Tak Sum Syndicate will enjoy its first LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) adventure with Tomodachi Kokoroe when the David Hayes trainee contests the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on Sunday (14 December).

Apollo Ng, Syndicate Manager of the Tak Sum Syndicate, is delighted to see Tomodachi Kokoroe run in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, but acknowledged it will be a tough mission facing global champion and stablemate Ka Ying Rising.

Ng said: “We are all very happy about that (participating in the LONGINES HKIR for the first time). As you see, our syndicate includes many young members, and we all want to see passion for horse racing passed on from generation to generation. Some of our syndicate members joined other syndicates too, and even became sole racehorse owners.

“Our syndicate races in the same green and yellow silks as Gust Of Wind, winner of the 2015 G1 Australian Oaks (2400m), so we all hoped that the luck of these silks can carry on,” Ng added.

Ng suggested that Tomodachi Kokoroe will be at his best on Sunday, and was pleased when he drew gate seven for the horse.

“Gate seven is the winningmost draw for 1200 (metres) on the Sha Tin A track,” Ng said. “We will see how horses inside of us go when the gates open. Of course, Ka Ying Rising will be fast from his rail draw, whilst Wunderbar (gate two) and Fast Network (gate three) will have good speed too.

“But this season, Tomodachi Kokoroe has shown better gate speed, and with his big strides, hopefully the horse can take a good position – two wide with cover,” Ng said.

After completing a hat-trick of wins early this season, Tomodachi Kokoroe ran seventh in the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) last time out, and Ng attributed that run to the circumstances of the race.

Ng said: “On that day, he was forced to race wide without cover. He had to cover more ground and at his present rating, it proved to be a bit hard for him.”

While Ng hoped for better luck this time, he also expected that a small tweak in the horse’s preparation could make a difference.

“After his defeat last time, we freshened him up so that he will run a bit fresher on the big day. Hopefully he will run to the same level he did when he won the Group 2 race (Premier Bowl Handicap, 1200m) earlier this season,” Ng said.

“Realistically, it looks like a mission impossible against Ka Ying Rising, with about 20 points difference in the international ratings. However, we will try our best and all our members are looking forward to the horse bringing his best on Sunday,” Ng said.

Ng also discussed how the application of a blinker with one cowl and the change of jockey have led to the substantial improvement this season.

Tomodachi Kokoroe began the season on a local rating of 84; he has climbed to 110 following three straight wins between September and October.

Ng explained: “The blinkers with one cowl assist the horse to race in a better manner and have improved his performance. On the other hand, a European jockey (Harry Bentley) looks better suited, as he runs best when he can be relaxed during the race. He has benefitted from these two changes, and the horse can shine again as a seven-year-old on Sunday.”

Sunday’s (14 December) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.25pm with the Class 4 Fairy King Prawn Handicap (1400m).