Search
where the horse is always the hero
Article Item
Posted 2015-02-23 09:20:29  
91 000 Hong Kong race goers welcome the Year of the Goat

 

A celebratory crowd of more than 91,000 enthusiastic race goers heralded the Year of the Goat in Hong Kong today, Saturday, 21 February, as Real Specialist and Joao Moreira combined to win the day’s feature race at Sha Tin, the Chinese New Year Cup (Handicap).

 

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, hailed the afternoon’s sport and expressed his delight at the vibrant holiday atmosphere that accompanied the thrilling on-track action.

 

“The atmosphere was perfect today, the weather was kind to us, and it was good to see so many people here right through to the last race,” he said. “Our priority is the customer experience so I’m very happy with the attendance today, we had a good-sized crowd without it feeling too full, which has been a bit of a concern in past years.

 

“Despite a small field, the feature was a really exciting race, one of several close finishes this afternoon, which helped drive our turnover to more than HK$1.7 billion. That figure represents a rise of 12.8% on last year’s total, which is huge, and it is also a new record for the Chinese New Year race day.”

 

The Chinese New Year Cup, the main contest on the 11-race card, was widely viewed as a chance for Divine Calling (130lb) to bolster his reputation. Tony Millard’s charge had debuted in Hong Kong back in October with a remarkably easy win under Zac Purton, but had failed to score in two smart efforts since, latterly when second in the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile.

 

Purton was back in the plate for today’s 1400m Class 1 contest, with Joao Moreira, the grey’s partner in those two previous reversals, teaming up for the first time with top-weighted Real Specialist (133lb). Purton set the pace atop the front-running four-year-old while Moreira stalked handily in the eight-runner field.

 

Pressed on his outer turning for home, Divine Calling responded to Purton’s urgings and maintained a narrow advantage for much of the run home. But Moreira had the leader in his sights. The Brazilian switched his mount to mid-track at the first opportunity and once Real Specialist hit full stride the writing was on the wall. Divine Calling had no answer as the John Size-trained runner swept past him close home to win by a comfortable half-length.

 

“He gave me such a good feel on the way to the gate I thought, you know, this horse cannot be bad! He’s actually such a good horse, and John has been telling me that ever since I got here,” said Moreira of Real Specialist, who had made a belated seasonal bow last month with a solid seventh in the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m).

 

“He didn’t jump that well but once he got going he found his rhythm and put himself in the right spot. I had cover on my outside turning for home, which meant I got going a little bit late, but once I got going on the outside he gave me a nice kick and got there quite easily. He’s been running three or four lengths behind Able Friend and those good horses, and today he showed what he’s capable of in this grade.”

 

The winner surged home, covering the final 400m in 21.53s to register a winning time of 1m 22.92s. The Millard-trained Super Lifeline was a further neck away in third.

 

Purton was out of luck on the short-priced favourite but had earlier kicked off the Year of the Goat with a victory. The Champion Jockey was on board the Benno Yung-trained Wild Boy to win the opener and he notched a treble on the day thanks to the Danny Shum-trained Presidentparamount in Race 5 and Good Good View in the 10th.

 

Rate:
Email link to a friend | Printable Version
  • Hong Kong
    Displaying 10 ResultsSee All
    bowman now on lucky sweynesse 1 days ago

    Hugh Bowman has secured the ride on Lucky Sweynesse for the upcoming Group Two Sprint Cup, making hi...

    View | Add Comment
    massive sovereign wins a smart hong kong derby 4 days ago

    Massive Sovereign, formerly known as Broadhurst when trained by Aidan O’Brien in Ireland, stol...

    View | Add Comment
    big guns drawn wide for hk derby 2024-03-21

    Helios Express’ bid to match the towering feats of Rapper Dragon and Golden Sixty with a clean...

    View | Add Comment
    treble for teetan as young champion impresses2024-03-16

    Young Champion lived up to high expectations, leaving Karis Teetan impressed as he clinched victory ...

    View | Add Comment
    hong kong derby field announced, galaxy patch looks teg real deal 2024-03-14

    Galaxy Patch caught the eye in the Gr1 The Queens Silve Jubilee Cup when he came from the back of th...

    View | Add Comment
    avdulla brilliance gives california spangle another gr1 2024-03-10

    California Spangle, backed from 20/1 to 13/1, surged to victory in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Gr1 in...

    View | Add Comment
    purton says drop in distance will help2024-03-08

    Zac Purton is optimistic a drop in distance can prove decisive in Beauty Eternal’s quest to to...

    View | Add Comment
    romantic warrior pips voyage gold cupbubble in great renewal of 2024-02-25

    Enhancing status as one of the world’s premier middle-distance gallopers with gripping victory...

    View | Add Comment
    south african whyte calls star horse a dream come true 2024-02-16

    Douglas Whyte is proud as punch to train Russian Emperor and the fifth-season handler isn’t ta...

    View | Add Comment
    century up for hewitson in hong kong 2024-02-12

    Lyle Hewitson celebrated his remarkable 100th victory during the electrifying Chinese New Year gathe...

    View | Add Comment