Top Prospects for Next Season's Classic Series Revealed

With the season heading towards its climax, attention is now firmly on the epic conclusion of the trainers’ championship – and next season’s Classic Series.

This year’s four-year-old series was dubbed as one of the most competitive for many a year and an early look at next season’s hopefuls suggests there is plenty to get excited about.

We have taken an early look at some of the top horses for the Classic Mile, Classic Cup and Derby, with some of their trainers weighing in on their class, stamina and development ahead of their most important year.

Salon S (Rating 85, Frankie Lor Fu-chuen)

The highest-rated of the three-year-olds at this stage is Salon S, who started his career with four straight victories over 1,400m before running a gallant fourth against older horses on Class Two debut.

A tearaway front-runner, the Zousain galloper has pulled mightily hard in races to date, but has still managed to leave something in reserve for the finish – though that has not looked likely in the first 1,000m of his races.

The big question for him will be stamina, with much of his chance over 1,600m and beyond depending on whether he can settle during his races.

“Next season, if he can learn to be a bit more relaxed it will be good. Now, he’s still a bit keen and we need him to relax a bit more during the races,” Lor said.

“He’s still a big baby at the moment, he grabs the bit and goes. The jockey wants to slow down but he doesn’t want to, so if he can just relax next season, it will be good.

“At this moment, I think 1,600m is best for him, but any further I can’t say right now. He’s having a long break at the moment to get ready for next season.”

Hot Delight (Rating 82, Francis Lui Kin-wai)

Another to start his career in strong fashion, Hot Delight looked the real deal by rattling off a trio of impressive 1,200m victories, before also coming unstuck on Class Two debut when only beaten just over a length.

A strong-travelling sort, he possesses both a willing attitude and a smart turn of foot, which will make him very dangerous next campaign, especially as he has a lot of room to grow physically.

Compared to Golden Sixty at the same stage of his career, Lui has high hopes for him, and his pedigree does not suggest 1,600m will be outside his wheelhouse.

My Mars (Rating 80, David Hayes)

Showing useful form in five Irish starts without winning, My Mars has thrived since coming to Hong Kong, winning on local debut before following up with a neck second on soft going and another victory over 1,200m.

European imports are rare debut winners in Hong Kong, which shows the talent he possesses, but as an Advertise gelding out of For Henry, there is no guarantee he will stay further than the mile when it comes to the Classic Series.

Cool Boy (Rating 73, Jamie Richards)

A bit further down the list lurks Cool Boy, who finished fifth to My Mars on his latest start when trying to overcome a horror gate of 14.

A three-time winner from seven starts, he will not lack for experience going into next season and his fast-finishing style is likely to lend itself to the way the Classic Mile can be run.

“I think he’s a really nice horse who has raced consistently all season. I think if you swapped the barriers with My Mars from last time, he’d probably beats him, as he had to go back from a bad gate,” Richards said.

“I think he’s going the right way and we’re going to give him one more run this season at 1,400m to try him out, and then we’ll put him away for the Classic Series races next year.”

Mr Incredible (Rating 70, Brett Crawford)

Winning a pair of 1,200m starts either side of an unlucky sixth on his second run, Mr Incredible has looked very sharp since stepping out for Brett Crawford this campaign.

His latest start on Champions Day, where he roared clear by three and three-quarter lengths, marked him out as one to get really excited about next campaign, especially when he is upped in distance.

“Mr Incredible has done nothing wrong since he arrived and we’re hoping to give him one more run before the season closes. I think if he is competitive in that race, we’ll definitely be planning around the Classic Series moving forward,” Crawford said.