Tak Sum Syndicate will experience its first LONGINES Hong Kong International Races adventure on Sunday, 14 December, when Tomodachi Kokoroe contests the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). The David Hayes-trained sprinter faces a tough challenge, with stablemate and global champion Ka Ying Rising among the favourites.
Syndicate manager Apollo Ng expressed his excitement at seeing the horse compete on the world stage. “We are all very happy about participating in the LONGINES HKIR for the first time,” he said. “Our syndicate includes many young members, and we all want to see passion for horse racing passed on from generation to generation. Some of our members have joined other syndicates and even become sole racehorse owners.”
The horse will race in the green and yellow silks famously carried by Gust Of Wind, winner of the 2015 G1 Australian Oaks (2400m). “We all hoped that the luck of these silks can carry on,” Ng added.
Drawn in gate seven, Tomodachi Kokoroe will start from a favourable position for the 1200-metre sprint at Sha Tin. “Gate seven is the winningmost draw for 1200 on the Sha Tin A track,” Ng explained. “We will see how horses inside of us go when the gates open. Of course, Ka Ying Rising will be fast from his rail draw, whilst Wunderbar (gate two) and Fast Network (gate three) will have good speed too. But with Tomodachi Kokoroe’s improved gate speed and big strides, hopefully he can take a good position – two wide with cover.”
After completing a hat-trick of wins early this season, Tomodachi Kokoroe ran seventh in the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) last time out. Ng said the result was due to racing circumstances: “On that day, he was forced to race wide without cover. He had to cover more ground, and at his present rating, it proved to be a bit hard for him.”
Following that run, the horse was freshened up to perform at his best for Sunday’s feature race. “After his defeat last time, we freshened him up so that he will run a bit fresher on the big day. Hopefully he will run to the same level he did when he won the Group 2 race (Premier Bowl Handicap, 1200m) earlier this season,” Ng said.
Ng also highlighted the positive impact of equipment and jockey changes on the horse’s performance this season. The application of a blinker with one cowl and a European jockey, Harry Bentley, has helped the horse improve significantly. Tomodachi Kokoroe began the season on a local rating of 84 and has climbed to 110 following three straight wins between September and October.
“Blinkers with one cowl assist the horse to race in a better manner and have improved his performance. On the other hand, a European jockey looks better suited, as he runs best when he can be relaxed during the race. He has benefitted from these two changes, and the horse can shine again as a seven-year-old on Sunday,” Ng said.
While Ng admitted that beating Ka Ying Rising looks like a “mission impossible,” the team remains hopeful that Tomodachi Kokoroe can deliver his best performance in the prestigious sprint.
Sunday’s 10-race fixture at Sha Tin begins at 12:25 pm with the Class 4 Fairy King Prawn Handicap (1400m), with all eyes set on the highlight LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint later in the day.
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