On the eve of Rich Tapestry's date with destiny at the Breeder's Cup, trailblazing trainer Michael Chang Chun-wai already has his eyes on the future and says the era of Hong Kong horses conquering the world may have only just begun.
In the past 10 years, runners trained at Sha Tin have triumphed at Group One level in England, Dubai, Singapore, Japan and Australia. Rich Tapestry then added an historic win in the Santa Anita Sprint early last month - the first for a Hong Kong-trained horse on US soil.
But if the unlikely hero can make it back-to-back Group One wins on the dirt in the Xpressbet Sprint tomorrow morning (7.01am Hong Kong time), it will mark a defining moment for a racing jurisdiction that was once known for its astronomical betting turnover rather than the quality of its horseflesh.
"I do believe Hong Kong horses have got better in the past decade or so," said Chang, a 10-year veteran. "But I also think it is more that the trainers now want to test themselves overseas.
"The generation before us, the trainers were happy to be the king of Hong Kong. But we now have champion trainers and jockeys from all around the world working here, and it has opened up our eyes."
The 52-year-old Chang is quick to point out that Rich Tapestry "has taken me around the world, not the other way around" - and the unique story of an unsuitably-bred Irish horse, with a Chinese trainer and flamboyant French jockey has enchanted the media at America's richest two days of racing.
Chang, who bowed to Jockey Club wishes by refusing to use the controversial diuretic Lasix, perhaps to his competitive disadvantage, carefully dead-batted questions on the politically charged subtext of the horse's US sojourn, specifically his non-use of the anti-bleeding drug.
"We came here because he goes well on dirt and there aren't many races for him in Hong Kong," he said. "I hadn't considered using it but the club asked us not to use Lasix so we didn't. I thought the horse was good enough and he proved that with his first win."
Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said he was "grateful" to Chang and Rich Tapestry's owners for acceding to officials' wishes on the highly contentious issue.
"It was the right decision that the horse not run on medication. We have a clear philosophy that we keep racing without race-day medication, including Lasix," he said. "This is from a horse welfare standpoint and for the benefit of the customer."
Rich Tapestry's owners arrived yesterday to find a horse "in the peak condition of his life", according to Chang, and the group of three workmates are still pinching themselves over the wild ride their six-year-old gelding has taken them on.
PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants "YT" Cheung Yuk-tak, Alvin Wong Yak-wai and Alan Ho Chi-keung set out to buy a "Derby horse" when they purchased Rich Tapestry, a horse by Holy Roman Emperor out of a Coolmore Stud mare - the same mix as this year's Derby winner and Horse of the Year, Designs On Rome.
Wong is delighted to admit the plan went spectacularly wrong. "It's every Hong Kong owner's dream to win the Derby and we were no different," he said.
"Being by Holy Roman Emperor and with Saddler's Wells on his dam side, I thought we were getting a horse that would run a strong 2,000 metres, and he had even won his maiden as a young horse over 1,600m."
Alas, Rich Tapestry has made his name in the antithesis of European style Classics - dirt sprinting, a specialty that has captured a Group Three win and Group One second in Dubai - where Chang intends to return next year, if his horse is willing to take him.
"The track has being changed from Tapeta to dirt and I think that's where he will go next," he said. "We were second to Sterling City in the Golden Shaheen, but I think on that surface we can go one better.
"Of course, we have to get through this race, then we will take him home and let him rest. The quarantine means he won't get back until mid-December so we will miss the internationals, and he is an old man now anyway. He will be seven in January so we will let him get ready for that."
The gutsy plan to campaign in America was hatched while returning from Dubai. "I bumped into [Jockey Club head of racing] Bill Nader at the airport and told him my idea and I have to thank him, I couldn't have done it without him, and I have to thank my owners, too.
"They are a great group and have supported me right through with this horse. It's expensive to bring a horse here and let's hope it pays off."
Overseas bookmakers have installed Hong Kong's globetrotter an equal 5-1 favourite with last year's winner, Secret Circle, and Breeders' Cup organisers are hoping Rich Tapestry's success so far encourages more owners from Asia to travel to the rich two-day meeting. "It's an honour to have him here and he adds that diversity," Breeders' Cup director of racing and nominations Joshua Christian said.
