Written by Renee Geelen
Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Sunday’s racing at Sha Tin saw three winners who will be aimed at the upcoming Classic series, commencing in January 2025.
David Hayes will aim Rubylot (Rubick) at the Hong Kong Classic Mile in January, while Cody Mo’s Pray For Mir (Justify {USA}) looks the goods, and reigning champion Francis Lui unearthed Harold Win (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
Rubylot’s electric turn of foot puts him in contention
Trainer David Hayes was thrilled with the way 4-year-old gelding Rubylot put away the field in the Class Three Yan Chai Trophy over 1200 metres.
“He’s in the Classic Series. He’s my number one miler, I reckon,” Hayes told hkjc.com. “I thought the horse was good and it’s so nice to see it happen. He’s definitely my most improved horse. That was big and he’ll only be better over 1400m and a mile. He’s quite exciting, I think. I was a little bit scared it could be too short and it nearly was, but he’s run down a very good horse (Bottomuptogether).”
As reported in yesterday’s The Daily Wrap, Rubylot was involved in a scary incident after the race where he was spooked by lightning in the winner’s circle and slipped over. “The horse slipped over when the lightning struck, and I just hope he didn’t hurt himself. The jockey got off and the horse ran back so fast he slipped,” Hayes told scmp.com.
“He’s (Rubylot) in the Classic Series. He’s my number one miler, I reckon.” - David Hayes
Owned by the HK Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate, Rubylot was purchased by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale for 2-year-olds for $100,000 from Woodpark Stud, and he won a trial in Australia prior to being sent to Hong Kong as an unraced horse in May 2023. He has won four of his 13 starts, and placed on another seven occasions, in Hong Kong with earnings over HK$4.8million (AU$890,000).
Rubick is the sire of 13 stakes winners, led by Group 1 winner Jacquinot, and The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, while in Hong Kong, he has had 15 runners for seven winners of 16 races.
Rubylot is the fourth foal and third winner for placed mare Emirates Comfort (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) whose third foal is Hong Kong winner of Sunlight Power (Capitalist). Emirates Comfort is a half-sister to dual Group 2 winner Free Port Lux (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), with both being out of G1 Arlington Park Beverly D S. winner Royal Highness (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). Royal Highness is a half-sister to Champion 2YO Filly in Germany Royal Dubai (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}), whose stakes-winning daughter Rumh (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) is the dam of three stakes winners including Group 1 winning full siblings Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Wild Illusion (GB).
Rubylot as a 2-year-old | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pray For Mir vaunted as a tough horse
The Cody Mo-trained Pray For Mir showcased his talent with a gutsy win in the Class Three Tsuen Lok H. over 1600 metres under Matthew Chadwick. “Last time you can see he had no room and everything was unlucky,” Mo said of his last-start 11th, coincidentally in a race won by Rubylot’s year old half-brother Sunlight Power.
“After his final gallop I thought he was a bit too relaxed so that’s why I put the (cheek pieces) on him. Even overseas he had two starts and two wins with the blinkers. He’s a very honest horse and a very tough horse. It depends how much he can improve, but I hope he can (go for the Classic Mile).”
Named Javaja in Australia, Pray For Mir won his only two starts on the Sunshine Coast when trained by Stuart Kendrick. He was exported to Hong Kong in December 2023, and this was his first win in five starts in the region, although he placed in his second run. Originally purchased by TFI, Kia Ora Stud and D Farrington at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from Coolmore Stud for $950,000, Pray For Mir now races in the ownership of Chris So Chun Hung and Alexander So.
Pray For Mir as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pray For Mir is Justify’s (USA) only winner in Hong Kong to date from five to race there. He is the second foal and first winner for G2 Silver Shadow S winner and G1 Coolmore Stud S.-placed and G1 Blue Diamond S.-placed Formality (Fastnet Rock) who is a daughter of Horse of the Year in Singapore in 2009 Jolie’s Shinju (Jpn) (Jolie’s Halo {USA}) who won nine races in Singapore including the Derby and was Group 2 placed in Australia.
Harold Win wins for reigning champion trainer
A trial winner in New Zealand, Harold Win’s consistency was rewarded when he broke through for his first win on Sunday in the Class Four Sha Tsui Handicap over 1200 metres for jockey Andrea Atzeni. He was having his sixth start, having placed in his three prior starts, and was fourth in his first two starts.
Trained by Francis Lui, who has had a torrid start to this season, Harold Win was originally purchased by Upper Bloodstock for NZ$225,000 at the NZB Ready to Run 2-year-old sale from Westbury Stud who stand Swiss Ace.
Swiss Ace has sired 19 stakes winners globally, and in Hong Kong, he has 27 winners of 66 races led by G3 Sha Tin Vase winner Little Giant. Harold Win is a full brother to Listed Singapore 3YO Sprint winner January (NZ), and their three-time winning dam Musically (Belong To Me) has also produced six other winners. Musically is a half-sister to G2 Yallambee Classic winner Magically (Danehill {USA}), and both are out of Magic Music (Loosen Up {USA}) who won 12 races including two at Group 2 level and was twice Group 1 placed in the G1 Lightning S. and G1 Oakleigh Plate.
Harold Win as a 2-year-old | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Tuesday’s National Day Cup
Tuesday’s National Day Raceday takes place at Sha Tin Racecourse to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China with the G3 National Day Cup H. as Race 7.
Cui Jianchun, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR will officiate at the Opening Ceremony. Wang Songmiao, Secretary-General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR will present the National Day Cup trophy.
Won last year by Stoltz (More Than Ready {USA}), who is in this year’s field for the G3 National Day Cup, the field also includes Group 1 winner Invincible Sage (Thronum), last start winner Magic Control (Sioux Nation {USA}) and consistent emerging galloper Call Me Glorious (No Nay Never {USA}).
“He won really well last time, his time was good and he carried the weight well,” jockey Matthew Chadwick told scmp.com about Magic Control. “He’s really improved since he’s come to Cody’s. When he first came, he was hot and sweaty during the trials. He was much better during race day. Hopefully we can see him improve again and hopefully it all goes to plan.”
