Hong Kong Racing Study Guide: A Derby For The Ages

The BMW Hong Kong Derby on March 24 looked like it was going to be a sensational renewal but it exceeded all expectations. The drama began when the race was drawn on Thursday when four of the five top-rated 4-year-olds drew the four outside posts. Any questions about handling the 2,000 meter distance were now compounded by either ground loss or being forced to drop back early.

One horse that did not worry about the distance was Massive Sovereign, who won his Hong Kong debut on March 3 when he rallied wide and won going away against class 3 company. He was only one of two starters with a win at the course and distance and through a variety of favorable circumstances, had leading rider Zac Purton back to ride.

Pierre Ng has had a terrific 2023-‘24 season with a clear lead in the trainer’s championship. He entered two for the Derby – Ka Ying Generation, who won a 2,000 meter class 3 handicap in February but was up the track in the Hong Kong Classic Cup last out, and Galaxy Patch, the highest rated horse in the field but he never won beyond 1,200 meters and drew post 14.

Helios Express, winner of the first two legs of the 4-year-old series, wound up as the betting favorite but post 13 made his task even harder. There was a feeling that the pace might be slow but that all changed when Andrea Atzeni sent Ka Ying Generation to the front and opened up a clear lead even though the first 800 meters were run in 49.45 seconds.

The turf course at Sha Tin has been noticeably slower than usual lately but it was upgraded to “Good to Firm” after the first two races and all of the March 24 races were faster than standard. For a while, the riders seemed content with their early positions but heading to the far turn it looked like Ka Ying Generation might forget to stop. This is where the 2024 Derby began to percolate as there was a clear leader carving out a modest pace over a track that was conducive to his tactics.

Helios Express was making up ground but not fast enough to be a threat as it looked like his chance to sweep the series was not going to happen. Zac Purton asked Massive Sovereign for his best and with 400 meters to go, he split horses and found clear running room but was still about ten lengths behind. Ka Ying Generation ran his fourth 400-meter sectional in an amazing 22.94 seconds and showed no sign of backing up.

Purton got busy and began to cut into the margin. Massive Sovereign had not missed a beat since shipping in from Ireland and the loud crowd noise only seemed to inspire him. As he took dead aim at Ka Ying Generation, he lengthened his stride and ran his penultimate 200-meter sectional in 10.81 seconds.

Inside 100 meters, it looked like Massive Sovereign was going to run down the leader but was it enough to win? Incredibly, Galaxy Patch, who had to steady off heels deep in the stretch, was rallying furiously behind Massive Sovereign. As they neared the finish line, Massive Sovereign had too much momentum and held on by a desperate nose in a thrilling 1:59.85. Galaxy Patch was second just ahead of Ka Ying Generation who was noble in defeat.

Massive Sovereign is now two for two in Hong Kong and has an unlimited future for Dennis Yip. He has adapted as well as any horse has ever done and should have his choice of top races both here and abroad. He is that good and can even get better.

Galaxy Patch might have been best in his first try going long. The winner of his first four starts on turf going 1200 meters, he began his prep for the Derby with a 1000-meter sprint on March 3 when he finished fifth. Pierre Ng was not worried about the distance of the race but his ability to relax in his races.

Ng was confident enough to enter Galaxy Patch only a week later in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and he flew home for second behind California Spangle going 1400m. Clearly, Ng’s efforts to get him to relax were paying off and the results were enough for Ng to enter him two weeks later in the Derby going farther than he ever tried.

It was quite the month of March for Galaxy Patch and I have never seen a horse prepped for a Derby like it. Here in America, we are used to seeing prep races contested in a manner that get longer as they near the Derby and the theory is that the horse is building enough stamina to do something he has never done. Ng’s way was regardless of the distance, the ability to relax and conserve energy was most important and he almost pulled it off. Plus, his Ka Ying Generation held on for third.

Suddenly, these emerging stars have taken centerstage and showed they are ready for bigger and better things. Helios Express, with a little rest, will be fine and I thought Chill Chibi ran very well considering he chased the pace. The beautifully-bred Unbelievable was a good fifth after a poor start and you will never see him at 58-1 odds again. What looked like, to me, a relatively weak crop of 4-year-olds now might be vintage.