Future Stars On Show Throughout HKIR Undercard
HISTORICALLY, the undercard at Sunday’s Hong Kong International Races has served as a stepping stone to big-name billing at the December showpiece.
While most of the focus is on the four group onefeatures which headline the Hong Kong International Races, the other six events will provide some of the most competitive racing of the entire Hong Kong season as trainers and owners chase a win on the world stage.
Not only is it competitive, but each race also provides an opportunity for horses to step forward and mark their credentials as future HKIR contenders.
Since 2006, 41 local horses that have run on the undercard have returned down the line to compete in one of the four international features.
That includes nine of the 23 Hong Kong representatives at this year’s HKIR, including $2.75 favouite for the Hong Kong Sprint at Ladbrokes Mr Stunning and leading local Hong Kong Cup hope Werther.
Werther is the $2.80 favourite at Crownbet to win the Hong Kong Cup.
International day winners to have previously raced on the undercard on their way to the big time include 2016 Mile victor Beauty Only, two-time Sprint winner Aerovelocity (2014 & 2016) and dual Cup winner California Memory (2011 & 2012), 2014 Mile winner Able Friend, 2010 Mile scorer Beauty Flash and 2008 Sprint champion Inspiration.
A horse running on the Hong Kong International raceday “undercard” aiming for Four-Year-Old Classic Series glory is Group One winner Rivet, who is having his second start in Hong Kong.
Rivet is one of five horses headed towards the classics in the last, the Class Two Maurice Handicap.
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All eyes will be on the third race on the card, which is the Class One Flying Dancer Handicap.
Featuring a number of progressive gallopers, the top elect in many pundits’ eyes is John Size’s unbeaten charge Nothingilikemore, which tackles class one for the first time after speeding through the grades with five consecutive wins.
“He’s done it five times, so I just hope he can continue what he’s been doing so far,” regular rider Joao Moreira said.
“I think John Size had him spot on for the first-up run and he produced such an amazing performance that day. I don’t think he needs to improve much more to be competitive in this race on Sunday.”
Nothingilikemore is the $1.50 favourite at Sportsbet to win a sixth-consecutive race this Sunday.
That first-up run saw Nothingilikemore shoulder 132 pounds to an effortless Class 2 victory over Sunday’s course and distance, racing clear for a two-length win in late October.
“I think he can go very high, and yes, I think he could be an international horse next year,” the Brazilian rider said.
“At the moment he would probably be the favourite for the first two legs of the four-year-old races and maybe even the Derby as well.
“I don’t know if he will run 2000 metres but I think he has got something special. I am very happy to have the ride and I hope we can continue what we have been doing on him so far.”
The first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series is the Hong Kong Classic Mile on 21 January. It is followed by the Hong Kong Classic Cup on 18 February and the BMW Hong Kong Derby on 18 March.
Nothingilikemore meets horses like last-start winner Southern Legend, progressive five-year-old Winner’s Way and 1400m specialist Jolly Banner. The veterans are represented by Giant Treasure, second to Maurice in the 2015 Mile, and also Dundonnell, which won this race in 2014.