The Hong Kong racing season is about half over so it may be a good suggestion to look again on the high 10 performances by every distance at Happy Valley and Sha Tin. Our methodology relies on remaining time however whether it is shut, weight carried would be the deciding issue.
At Happy Valley there are 4 distances which can be persistently run on the “City Track” on its cozy seven-furlong oval.
At 1,000 meters, Stoltz set a course file when he gained a Class 3 handicap on January 26, 2022 and lined the gap in 55.85 seconds. He carried 126 kilos and may have the ability to deal with a transfer up at school after successful at course and distance two weeks later.
Races of 1,200 meters have been run 78 occasions to this point this season at Happy Valley. Harmony And Rich set a course file again in September when he lined the gap in 1:08.46 seconds whereas toting 129 kilos. He completed up the monitor within the Premier Bowl H. (G2) on Oct. 17 and has not raced since then. Honorable point out goes to Seven Heavens, who’s the one different horse this season to win in 1:08 and alter.
The major two-turn configuration at Happy Valley is 1,650 meters and it has been contested 54 occasions. Beauty Joy gained a Class 2 handicap in 1:38.36 seconds on Jan. 19 and did it with 125 kilos. His time was properly away from Telecom Fighters who gained towards related firm again in October in 1:38.73 seconds however solely carried 115 kilos in that race.
Races of 1,800 meters had been run 18 occasions and Zebrowski gained the January Cup H. (G3) again on Jan. 5 in 1:48.25 seconds. He confirmed it was no fluke when he got here again in his subsequent begin and gained the Centenary Vase H. (G3) at Sha Tin in his subsequent begin. Fast Pace gained a Class 4 handicap again in September in 1:48.34 seconds carrying 124 kilos however has not been in a position to deal with the transfer as much as Class 3 in 5 tries.
At Sha Tin, there are 5 major distances run on the turf and two on the all-weather monitor. Twenty-one races have been run down the straightaway at 1,000 meters on the turf. Not solely did Super Wealthy run the quickest time this season in 54.96 seconds whereas carrying 115 kilos when he gained the National Day Cup H. (G3) but additionally ran 55.70 seconds three weeks earlier in September towards Class 2 handicap foes with 129 kilos.
On the turf, 1,200 meters was run 57 occasions and the clear star is Lucky Patch. He gained the Premier Bowl H. (G2) in 1:07.95 seconds on October 17 then got here again and gained the Jockey Club Sprint (G2) in 1:07.98 seconds a month later. He was the three.2 favourite within the Hong Kong Sprint (G1) however fell turning for house. He is at present coaching at Conghua. Nobody else this season has run below 1:08 seconds.
Races of 1,400 meters have been run 70 occasions on the turf and Buddies has the quickest time when he gained the Celebration Cup H. (G3) in 1:20.48 seconds whereas carrying solely 113 kilos on a course rated nearly as good to agency. Blaze Warrior ran at the very least as properly when he gained a Class 2 handicap in 1:20.65 seconds whereas carrying 119 kilos on a course rated nearly as good.
Races of 1,600 meters have been run 32 occasions and there have been 10 races that had been gained below 1:34 seconds. Xiang Yin ran 1:33.50 seconds in a Class 3 again in October whereas carrying 118 kilos on a course rated nearly as good to agency. Soulmate gained towards the identical class on Nov. 28 in 1:33.61 seconds below 116 kilos however the course was rated nearly as good.
The 1,800-meter races are run down the lengthy backstretch of Sha Tin and round one flip. These have been contested 12 occasions and Tourbillon Diamond had the quickest successful time when he gained the Ladies’ Purse H. (G3) in 1:46.02 seconds again in November. Second-fastest was Zebrowski who gained the Centenary Vase H. (G3) in 1:46.63 seconds. Coupled with having the quickest time for a similar distance at Happy Valley, Zebrowski is the king of 1800 meters on this a part of the world.
There had been 24 races run at 1,200 meters on the all-weather monitor at Sha Tin. Sight Success is the clear chief after successful a Class 2 handicap on December 5 in 1:07.40 seconds. Nobody else has been in a position to break 1:08.
At 1,650 meters on the all-weather monitor at Sha Tin, 18 races have been contested and Turin Redstar has the quickest time of 1:37.39 seconds whereas beating Class 3 handicap foes with 121 kilos. A greater efficiency may be Will Power who beat Class 1 handicap foes in 1:37.62 whereas carrying 130 kilos.
There have been no course information damaged on the turf at Sha Tin this season. Happy Valley has had two; the aforementioned Stoltz at 1000 meters and Harmony and Rich at 1200 meters.
A majority of the quickest occasions at every distance got here earlier than January. Since then, working occasions have been off with few horses working quicker than commonplace. On January 26, the Sha Tin turf was rated good to agency however you must go all the way in which again to Oct. 24 to search out the earlier one. The cooler climate has slowed down working occasions however they need to decide up as we get into spring and the climate warms up.
