Time ripe for rise of fresh talent
There is a look of sameness to Hong Kong racing's obvious flag bearers going into 2009-10 compared with 12 months ago - but last season's four-year-olds can be the silver lining.
This time last year, it was Sacred Kingdom, Good Ba Ba and Viva Pataca who held the keys and they won four of the 14 available Group Ones between them, despite Sacred Kingdom's sesamoid injury, but the top-grade winners were spread a little wider than usual.
When the book closed on the latest world classifications on July 26, only Good Ba Ba, Sacred Kingdom and Egyptian Ra were still in the top 50 horses and racing now needs some new big names. Sure, Viva Pataca largely held his form, if not his international ranking, to take Horse of the Year but both he and Good Ba Ba will be eight in January and Egyptian Ra has already passed that birthday, so the time is near when their hearts remain willing but their legs and lungs might struggle to keep up.
In fact, 13 of the top 15 international ratings are owned by horses aged six and over and, Sacred Kingdom aside, it looks up to Collection, Thumbs Up, More Bountiful and their generation to take the next step up.
Hong Kong sprint ranks are generally strong and this season will be no different - it would be no surprise to see lightly raced Happy Zero or Tuscan Spirit, even Almond Lee Yee-tat's unbeaten Sun Trooper, join what is already a solid leading group.
The wild card could be Medic Power, who looked such a serious sprinter as a three-year-old then mysteriously lost his way for two seasons. Trainer Tony Cruz coaxed the six-year-old back to winning form first-up for the yard and there might be some unfinished business for him in Cruz's hands.
Champion jockey Christophe Soumillon acknowledged last year the strength of Hong Kong mile racing and, whether Good Ba Ba holds his advantage or not, local milers will be tough contenders again in international class. More Bountiful's first season was good enough to stamp him the heir apparent but he is one among a cluster of solid milers and elevation to the Good Ba Ba level needs him to lift another notch. The newcomer to this group could be Caspar Fownes-trained Fair Trade, who struggled at his Hong Kong debut but had a rushed preparation and will improve greatly.
Among the middle-distance horses, Collection has always looked a star in the making and John Moore's switch of targets from the Cox Plate to Dubai leaves him free to concentrate on the Hong Kong Cup in December. It will be no surprise if he emerges as Hong Kong's best and Moore has already cheekily tipped him as Horse of the Year.
The Hong Kong Vase looks a likely path for Thumbs Up, who might progress to be a Dubai possible himself if he measures up to the visitors in December, given the scarcity of opportunities for genuine stayers. He is tough and honest and going to give a good account of himself in any race.
Long in the tooth
Horse of the Year Viva Pataca and fellow champion Good Ba Ba will, come January, be reaching the veteran age of: 8
