Leung Ho Yin, Simon's Bio
Simon is a well respected full-time thoroughbred racing commentator specializing in overseas international racing. Bringing with him a wealth of racing knowledge, Simon is the host and race caller for the overseas simulcast programme since 2008/09 season. He is currently the presenter on several racing television programmes including, ‘Banker’, ‘Racing Horizon’ and ‘Horse Racing – Results’.

Hanshin Racecourse – Track Analysis (Osaka Hai):

With its short stretches and long, sweeping turns, runners at Hanshin, the featured 2000m Osaka Hai – upgraded to G1 status since 2017 – will see the field filing by the grandstand over a 600m stretch run before hitting the first turn, thus stall assignments rate only minimal. Then through another 700m of back-straight before hitting another 600m bend on the inner course, runners attempting a wide move would hardly lose any balance.

Heading for home, the field will race downhill until the 200m marker, where the turf strip tucks right back up all the way to the finish. Therefore, front-runners will need more than a gargantuan trip to make every step a winning one. That being said, with this same stretch run measuring only 350m from the top of the lane to the finish, late closers may run out of ground if they don't make their moves by midway through the stretch.

In the 2019 running of this G1 prize contested on firm turf – and the early pace slowly developing – the eventual quinella of AL AIN and KISEKI were hounding right behind the pacemaker on the second flight, while WAGNERIAN was racing mid-field and saving every bit of ground. Hitting the top of the lane, AL AIN promptly took command right through the middle, then managed to hold off both KISEKI on the outside, and WAGNERIAN, a surging threat on the rail, all through the stretch for a big-time score.

Reviewing the recent card at Hanshin on 22nd March, a firm turf strip did play quite fair towards all kinds of running styles – even those rallying home from out wide. With rain giving way to sunny skies heading into this weekend for the Osaka area, this year's edition of the Osaka Hai would still be staged on fast and firm goings – a big plus that is so poised for horses racing up-front or mid-field, when it comes to race selections.

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