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| Staff Writer |
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Although a few prominent contenders for next month's Longines Hong Kong International Races remained in their barns on Sunday, there was one experienced horse that showed great potential in the Gr.2 Jockey Club Sprint. This horse demonstrated that he is still capable of competing at a high level and shouldn't be counted out just yet.
Wellington, last year's Group One Hong Kong Sprint champion, started his defence with a solid third-place finish behind Lucky Sweynesse in his first race since June. Meanwhile, reigning Group One Hong Kong Cup champion Romantic Warrior and two-time Group One Hong Kong Mile winner Golden Sixty are waiting for their big day.
Trainer Jamie Richards has been cautious in managing expectations for Wellington, who is now seven years old and entering his fifth Hong Kong campaign after an unlucky trip to Royal Ascot in June. Despite being a four-time Group One winner, Richards is aware of the challenges that come with age and experience.
“I’ve always been a little bit guarded around where he’s at and how he’s going because I don’t know the horse very well, but I am learning about him all the time and he seems to be in good shape,” Richards said.
“He’s just probably a little bit rusty five months without a race, I just thought he lacked a little bit of conviction, but all in all I thought he ran really well.
“Hopefully, he’s got a bit of improvement in him for three weeks’ time. If the pace is on, there’s a bit of pressure and [Lucky Sweynesse] doesn’t have everything his own way, then hopefully he might be there ready to pounce. Racing is a funny thing.”
Last year's Sprint was a tough race for Lucky Sweynesse, who encountered heavy traffic in the straight and finished in sixth place behind Wellington. However, the 5YO horse appears to be on track for redemption after winning last Sunday's race.
Lucky Sweynesse aims to win all four Hong Kong Group One sprints within a calendar year, but his regular pilot Zac Purton stated that he still needs to improve. After the weekend's victory, Purton said, "he's not quite there yet... he's going to need to be better next time."
The need for improvement was a common theme in the lead-up to the HKIR, with Caspar Fownes suggesting that Straight Arron, the winner of Gr.2 Jockey Club Cup, only needs to finish in the first four or five on international day to consider it a job well done.
Romantic Warrior will return to lead the city's middle-distance division, while some horses who finished behind Straight Arron may improve with a step up in trip for the Gr.1 Hong Kong Vase.
Golden Sixty will attempt to defend his Hong Kong Mile title after being out of action since April. Meanwhile, Gr.2 Jockey Club Mile winner Beauty Eternal will need to improve to match the three-time Horse of the Year, as he turned the tables on California Spangle in a race that favored those off the pace.
“It was good to see him do that, I was hoping he had that type of performance in him and he was going to be able to take the next step,” Purton said. “But he’s got to take another step up from that to be in it next time.”
On Wednesday, the lineup for Hong Kong's international day will be confirmed, revealing the opponents that the top contenders will face. It is anticipated that a dozen or more horses from Japan will compete at Sha Tin, alongside runners from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and possibly the United States.