Tomodachi Kokoroe’s upward arc this season will be put under the microscope on Thursday, January 1, when the in-form sprinter tackles the Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap over 1400 metres at Sha Tin. Carrying top weight against a deep and accomplished field, the seven-year-old arrives with momentum, confidence and the quiet respect of his rider Harry Bentley, even if expectations are being sensibly managed.
The Written Tycoon gelding has enjoyed the most productive campaign of his career, re-establishing himself among Hong Kong’s leading speedsters. Raced by the Tak Sum Syndicate, Tomodachi Kokoroe reeled off three straight victories earlier in the season, highlighted by a commanding performance in the Premier Bowl Handicap. That sequence earned him a crack at elite company in December, where he acquitted himself with credit when sixth in the Hong Kong Sprint, his first attempt at the very top level.
Bentley felt that experience, while demanding, was a necessary step in the horse’s development. He now returns to a slightly longer trip for the Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap, a race that demands both speed and resilience under pressure.
“It was a solid effort,” Bentley reflected of the sprint defeat. “Taking on that calibre of horse at level weights is never easy, but he ran honestly. The step back up to 1400 metres shouldn’t be an issue — he’s shown before that he can stretch his speed and still be competitive.”
Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap: Weight and Tactics in Focus
Thursday’s Group 3 handicap presents a different challenge altogether. Tomodachi Kokoroe shoulders 135 pounds as the highest-rated runner in the field, a burden that often shapes the outcome of races of this nature.
“These races are often won by horses lower down the weights,” Bentley said. “You have to be realistic carrying top weight, especially with strong opposition. But the horse is thriving, and that gives us confidence to give it a proper go.”
Trainer David Hayes has been central to the gelding’s resurgence. A subtle equipment adjustment late last season — the addition of a blinker with one cowl — sparked a transformation that has seen Tomodachi Kokoroe’s rating climb sharply to a career-high mark. A proven winner at Sha Tin, he has tackled the 1400-metre course twice before, including a narrow second when making most of the running.
Drawn in stall one, Bentley believes flexibility will be key. “From the inside, we have options. He can take a lead and settle, or if we decide to roll along at his own tempo, he’s comfortable doing that too. We’ll decide closer to the race.”
The supporting cast is formidable. Patch Of Theta, Packing Hermod and Light Years Charm sit close behind him in the weights, while seasoned performers such as Beauty Eternal and Johannes Brahms add further depth. With several lightly weighted runners also lining up, the contest shapes as a searching test of class and balance.
Away from the feature, Bentley is set for a busy New Year’s Day with nine rides on the programme. Among them is Serangoon in the Mui Wo Handicap over 2000 metres, a horse he knows well after previous success in partnership. “He’s been knocking on the door,” Bentley noted. “The draw helps, and the distance will suit him just fine.”
The Sha Tin card also marks the start of a three-month riding stint for Irish jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, who arrives with recent Group 1 experience in Hong Kong and takes five engagements on the day.
Racing gets underway at 12.30pm with an 11-race programme, culminating in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap, a race that promises both intrigue and quality as Tomodachi Kokoroe attempts to defy the scales and continue his standout season.
Sha Tin race cards 1 January present an 11-race New Year programme that blends proven performers with emerging talent across all divisions. For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to Racebuzz.