Champions on show at Sha Tin

Champions Day is upon us as an all-star cast race for Group 1 glory in the Champions Mile, QEII Cup and the Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Champion galloper Golden Sixty is set to continue his record-breaking career when he attempts to become the first horse to win the HK$20 million FWD Champions Mile (1600m) on three occasions.

After victories in 2021 and 2022, Golden Sixty will head into the 2023 version as the crowd favourite to beat arch-rival California Spangle in what appears to be a two-horse race.

Golden Sixty has already joined Beauty GenerationN (2018 & 2019), Xtension (2011 & 2012), Able One (2007 & 2010) and Bullish Luck (2005 & 2006) as dual Champions Mile winners. His rider, Vincent Ho, is equal with Brett Prebble as the race’s most successful jockey at three wins apiece.

Former Japanese champion Maurice (2016) and star South African visitor Variety Club (2014) are the only two international winners of the race, with the latter winning by four lengths, the most significant winning margin in the race’s history.

Seven races in three countries and some 16 months have passed since William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour was first set for the international racing stage at the 2021 Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin.

On that occasion, he more than confirmed the quality of his three-year-old form with a closing 1.25 lengths fourth to Japan’s Loves Only You, who earlier that year had also won the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m), in the G1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m).

However, a fruitless 2022 season followed and some debate continues as to whether he has recaptured his best form or improved in 2023 despite his two Gr1 wins in Australia in March and April. That debate may well be adjudicated in Sunday’s HK$25 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m).

Issy Paul, the gelding’s regular rider and assistant to Haggas, has been by his side – and on his back – in Australia and Hong Kong and is best placed to offer some insight into his progress.

I’d love to think he has improved,” Paul said, “And I do think he’s in better form than he was last year but we’ll see what happens in the season to come. The one-on-one attention he certainly enjoys and even the silly stuff like having the sun on his back in Australia and a good roll in the sand has seen him thrive.

“Perhaps, he was a little below his best last year. Obviously, he was a very good three-year-old so whether he’s improved now or gone back to the level of that very good three-year-old form I’m not sure.

“We do have some very nice mile and a quarter (2000m) horses at home (England) and how he would fare against them this season I guess remains to be seen.”

First is the matter of Sunday’s race where he faces small but select opposition headed by last December’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) winner Romantic Warrior.

“From my perspective, he still feels great as he did in Australia. It will be a really tough ask but the boss (William Haggas) is very shrewd and wouldn’t have him here if he didn’t think he had a flying chance.

“His weight is good, he takes everything in his stride and he feels like he’s in really good form so fingers crossed we see another very good performance on Sunday,” said Paul.

Paul harbours an ambition to train in her own right but not in the immediate future.

“Maybe one day but no rush on that. William is brilliant to work for her and we get the opportunity to work with some great horses. We have lots of communication with the boss, of course, but it’s amazing how he trusts us to get the job done.

“I’m very fond of this horse (Dubai Honour) and by Sunday, I’ll have been away with him for nearly two and a half months so I’m hopeful he’ll run very well again and I’m sure he will,” Paul said. - Hong Kong Jockey Club

Race-by-Race Previews

Race 1: Reach Goal well-placed and looks a chance in race like this. He will appreciate the rise in distance and is hard to hold out. Kowloon Great consistent form lately and can score here with luck from barrier 14. Packing Hurricane second start in this grade after drop- ping in class and could improve after a luckless last-start eighth. Wonder Years good effort last start leading all the way to win. Chance again if he shows up in the same form. Ensured racing well with good sectional time rankings recently and is well-rated on his second try in Class 4.

Race 2: Beauty Destiny newcomer who looks highly talented, unbeaten in five trials both in Australia and Hong Kong, and will be favoured to score his debut. Lucky Encounter debut run was good, checking in runner-up over 1000m, and has trained on well since. Barrier 1 favours him to gain a smooth run. Green N White having second start and can improve with experience after a luckless debut run. Call Me Dandy form is good and must be rated chance. Barrier 10 is the query. Easy Snip last start winner who remains in the same grade and remains well-rated.

