Hong Kong Racing Over The Weekend

South African jockey Jeff Lloyd won the US$2.6 million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile (1600m) Group 1 at Sha Tin on Sunday aboard 9-year old Able One(NZ) (by Cape Cross out of Gardenia by Danehill), winning by a neck from Cityscape. This is an incredible feat considering the horse has had five stress fractures over his career, with his trainer John Moore saying they might contemplate sending Able One to Dubai in his farewell season. Jeff Lloyd describes the race as the greatest thrill of his life, winning “an international Group 1 on a nine-year old is pretty amazing” and “A 9-year-old with a 50-year-old on his back, it’s just great”. Able One has had 41 starts, and 11 wins, with this win being his third Group 1 win in his career.

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup Group 1 at Sha Tin over 2000m, one of Hong Kong’s most prestigious races, was won by the grey California Memory trained by Tony Cruz and ridden by Matthew Chadwick. South African trainer Tony Millard’s Ambitious Dragon started favourite for the race but was only able to manage a fourth placing. It is Chadwick’s first international Group 1 victory. Irian finished second, with Zazou finishing third followed by Ambitious Dragon. California Memory is by Highest Honor, out of Kalpita by Spinning World.