National Day Raceday at Sha Tin on Thursday (1 October) is one of the most important days on the Hong Kong racing calendar as we gather to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China with a wonderful range of cultural and artistic performances as well as world-class racing.
The G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) is the sporting highlight at Sha Tin with eight quality sprinters vying for glory, while our customers can attend the races today free of charge in the public enclosures at both Sha Tin and Happy Valley and immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere of the various off-track activities to celebrate National Day.
The gates will open at 11am and the opening ceremony at Sha Tin starts at 11.50am featuring China’s three tenors, Dai Yuqiang, Warren Mok and Wei Song, who will join forces for a special performance, sharing the joy of National Day through their inspiring and moving vocals, alongside a display by the Flagpole Acrobatics team, which is recognised as part of China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Dai, Warren and Wei will be accompanied by the Hong Kong Police Band as they lead the singing of the National Anthem to set the tone for what is certain to be a wonderful day.
In a further celebration of National Day, 770 special prizes will be offered to mark the 77th anniversary. The first 770 participants who correctly answer a specific question will receive a designated prize – while the ‘Cheer As One Photo Challenge’ also offers the chance to win prizes.
Additionally, a new collection of National Day Raceday themed merchandise and exclusive special offers will be available to attendees, while guests will be able to savour culinary delights and beverages as they enjoy the racing.
With accumulated and top-up jackpots, an estimated HK$10 million in jackpot prizes will be offered on Thursday.
The G3 National Day Cup Handicap is carded as Race 3 and will be run at 2pm over the straight 1000m course with prizemoney of HK$4.2 million. The pace will be good with BEAUTY WAVES (Jerry Chau) to lead from his middle gate. BOTTOMUPTOGETHER and MAGIC CONTROL have drawn the far side and will sit right on the speed. CRIMSON FLASH and RAGING BLIZZARD are likely to be in the next pair behind the leading trio.
COLOURFUL KING is a sit and sprint horse and Zac Purton will take him back in the field from gate seven, close to the grandstand rail. He last raced on 27 June when his rider adopted similar tactics before he ran over the top of his rivals in the concluding stages to beat MAGIC CONTROL and BOTTOMUPTOGETHER over this course and distance. COLOURFUL KING has had two easy trials in preparation for his first up assignment and is a win and place chance.
CRIMSON FLASH races well fresh and won first-up last season over this course and distance, beating FAST RESPONDER when he sat just behind the leaders and drew away to win impressively. CRIMSON FLASH won that race off a mark of 77 and ended the season on a mark of 105. CRIMSON FLASH has had two excellent trials leading into this race, Andrea Atzeni retains the ride, and he is also a win and place chance.
BOTTOMUPTOGETHER looked sharp in a trial last week when he led and went to the line comfortably and is a place chance for Alexis Badel.
MAGIC CONTROL continues to race well without winning and resumed with a creditable third to KA YING RISING and COPARTNER PRANCE over 1200m on 6 September. MAGIC CONTROL goes well over this course and distance and is also a place chance for Matthew Chadwick.
RAGING BLIZZARD finished second to FAST NETWORK in this race last year when he got back in the field and charged late to be beaten a neck. RAGING BLIZZARD ran with great credit in Group races for the rest of the season and was placed behind KA YING RISING in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint in December and the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize in April. RAGING BLIZZARD is resuming here and must give weight to all his rivals, but is a place chance for Brenton Avdulla.
The success of apprentice Nichola Yuen over the past two seasons is further evidence of how hard-working, ambitious and dedicated Hong Kong youth can flourish in even the most competitive environments.
Nichola’s first treble in Hong Kong on Sunday (27 September) on CAUSEWAY KING, VICTOR THE WINNER and AEROINVINCIBLE was due reward for her persistence and willingness to learn and, as a result, her claim reduced from 10lb to 7lb after she reached the 20-win milestone from only 137 rides.
After six meetings this season, Nichola is in third place in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with six wins behind only nine-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton (11 wins) and Vincent Ho (seven wins), which is a further measure of her development.
Nichola’s display on Sundy was one of the highlights of a fabulous day of racing which was capped by the successful return of 2026 Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner INVINCIBLE IBIS in the G3 Celebration Handicap (1400m) for Mark Newnham and Luke Ferraris.
Defying fitness queries and running at the heaviest weight of his career – 1,154lb – INVINCIBLE IBIS showed outstanding quality and courage to defeat GALAXY PATCH, whose final 400m sectional of 21.18s again underlined his elite sprinting capacity.
The strong performances of INVINCIBLE IBIS and STORMY GROVE, the winner of the 2026 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) bodes well for the future of Hong Kong racing as the graduates of last season’s Classic generation compete against high-class older horses.
I look forward to return today of another exciting talent in HOT DELIGHT, who runs in the Class 2 Beijing Handicap (1400m), which is carded as Race 9 at 5.10pm. With four wins from five starts, HOT DELIGHT is being prepared by Francis Lui for the Four-Year-Old Classic Series and he is one of several runners to watch today.
Source: HKJC