Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting taking place at Sha Tin on 11 December 2022.
LONGINES HONG KONG VASE (Group 1)
No 3 GLORY VASE
Trainer: Tomohito Ozeki – Jockey: Jaoa Moreira
GLORY VASE can make history by becoming the only three-time winner of this prestigious race following his victories in 2019 and 2021. The seven-year-old Deep Impact horse has solid form in his homeland but undoubtedly reserves his best for this track, where his figures read 1-2-1. After bolting up in the 2019 running of this race he finished second to compatriot Loves Only You in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup before retaining his title with a cosy defeat of Pyledriver here 12 months ago. He’s been selectively campaigned this year, trained specifically with this race in mind, and absolutely flew in his final gallop under Moreira on the turf track on Thursday.
BROOME is one that could perform above his price and is more than interesting as a 20-1 roughie. Connections come here after having second thoughts about the Japan Cup, and both the track and fast ground will play to his strengths. Key to his chance is a good break from the stalls, a trick that let him down in the Breeders’ Cup Turf in which he lost lengths at the start but flew home. It was no surprise to see O’Brien school him through the gate on Friday. Legendary Japanese rider Yutaka Take rides the six-year-old for the first time since last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
WIN MARILYN is one that’s taken the eye on the track this week and could easily surpass her good record of two earning runs in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup from three attempts at that prize.
Drawn on the rail, Broome’s stable companion STONE AGE finished ahead of him when second to Rebel’s Romance in the Keeneland Breeders’ Cup, but having been inconsistent this year is not guaranteed to beat him even though Ryan Moore has opted for the three-year-old.
Prediction: 1st GLORY VASE, 2nd Broome, 3rd Win Marilyn, 4th Stone Age
LONGINES HONG KONG SPRINT (Group 1)
No 1 WELLINGTON
Trainer: Richard Gibson – Jockey: Ryan Moore
The home team have strong representation in this 1200-metre dash round a right-handed bend spearheaded by local champion WELLINGTON, making a quick appearance since returning lame from the Jockey Club Sprint at the end of last month. The two-times Chairman’s Sprint Prize victor has to overcome a tricky gate but has Ryan Moore in the saddle for the first time.
Connections of LUCKY SWEYNESSE were delighted when he drew three off the rail which more or less guarantees he can be competitive from the outset, and put in a bold bid to follow up his victory in the same race.
SKY FIELD held RESISTENCIA in this 12 months ago but didn’t show up when out of the money in the Jockey Club Sprint.
MEIKEI YELL was compromised by a wide post in the Sprinters Stakes and it’s probably best to draw a line through that performance. However, he’s cruelly been handed the outer gate again, meaning there’s every chance compatriot GENDARME will prove his match after taking out that contest in the gamest fashion.
Prediction: 1st WELLINGTON, 2nd Lucky Sweynesse, 3rd Gendarme, 4th Resistencia
LONGINES HONG KONG MILE (Group 1)
No 1 GOLDEN SIXTY
Trainer: Francis Lui – Jockey: Vincent Ho
GOLDEN SIXTY has a massive following in Hong Kong and will bring the house down if becoming the first since Good Ba Ba to complete a hat-trick in this race. Adding to his allure is that he is trained and ridden by a couple of homegrown operators, as well as the way he tenaciously resisted CALIFORNIA SPANGLE in a memorable duel for the Jockey Club Mile last month. This winner of 22 of his 25 career starts is a dual Horse Of The Year and has six Group 1s on his CV. Granted the Mile was his first run of the season, but he should confirm his superiority over California Spangle who will set the pace and is sure to be a tough nut to crack under Zac Purton.
There may again be little in it for the win, but for places both SCHNELL MEISTER and LAW OF INDECES are probably over-priced. Schnell Meister put in a rare stinker when down the field in the Dubai Turf on a first run outside Japan, and though finishing with more in front of him than behind, was not disgraced in a Sprinters Stakes that was well short of his optimum trip. Sourced out of the UK, Law Of Indeces has done well in a relatively short time in Australia where he was eighth in the Cox Plate on latest start. He’s impressed me on the training track and could be one to pep up the exotics, while another Japanese that could figure is SALIOS.
Prediction: 1st GOLDEN SIXTY, 2nd California Spangle, 3rd Schnell Meister, 4th Law Of Indeces, 5th Salios
LONGINES HONG KONG CUP (Group 1)
No 2 PANTHALASSA (Nap)
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi – Jockey: Yutaka Yoshida
The horse I’m most looking forward to at Sha Tin is PANTHALASSA, and if you require evidence there’s a big overseas contest in him look at the Tenno Sho Autumn where he stretches 20 lengths clear of his foes only to be denied in the final two strides by Equinox. The five-year-old served up memories of Deep Impact in the audacious way he attempted to steal the Tokyo race, and should he poach a similar lead under a similarly controlled ride he is going to be very hard to peg back.
JACK D’OR is closely matched with him on their neck separation in the Sapporo Kinen in August and again when fourth in the Tenno Sho. The son of outstanding Hong Kong champion Maurice should again finish in the same vicinity as Panthalassa and is not be underestimated.
Hong Kong horses should have their say, with its most improved horse ROMANTIC WARRIOR chasing what would be a ninth win in his last ten starts for trainer Danny Shum. Since graduating out of handicaps the four-year-old has never looked back, landing the Hong Kong Derby, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Jockey Club Cup on his latest three outings. Few horses are in a better place than him.
RUSSIAN EMPEROR was a Royal Ascot scorer for Aidan O’Brien before establishing himself as the champion stayer here this year and last. His last two offerings have however been underwhelming, and he needs to bounce back.
Prediction: 1st PANTHALASSA, 2nd Romantic Warrior, 3rd Russian Emperor, 4th Jack D’Or
PANTHALASSA scorches up the Sha Tin home stretch ahead of Sunday’s Hong Kong Cup:
Hong Kong Vase favourite GLORY VASE winding up ahead of Sunday's marquee race beneath Joao Moreira at Sha Tin:
