(Courtesy of http://www.fasttrack.hk)

The “I’m The King Of The World” Award

Zac Purton

He won the Doncaster on Sacred Falls, he said it like he saw it during his post-race interview, he’s ridden consistently and brilliantly, he got fired by John Moore and survived, he was setup a few seasons ago and fought that and won, Charm School can wait, he found time to make his lovely missus preggers, he’s not out to win the Popularity Stakes, and he’ll end the thirteen-year reign of Dougie Whyte. Respect.

The “Do You Believe In Magic?” Award

Joao Moreira

Just when racing was looking tired and old and even a tad boring- poof- Joao Moreira leaves Singapore, lands in Hong Kong and immediately wins over those who matter most: The local racing fan and the Chinese racing media led by Apple Daily.

He might be second in this season’s Jockey Premiership, but when it comes to popularity, charisma, likeability, and giving Hong Kong racing a major facelift, only the most churlish will begrudge The Magic Man that honor.

Over-hyped? Not hyped or marketed enough in our books as he has single-handedly breathed new fire into the Jockey Challenge- and bringing in those to the races who once had better things to do.

The Delay No More Award

Karis Teetan

He won the first race of this racing season with his first ride in Hong Kong and Karis Teetan has, in our books, been the find of the year with the future looking so bright, we need to wear shades.

The “Show Me The Money” Award

Douglas Whyte

The thirteen consecutive year reign as Hong Kong’s Champion jockey might be over, but it’s been a season that’s gone according to his career plan by answering those who said he doesn’t ride Group 1 winners.

What does he do? He rides two on International Day.

The HKJC and HK racing’s best “brand ambassador”, and so “sparingly used” it’s embarrassing, but with over HK$100m in Stake money- more than any other jockey- we doubt that Whyte is exactly hurting.

Hurt, perhaps- but not hurting- and remains the centerpiece for every Shane “The Man Of Da Peoples” Anderson interview with anyone from HK: “Mate, what’s Douglas Whyte like?”

The Annual Rambo Tse Award

Neil Callan

He rides to win, he takes no prisoners during a race, he fought City Hall- well, Kim Kelly and a stupid Stewards conviction- and won, strangely, copped suspension after suspension after that- and then took his enforced holiday after winning the Group 1 Champions and Chater Cup on Blazing Speed for former champion jockey and trainer and champion bloke- Tony Cruz- who’s seen it all, supports EVERY jockey whenever he can while continuing to support a Mars Attack by communicating with the little people through that blue-toothed cockroach in his ear.

The Just Do It Award

Paul O’Sullivan

Low key, humble, wouldn’t know how to be two-faced, flies under the radar and delivers, Paul O’Sullivan needs a damn good PR man and manager to grab him an army of big spending owners and not the likes of that pain in the arse- “Doctor” Pato Leung, below, and his Goodtime Syndicate.

Especially with the five wins of Aerovelocity- and his partnership with The Zac Attack-he’s more than proven he can train winners, and with newcomer Star Trak- his owners can’t even spell- set to make headlines next season after its narrow defeat to another good one in David Hall’s Brilliant Dream.

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THE FAST TRACKER GOES OVER THE RAINBOW AND INTO THE BEER GARDEN.

Apparently, tonight will be the Joao Moreira-Zac Purton show, at least, according to the gweilo racing pundits, but, as we all know by now, racing runs according to its own script.

Sure, with Dougie Whyte on the suspension list, this looks like a two-horse race between the leading jockeys, both with great books of rides and with Cas and Tony ready to close that gap between them and John Size in the battle for the Trainers Premiership.

But, Beware The Ides Of March and June and the current scorching heat that might cause a few, well, boilovers, early on in the night before we get a light breeze blowing our way as the night progresses.

Gawd knows, we get enough wind walking around the racecourse.

R1 GOLD TARTINI/HUMONGUS/ROYAL KNIGHT/RED ADVENTURE

Could this be the first of many Purton-Moreira quinellas or quinella-place bets tonight?

R2 HAYHAY/FAMILY INTERESTS/FRESH AIR/LONGWAH AMBER

R3 FIGHTING BOY/SUPREME FALCON/ONE OF A KIND/HOW SPEEDY

You can buy the field and still miss out on the winner. Fighting Boy for me- for the odds, it has the form and, hopefully, gives me a fighting chance to still be in the Six Up after this race.

R4 SKIP COURT/ISLAND GARDEN/TWIN TURBO/VERY WELL

Pass me the nutcracker.

R5 DOMINEER/KING DERBY/YOU READ MY MIND/HONG KONG DANCER

It’s carrying top weight, it’s drawn barrier 10, but the last win of Domineer was devastating.

R6 RAINBOW CHIC/SAME WORLD/SUNNY YING/TRAVEL BRAND

Pretty even race with Fownes and Moore being double-handed and tough to see them coming up empty-handed.

R7 HARBOUR PUNK/ROMAN LEGEND

Punks Rule!

R8 ARCHIPPUS/TRUMP/STEP HIGH/GOLDEN ADDICTION

The John Size-trained Golden Addiction should run in the top three, but it’s very beatable and way under the odds for me in the second Quartet race of the night and the last Valley meeting for the season where I’ll go looking for value- 10(multiple banker)x4,5,6,7,11,12

BEST BET R5 DOMINEER
NEXT BEST R7 HARBOUR PUNK
LONGSHOT R3 FIGHTING BOY

SARIKA’S SASSY THURSDAY SIX UP

R3- 1-6-9
R4- 6-9-10-12
R5- 1
R6- 4-5-10
R7- 11
R8- 4-7-10

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SELECTIONS FROM THE BIG APPLE (@SW064351)

BEST BET
Race 7, No. 11 Harbour Punk
Outstanding first-up effort and will strip fitter for that. The one to beat.

SECOND BEST
Race 6, No. 10 Sunny Ying
Will make his own luck on the speed and be hard to run down.

LONGSHOT
Race 5, No. 11 King Derby
Plenty of pace engaged and he will be strong late. Each-way.

QUADDIE
1,11 / 5,10 / 5,11 / F. $50 for 52.08%.

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PARTING SHOT

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