International
Handicappers' Seminar
International
Handicappers' Press Conference
On Friday morning at Sha Tin the panel
of International Handicappers were unanimous in nominating Electric
Unicorn as the best hope of the home team to repel the international
challenge in Sunday's Hong Kong International Races, when five
of the eleven strong panel picked the local horse for glory in
the Hong Kong Mile.
The panel also favoured last year's Hong
Kong Sprint winner Falvelon to defend his title successfully,
while siding with the Japanese challenger Stay Gold in the Vase,
and giving a vote of confidence to another Japanese runner Agnes
Digital in the Hong Kong Cup.
The panel of eleven wise men was made
up as follows: Dean Nowell(New Zealand), Mike Wanklin (Singapore),
Isamu Kosa (Japan), Gerald Sauques (France), Jim Bowler (Australia),Ciaran
Kennelly (Hong Kong), Nigel Gray (England), Frank Gabriel (USA),
Gary O'Gorman (Ireland), Melvin Day (UAE), and Roger Smith (South
Africa).
The panel reviewed the prospects of all
Sunday's participants, with the aid of video footage of the runners'
past performances. The key observations were as follows:
HONG KONG SPRINT
Jim Bowler made a strong case for Falvelon
defending his title. " He's been aimed for this all year,
and I think he's better now than he was last year" was his
appraisal of the horse's chance. Frank Gabriel believed that Morluc,
runner up last year, could turn the tables on Falvelon this time
around, while Ciaran Kennelly believed that the improving All
Thrills Too could be the surprise local package, if there was
to be one.
HONG KONG VASE
Isamu Kosa said that Stay Gold could bow
out on a winning note in the Hong Kong Vase.
Stay Gold, who defeated Emirates World Series Racing champion
Fantastic Light in Dubai, was fourth on his last start in the
Japan Cup, and a repeat of that sort of form, would make him hard
to beat here. Kennelly believed the local horses would need jet
propulsion to make them competitive, while Frank Gabriel advised
everyone to ignore White Heart's moderate performance in Japan,
and to look for a better run on Sunday.
"Neil Drysdale is a shrewd trainer, and he doesn't make these
trips for fun."
HONG KONG MILE
Ciaran Kennelly was enthusiastic about
the chances of Electric Unicorn. " Fairy King Prawn will
be sadly missed, but Electric Unicorn has done all that has been
asked of him, and will go very well." The German challenger
Proudwings was cited as a major threat, while bold efforts were
also anticipated from Forbidden Apple, Shogun Lodge and Zenno
El Cid. The track record time of 1.31.5 for Zenno El Cid in the
Mile Championship in Japan commands respect for that horse's chance.
HONG KONG CUP
Gerald Sauques was a strong supporter
of the French-trained Jim And Tonic in the Cup, while Frank Gabriel
reminded everyone that the Arlington Million winner Silvano had
beaten Jim And Tonic in Hong Kong in April, and he fancied him
to do so again. Mike Wanklin suggested that the Singaporean challengers,
although tough and consistent, had a mountain to climb, and preferred
the chances of Tobougg. The record of the Japanese challenger
Agnes Digital at a mile was impressive, and the step up to 2000
metres and defeat of 2000 Japan Cup winner T M Opera O made Agnes
Digital the majority pick of the panel.
The 2001 International
Handicappers' Seminar will be held in Sha Tin Racecourse on Friday
14th December tentatively commercing at 9:00am.
|
Participating
Handicappers 2001
|
| Name of Handicapper |
Region / Country |
| Mr
Ciaran Kennelly (Chairman) |
Hong Kong |
| Mr
James A R Bowler |
Australia |
| Mr Dean J Nowell
|
New Zealand |
| Mr Nigel Gray |
United Kingdom |
| Mr Gerald Sauque |
France |
| Mr Frank Gabriel
|
North America |
| Mr Isamu Kohsa |
Japan |
| Mr Garry O'Gorman |
Ireland |
| Mr Mike Wanklin |
Singapore |
| Mr Peter Schmanns |
Germany |
| Mr Roger Smith |
South Africa |
| Mr Melvin Day |
United Arab Emirates |
International
Handicappers' Seminar 2000
Date: 14 December, 2000
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Venue: 1/F Assembly Hall, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Headquarters
This year is the
second year of the International Handicappers' Seminar to be held
in Hong Kong. The aim of the seminar is to establish an Asian
Racing Conference Classification that would, in conjunction with
the International Classification, lead to a common ranking of
horses across the world and the standardisation of handicapping
practices. The International Ratings of all the horses participating
in the HKIR will also be discussed.
Participating
Handicappers
| Name of Handicapper |
Racing Organisation |
| Mr
Ciaran Kennelly |
The Hong Kong Jockey Club |
| Mr
Dean J Nowell |
New Zealand Thoroughbred
Racing Inc. |
| Mr Garry O'Gorman |
Irish Turf Club |
| Mr Geoffrey Gibbs |
Chairman, International
Classifications Committee |
| Mr Gerald Sauque |
France-GALOP |
| Mr Howard L Battle |
Keeneland |
| Mr Isamu Kohsa |
Japan Racing Association |
| Mr James A R Bowler |
Victoria Racing Club |
| Mr Melvin Day |
Emirates Racing Association
|
| Mr Mike Wanklin |
Jockey Club of Southern
Africa |
| Mr Nigel Gray |
British Horseracing Board |
| Mr Peter Schmanns |
Direktorium fur Vollblutzucht
und Rennen, Germany |