Race 3: Supreme Lucky nice four-year-old with a good chance here to continue his winning ways. Drawn wide, again, but he has overcome them before and he clearly has more points in hand. Prince Of Porty quality type who remains unbeaten from two starts to date and will go close again as he takes to Class 3 for the first time. Super Fortune has early speed and can always surprise with the right run. Capital Delight well prepared for debut and watch the betting, he looks primed for a forward showing. Show Respect having third start and may improve here from barrier 2.

Race 4: Red Hare King narrowly beaten when second-up and he should be winning this comfortably, given he has come up with barrier 1. The form from his last start is strong and he is the clear stand out. Happy For All gets blinkers for the first time and has done little wrong, winning once and placing second on his last start for a total of three starts. Round The Globe every chance last start but still ran a good race. He needs luck from barrier 12 but clearly has ability. Joy Coming had genuine excuses last start when caught wide. Storm Legend second start in this grade after dropping in class and could improve.

Race 5: Lucky Sweynesse highly talented four-year-old who has dominated the big-race sprinting races - apart from his luckless Hong Kong Sprint sixth place - in Hong Kong this season and is currently their best. The one to beat. Wellington clearly appears to be the biggest danger to the favourite but it’s hard to see him turning the tables on him. Barrier 2 will suit his chances, however. Sight Success recent barrier trial was good, suggesting a forward return run can be expected after his handy fourth place in Dubai. Flaming Rib can show early speed and can always surprise with the right run. He has place claims from his low draw. Courier Wonder place chance at best but should be thereabouts after improving in recent starts.

Race 6: Ching winner of last two starts and looks a top chance to make it a hat-trick of wins. All Beauty has the services of a top jockey today as Moreira takes the rise, and must be respected from his low draw. Powerful Wings last start winner who remains in the same grade, chance to run well again provided luck from his outer alley. Owners’ Praise good effort when narrowly beaten last start and he should measure up in Class 3 on the light weight. Smiling Collector last start winner who rises in class but can acquit himself well.

Race 7: Golden Sixty needs no introduction. Two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year and winner of 24 out of 28 starts, boasting eight G1 wins. He is chasing a third successive Champions Mile victory. California Spangle clearly appears to be the biggest danger to the favourite, and he did lower his colours in the G1 Hong Kong Mile in December. He will lead them up and take catching. Voyage Bubble this season’s Derby winner who faces his toughest test. Versatile, up-and-coming and can run boldly. My Oberon gets Moreira in the saddle and brings with him strong Australian form. He will get back and be running on. Beauty Joy erratic but can always run a race and find a spot in the placings under the right race shape.

Race 8: Romantic Warrior winner of this race last year and will be expected to bounce back to his winning ways after going down by a head to Golden Sixty last time. Reuniting with jockey James McDonald will be key to his chances and he will be hard to beat. Dubai Honour thriving UK-trained five-year-old who dominated the Autumn Carnival in Sydney recently, scoring two Group 1 wins. Fourth in this race last year and will give this a shake-up. Danon The Kid handy Japan-trained five-year-old who is well-placed and looks a chance in race like this after his second-place to Romantic Warrior in December’s Hong Kong Cup. Prognosis has a good record over this race distance and Purton picks up the ride. Can run a bold race. Geraldina overseas form reads strong in Japan and should be acquitting herself well here.

Race 9: Good Buddy had excuses last start when badly held up at a crucial stage in the race just last week over 1200. The rise in distance suits and he has drawn ideally low with McDonald in the saddle. Happy Mission had excuses last start when racing wide without cover. He should map far better here from gate 3 for Purton. Wide Blue Yonder last start winner who rises in class but can measure up from barrier 1 under Moreira. Taj Dragon last start winner who remains in the same grade. Capital Legend placed last start and looks a chance to run well again.

Race 10: Beauty Eternal highly progressive four-year-old who shows a ton of ability and looks the one to beat off his third-place Derby effort. That from continues to stack up and he should be bouncing back in a big way. Tuchel stablemate to Beauty Eternal who was second in the Derby and is unbeaten at the track and distance. Keefy showed good speed to lead in the Derby, holding down fourth. Red Lion winner of last two starts and is a big chance here. The Golden Scenery had genuine excuses last start when badly held up at a crucial stage in the race.