I'm sure the horse wouldn't quite have understand all the fuss (probably just wanted some hay and a good lie down) but nevertheless I did like the 20/6 press invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club:

Victorious Return of Cape Of Good Hope

Hong Kong sprinter Cape Of Good Hope will return to Hong Kong on 21 June 2005 morning after his victory in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on 18 June 2005. Members of the press are cordially invited to cover a welcome reception for Cape Of Good Hope. Details are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 21 June 2005

Time:

9:15am Members of the press gather at car park next to 1000M start

9:30am Welcome reception for Cape Of Good Hope starts

Venue: Quarantine Stable Block B, Sha Tin Racecourse

Horse owner representative and Executive Director, Racing Mr. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges will attend the welcome reception.

Cape of Good Hope is no slouch. From 37 starts the 7 year old son of Inchinor has won 7 times including the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (Royal Ascot at York) and the G1 Australia Stakes (Australia). He has also been group placed in all number of countries: 2nd in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint (HK), G2 King Stand (UK), G1 Chairman's Sprint (HK) [twice], G1 Centenary Cup (HK), G3 International Sprint Trial (HK) and 3rd in the G1 Chairman's Sprint (HK), G1 Lightning Stakes (Australia), G1 Sprinters Stakes (Japan), G1 Golden Jubilee (UK), G1 Bauhinia Trophy (HK), G1 Hong Kong Sprint, G3 Challenge Cup.

Alas Cape of Good Hope has had to contend with some strong local competition for much of his career, forced to settle for a view of Silent Witness' tail on all number of occasions. He (and the HKJC) also attracted some controversial press comment when reportedly "recalled" to HK from Australia earlier this year to match SW in case a lack of competition affected crowd numbers.

Meanwhile skies went from gloomy to dark at 10am local time today and remained that way for all number of hours courtesy of a series of severe thunderstorms that saw both the amber rainstorm warning signal and thunderstorm warning issued. There would be many a property in Australia who could have benefited from the 70 millimetre deluge that washed over various parts of the territory however. The source of such tempestuous conditions? An active southwest monsoon affecting the South China coastal areas.

It's been a weather-affected close to the race season as well - one meeting washed out and rescheduled to the 29th (members of the public will be given free admission to the public stand at Happy Valley Racecourse that evening; tourists and guests of Jockey Club members also to be admitted free to the Members enclosure) and punter angst courtesy of a definite track bias at Shatin last weekend.

But not all is doom and gloom - Tony Cruz made history last weekend (albeit the HKJC didn't issue a press release about it ...), passing former Australian trainer George Moore's 25-year-old record for most wins in a season (87 in the 1980 season). Cruz claimed the new title when MR GENKI won over 1400m at Sha Tin. A comparison between Cruz and Moore is quite interesting - Cruz having now won 10 premierships in HK: 2 as leading trainer (2 others as an apprentice and 6 as a jockey) whilst Moore won the HK premiership 11 times.

And at the Intercontinental hotel in Kowloon today, preparations are underway for David Hayes' farewell dinner. The HKJC are renowned for their client service - and what better way to demonstrate goodness and kindliness to those trainers and jockeys who have to get out of bed at 3am every day than to arrange for a 6pm kick-off to dinner to ensure everyone can be safely tucked away in their beds by 10pm. (... Now we're just trying to figure out how the owners will get to the party on time given that HK work commitments usually dictate that events that start much before 9 ('ish) involve a fair amount of diary rescheduling and anxious moments cross-checking the "to do" list).

Finally, if you were wondering what were the names of the colts/entires in HK (given that they remain somewhat rare compared to their gelded counterparts) - here's the list (current to 17/6): SIROCCO, MR BEAUTIFUL, AMBITIOUS TYCOON, CHERISHED, FLORAL DYNAMITE, CZAR OF PRUSSIA, GOOD HEART, DANSERT MAESTRO, SUPER KID, PEACH BLOSSOM, INDUSTRIAL SUCCESS, KA KA WIN, A PLUS FIT, GRASS HOPPER, RED POWER, LUCKY CORDELIA, HIGHLILLI, DEVIL MOON, BODACIOUS, KING OF TURBOT, SAINT THOMAS, LIFELINE RAPIDE, WHATABOB, GIANFANTI, WIND WINNER, CELESTIAL STEEL, DON FELIPE, CLASSIC NAVIGATOR, LUCKY GOOD DAY, DREAMS COME TRUE, DANEMAN HILL, THE KING, GREEN WARRIOR, SYLLABUS, TOURELLE LAD, TIME SUPREME, AMPLE GAINS, VICTORY TREASURE, GREAT LEADER, TIGER STORM, BRIGHT AND GAY, FRIENDSHIP, FOKINE, EL PRADO STAR, AWESOME EAGLE, CALIFORNIA HEART, ROYAL FALCON, CAPABILITY, EVERGREEN, ART TRADER, RICE FIELD, EXPEDITIOUS, DAY OR NIGHT, EVER KING, INDUSTRIAL GLORY, ZONUS, CAPITALAND, MILLION SUCCESS, EXCELLENT DAY, CALIFORNIASUNSHINE, SEVENS HEAVEN, SOPRANO, SILVER WRAITH, SABRE AND GOLD, CHATEAU KING PRAWN, STABLE MAIL, AQUA-TREASURE, SPY KING, RUM SHOT, SANZIRO, SUPER MAN, LUCKY UNICORN, ROCKET WIN, QUALITY-QUALITY, SUDDEN SPLENDOR, WINNING REWARD, MEGA EXPRESSO, PROPELLOR, SUGAR AND SON, ELEGANT KING PRAWN, TOP STITCH, BLISS STAR, WINNING SUCCESS, and BULLISH STAR.