That particularly nasty kind of annual madness that descends on Hong Kong racing arrived early on Sunday as a seasonal virus first struck a few journalists, and is now likely to be spread into the ranks of owners, who are about to be blinded by Derby fever.
Symptoms include an inability to accept a horse’s limitations, money-hungry greed and complete irrationality when it comes to whether a horse is good enough to win the BMW Hong Kong Derby on March 15 next year.
That might be more than four months away, but with seven of Sunday’s 10 winners “Derby eligible” – meaning they were either four or about to turn four, in the case of Northern Hemisphere horses on January 1 – talk was all about the 2,000m classic.
Derby eligible and Derby ready or suitable are entirely different things and this is where the fever-driven madness sets in. The Derby might be run over 2,000m, but its history is littered with horses who couldn’t run 10 furlongs down the proverbial mineshaft.
Little Bridge, Joy And Fun and Green Birdie read like part of a short-list of Hong Kong’s best sprinters – all won Group Ones away from home – but early in their careers were pushed to run 600m farther than they would like to in pursuit of the big one.
The Jockey Club even had to intervene when another speedster, Multiglory, pressed his claims for a place in the 2011 Derby with two tiring efforts after leading in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and Hong Kong Classic Cup.
Of the seven horses who won on Sunday, only one could boast claims of being “Derby ready” – Tony Cruz even going as far to say that back-to-back winner Beauty Only is being set for one race only.
Most of the winners aren’t anywhere good enough, so it won’t be a question of whether they get the trip. Paul O’Sullivan neatly deflected questions on the matter by referring to the “D word" for his promising four-year-old Star Track.
O’Sullivan also pointed to the fact he has an owner with horse sense, former trackwork rider Martin Mong Man-tak, who won’t make his trainer force a round peg into a square hole.
John Size seems immune to Derby fever – as he is with most ailments associated with hyperbole and hysteria – and he simply offered a wry laugh when it was pointed out that Shining Champion, after he had won his first race, was four. “Let’s just look at the next Class Three,” he said.
Of course, Derby suitability, or otherwise, can work both ways – the prime example being Rich Tapestry. He looked every bit the Derby aspirant on breeding, race form and looks, but failed miserably when stretched beyond a mile.
Now he is famous for winning a Group One in the absolute antithesis of middle-distance turf contests – an American dirt sprint.
Winning a Derby means so much more for local owners than any international Group One ever could and the lure of the 2,000m race means inordinate amounts of money are spent chasing the dream, to the detriment of Hong Kong racing.
A horse that runs a good 2,000m is one thing, but plenty of horses purchased with the Derby in mind don’t work out – and they fill those horribly nondescript Class Three and Four 1,800m races each week.
Or if they are any good, like John Moore’s Dominant, there are only three races at home each season they could conceivably win.
From now on, every time there is a “4yo” next to a horse’s name in the racebook, the question will be asked: “Derby?”
The lead-up to the race is about the only time you will hear trainers stating a case for more points from the handicapper after a win, as they push to take up one of the final spots in the field – even if their horse will be 100-1.
It doesn’t matter for an owner whether his horse isn’t in contention on Derby day, it’s all about face – just having a runner and a table to entertain your friends at the Derby dinner is reward enough.
The madness doesn’t stop once the Derby has been run either – with much of the HK$10.4 million first–prize cheque splurged on a lavish celebration dinner and red packets stuffed full of cash handed out to associated staff.
So for the next four months the race is on to secure a place on show-off day – if only we had a vaccine for the owners and trainers.
