golden Sixty defeated Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) and Southern Legend in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy H. over Sunday's course and distance Oct. 18. Mighty Giant (NZ) (Power {GB}) brings a five-race winning streak into the JC Mile, while Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) is being saved for a fresh run in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile.
With The Everest winner Classique Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) gearing up for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint without a local prep, a field of 10 is set for the G2 Jockey Club Sprint over the same 1200-metre distance. Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), second off an 11-month layoff last year, has the benefit of a tightener this time around, having finished a sound fourth to Wishful Thinker (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) and the progressive Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the G2 Premier Bowl H. Oct. 18. Hot King Prawn would go on to fill the same spot behind the now-retired Beat The Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) on international day. Big Time Baby (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) has five local wins on the dirt track, but proved his versatility with a runner-up effort to Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize last April and is not without a chance.
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