There are only three horses setting new class records in the 2011/12 season, including LIBERATOR, PURE CHAMPION, and ICE FIRE, and each record means a lot to them.
LIBERATOR won only two races in this season. The win on 18 April 2012 is a stepping stone for getting into the Group Race. He finished a 2200m at Happy Valley in Class 1 with a time of 2:15:44. He performed well in the next two group races, especially in the Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup. Winning a Hong Kong group race for the first time proves that he is a rising star in long distance racing. Along with the new record and a HKG1 win, he was crowned as Champion Stayer in the Champion Awards.
PURE CHAMPION won an 1800m race on 11 Jan 2012 with a time of 1:48:61, creating the Group/Premier record. This may seem slower than the record registered by ART TRADER in Class 1 7 years ago, but this race means so much more. A Hong Kong Group Race has not been held at Happy Valley since BULL'S EYE won the Happy Valley Trophy in Oct 2002. The January Cup was upgraded to a Hong Kong Group 3 Race and PURE CHAMPION was the winner of the first January Cup after the upgrade. PURE CHAMPION will now be synonymous with Happy Valley Group Races.
ICE FIRE set a new record on 8 July 2012 at the season finale on the All-weather track, breaking a Class 5 AWT 1800m race with a time of 1:49:34. It is a replay of the 2010/11 season when he also won at the finale. Winning the finale, ICE FIRE can now enjoy the summer holiday and continues to race next season.
