All kinds of stuff about horse racing, yes, but also other stuff that we find interesting and which maybe you will, too.
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It’s been quite a topsy turvy-Oops-I-Did-It-Again kinda start to his return to Hong Kong racing on a six month license for former champion jockey of Britain Silvestre de Sousa, and what he must be hoping will be a full-time gig. A nice smile is just not enough, dude.
In the space of the three race meetings that have been held, the Brazilian jockey has, yes, ridden a couple of winners- and also copped two suspensions for careless riding totalling non appearances for five race meetings.
Ask some of his fellow riders and they’ll tell you that old Sly is extremely lucky to get away with only those five days.
Maybe outgoing Chief Steward Kim Kelly is thinking about his upcoming retirement and returning home and inhaling some fresh air without a mask?
Then again, Hong Kong racing is hardly the magnet it once was and the forecast is, well, Gloomy at best.
It’s not been made any brighter with a rusty looking Joao Moreira going around on some no-hopers on the weekend in his late start to the season, and- jeez- after riding a treble on Sunday, Karis Teetan having to forego the next two racing days because of a thyroid problem.
As for what lies ahead, as always, the rumour mill fuelled by feng shui superstitions flying off the handle and completely unhinged with no one-not even feng shui masters- knowing anything for sure, but...
The future of Macau is looking rather splendid now that the bids for the six new casino licenses have been tendered.
The one important proviso is that presentations had to include tourist attractions that have nada to do with gaming to, you know, create a more balanced buffet of offerings.
Why? To attract a word that’s non existent in Hong Kong these days- International tourism.
The last minute proposal fifteen minutes before tenders closed by the powerful Genting Group has certainly spiced things up and got big corporate tongues wagging.
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Just as many of us were coming to terms with the announcement that Roger Federer was retiring from Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments, and being moved by his main competitor for so many years-Rafael Nadal- mentioning how much he was going to miss their friendly rival, there was the tweet below from Australian jockey Jamie Mott.
On a surreal day of racing at Caulfield on Saturday where the weather gods were creating moments that could have been what Armageddon and Hades might look like, Jamie Mott rode his first Group 1 winner.
One doesn’t need to be a racing fan or know who Jamie Mott is, but his tweet shows the power of words and that emotional attachment which is often missing in the pastime.
The words in the tweet? Honest and open feelings about never giving up and always doing the best one can.
It might sound simple, but, too often, we forget the simple things in life in our pursuit of materialistic gains that we cannot take with us and rarely buy happiness.
Thanks, Jamie Mott for reminding us that there’s no substitute for hard work, the importance of family and staying true to one’s self.
Oh, yes, and congrats on the double the next day at Flemington!
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It might not have exactly been a “joyful fortune”, but when Joyful Fortune bolted in on a rare Sunday meeting at Flemington, it was money for jam with odds that drifted from $1.70 to $2.25.
Some in Hong Kong would remember the galloper and his first win in the city for Trainer David Hall which was not exactly unexpected after a brilliant trial.
What wasn’t expected were the following defeats which saw connections move their horse to the stable of Tony Cruz.
After one bit of Joyful Fortune for Cruzy at first asking, there wasn’t much else going around and so it was decided by connections that it would be best for the galloper to return to Australia.
Again, after some brilliant trials, the now Mark Newnham trained Joyful Fortune and with Josh Parr flying down from Sydney for the one ride, duly saluted.
What’s next?
