Former Irish galloper threw away second place with his antics in the final stages of the Tai Tong Handicap
Trainer Tony Cruz might have to sit down and plan his programming for Anticipation with rival trainer John Moore if the five-year-old is to avoid compulsory retirement. While 121-1 chance Brilliant Shine (Alvin Ng Ka-chun, pictured below) was getting away with the Tai Tong Handicap yesterday, Anticipation and Victory Magic were duelling neck and neck for second and Cruz’s gelding decided to have a bite at the younger horse – the second time this season he has tried to savage Victory Magic. “He’s such a kind-natured horse normally but there must be something about Victory Magic he really doesn’t like,” said Cruz. “Horses definitely recognise each other and when they brushed early in the straight that upset Anticipation and he wanted revenge. I don’t think he deserves retirement, maybe we’ll just have to keep those two apart.” Alan Aitken
Travel Renyi wins, allaying fears from trainer Richard Gibson and jockey Chad Schofield
It might have been unbearably cold for some but Chad Schofield did enough to get trainer Richard Gibson to start sweating, at least figuratively, when the young Australian went for a daring rails run on 2.4 favourite Travel Renyi. “I’ll admit I was worried when Chad went back to the inside,” Gibson said after Travel Renyi made it three wins from four starts this season, with Schofield saying the strong sequence of form should continue at the top of Class Two:“He is a really nice horse, he handled the step up in grade today and he has more to give. He has tactical speed and can put himself in a race, and when you ask him to go he has a very good turn-of-foot. He is only lightly raced, so he definitely has some upside.” Michael Cox
Hong Kong to play feature role in Asian Racing Conference in Mumbai
No midweek racing this week but Jockey Club officials will be on show instead at the Asian Racing Conference in Mumbai. Chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges makes his keynote speech – “The Wagering Landscape” – to the gathering on Tuesday and in the subsequent days there will be presentations dealing with matters as diverse as wagering, pattern races, illegal gambling, drug-free racing, racing in China and marketing, quite a few by Jockey Club management. “The role of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in racing, not just in the Asian region but worldwide, is greater than ever,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges. “That 10 of the World’s Top 100 Group One races are run in Hong Kong, a jurisdiction with less than 800 races a year, is just one sign.” Alan Aitken
