By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
Hongkong Great was the best horse in the race and showed why he will be a force to reckon with in Singapore with an emphatic win in the $85,000 Class 2 race (1600m) on Saturday.
Sent out looking a picture of health by his trainer Ricardo Le Grange, the Chilean-bred seven-year-old had solid support at $27. Spirit of Big Bang (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) was sent out the $17 favourite in the widely-open race.
Though the son of Lookin At Lucky was still unplaced after two starts in Singapore – albeit over unsuitable 1200m trips – and he had to carry the topweight (58.5kgs), his connections were confident of a forward showing. Jockey Danny Beasley played his cards early with a very positive ride from the widest gate 10. Although they were caught a tad wide into the tight first bend, Beasley continued to push forward in the backstraight to be on the flank of the early leader, Amore Amore (Shafrizal Saleh), before taking over the lead at the 650m.
With the experienced Beasley riding with intent, Hongkong Great kicked clear into the home straight but had Circuit Mission (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) on his outside with Spirit Of Big Bang also ready to pounce after being given a beautiful run in-transit by Kok.
But belying his big weight, the Hongkong Great kicked strongly to put two lengths on the chasers at the 200m, before eventually winning by one-and-three-quarters length.
Circuit Mission was gallant in defeat and Tangible (Ibrahim Mamat) ran on well late to finish another one-and-a-half lengths back in third, over a tiring Spirit Of Big Bang.
The winning time was 1min 37.28secs for the 1600m on the Polytrack.
The gracious Le Grange was quick to thank others for that first win for a horse that could add some silverware to his mantelpiece later in the year.
“All credit must go to Dan (Beasley) as well,” said the elated trainer.
“He rode him an absolute treat. He’s done a lot of work behind the scenes with this horse and to the Yue family (owner Yue Kwok Yin Edmond) – massive shout-out – thank you so much guys for giving me such a lovely horse to train.
“You know he’s (Hongkong Great) a seven-year-old but he acts like a two-year-old. He’s got a new lease on life here.
“The first two runs were good runs. Obviously they were nice pipe-openers for him before he got back to the 1600m on the Polytrack.
“But I don’t think he’s a one-trick pony. I feel that I’ve got to know him a bit better now, and he could be competitive in the bigger races coming up (later) in the year.
“He’ll go to the (Group 1) Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) and the (Group 1) (Singapore) Gold Cup (2000m). He’s won over 2000m back home (Chile), so why not?”
Beasley credited his Hong Kong wins over a similar trip and track that gave him confidence going into Saturday’s race.
“You watch his races in Hong Kong and they were always very positive,” said Beasley, who won earlier in the day on Lady Sprintbok ($25) in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1100m.
“(Jockey) Zac (Purton) rode him a bit over there and he was always positive on him, so it was about getting him to the right trip.
“He ran super first-up (in Singapore) when I rode him but I don’t know what happened to him in the (Group 1) Lion City (Cup); they probably went a bit quick for him that day.
“So getting to 1600m on the Poly(track); it was the right scenario.”
And of the big races later in the year?
“He had form in South America over 2000m and that’s how he ended up in Hong Kong,” explained Beasley.
“He won three Group 1 races in Chile and he’s always felt like he’d get over more ground.
“From the first time I sat on him, I said to Ricky (Le Grange) ‘he’s a mile, mile and a quarter horse’ so he ran a super 1200m, then got here today and third run in, it was always going to look pretty good.
“He’s got improvement left in him, so it’s onwards and upwards from here.”
With his first win from three starts at Kranji, Hongkong Great has taken his local earnings to over $40,000 for connections.
Kok bags first four-timer
Kok had his fair share of issues lately that were out of his control, mostly work permit-related, so it was great to see the popular jockey boot home an outstanding four winners on the 11-race meeting.
“It’s my first time getting four winners!” said the happy jockey after the races.
“Thanks to all the trainers for supporting me, especially (trainer) Mr (Steven) Burridge for the mental support and my wife (Lola) and family who has been very helpful in stressful times.
“It was three months of frustration with the work permit and Covid-19 too.
“Riding winners is a good way to thank my supporters.”
Kok rode the first two winners on the card – Wawasan ($21) in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1000m and Coin Toss (see previous report) before Heng Xing ($24) made it a treble in the $20,000 Maiden race over 1600m.
The Malaysian hoop has ridden trebles before – he knocked one in only two weeks ago – so it was a huge milestone when First Chief ($16) gave him his fourth winner in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 2 race over 1200m.
The talented jockey has plenty to look forward too, with Tiger Roar eyeing off a Class 1 race over the mile later in the month.
Other worthy mentions
In the jockey ranks, apart from Kok and Beasley, Brazilian jockey Bernardo Pinheiro rode a brace on War Warrior ($10) in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race over 1200m and Knight’s Gambit ($24) in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1200m.
It was also a day to remember for apprentice jockey Faiz Khair who rode his very first winner on Maximilian (see later report) at his 77th race ride.
In the trainer ranks, the day belonged to Richard Lim who had three wins on-the-trot with Heng Xing, Knight’s Gambit and First Chief while Kuah Cheng Tee knocked in a double with War Warrior and Maximilian ($51).
