FOUR CITIES IN 20 DAYS

It does not sound like a lot of travel at first thought but when one adds to that the fact that I travelled over the Indian Ocean twice, it makes for one arduous journey! Tokyo, Taipei, London and Hong Kong were on the agenda for another whirlwind international travelling schedule to some of the biggest racing and breeding events of 2007. It turned out to be one fine trip and a worthwhile journey to some previously unseen events.

The journey started in Tokyo where I made my way to the Japan Cup for the first time ever. The trip from Durban to Tokyo saw me change planes in Hong Kong and Taipei on my way to Tokyo. It is amazing how one can be in a far flung country like Japan in just 30 hours and enjoy the splendours of a whole new world.

Tokyo is just that - a whole new world that few can understand if they have never visited the booming city. The Japan Cup was awesome and with 100 000 people in attendance the atmosphere was tense and exciting as the knowledgeable Japanese watched their world class home event. We saw the world's highest rated miler, Admire Moon, win his second major international race of the year - he beat Linngari in the Dubai Duty Free in March. He took out some quality opposition in this high class Grade 1 event but sadly for racing enthusiasts, he retired to stud after the victory.

The Japan Racing Association offered me unrivalled hospitality from first class hotels to first class travel arrangements and everything in between. They provided for us on every turn and we had two excellent pre-race parties at the Owners and Media function on a boat taking us down the Tokyo Bay area, as well as the Japan Cup Gala dinner event on the Friday night before the event. This was followed by the Japan Cup Dirt race day on Saturday. As usual the land of the rising sun was alive and buzzing throughout our journey with Tokyo really a hive of activity from morning until late. Shinjuku, the area where we were based, was an excellent mixture of fun and fantasy, akin to a futuristic movie set.

The next stop was a 3-day break in Taipei where I visited the world's tallest building, Taipei 101. Taipei is very much a business city and seeing it first hand virtually completed my Asian experience having been to all other Far Eastern destinations to date. Here a much vaunted typhoon from Indonesia was scaring all locals but besides some occasional light rain and mild to strong winds, there wasn't much to be scared of. The transport system is excellent with taxis and the underground train system being relatively cheap to travel in. The 5-star establishment I stayed at was a real treat. The ex-Ritz Taipei (now Landis Taipei) was a ritzy French type of hotel that offered every personal service imaginable. It was sad to leave such excellent hospitality behind but London was my next stop and it doesn't get better than that for top class cities.

Soon I was transit in Hong Kong for the second time in days but this time my onward journey was a British Airways flight bound for the sprawling city of London. Having arrived in London after a 12-hour flight on the other side of the world, I was greeted by chilly yet fresh conditions. Arriving in London at 6am means that London is fast asleep in winter. Walking out onto the road at even as late as 8am, meant that few were awake on the normally busy streets. I had one day to see the attractions before heading up to Tattersalls in Suffolk. I visited the London Eye, did the tourist river cruise and watched the precision of Buckingham Palace's changing of the guards before heading off to a quiet evening of leisure and sightseeing in Piccadilly Circus. Londoners are as chic, fashion conscious and cosmopolitan as one gets for occupants of an international city. In fact, nowadays it is hard to spot a local amongst the crowd in London. I was on my way up to Newmarket via Cambridge the next morning.

Tattersall's December Sale is where the international racing world meets England. The best mares on offer are presented at this legendary sale and the world sits up and notices the proceedings. The foreign legion at Newmarket was amazing and there were many different countries represented together with a plethora of global accents. It is an amazing experience and was an honour to be invited to such an historical venue.

I was back in Hong Kong 5 days later for the now traditional end of year trip to the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Races. Staying in another 5 star establishment on Victoria Harbour means that the views are to die for. The city of Hong Kong is always breathtaking in more ways than one. The pollution is a problem but the shopping and excitement of the city make up for the disquieting air. Hong Kong is the pride of Asia. Known as Asia's World City, she has a diverse group of people living on her shores and has maintained her distinct culture even after the Chinese takeover from the British in 1997. The Anglo-Chinese mix is appealing but by far the most amazing sights has to be the colourful buildings that come alive at night with advertising signs on nearly every building in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club are the best organised racing club in the world and I have made mention of this before. It is an awe inspiring mix of great racing and slick, top notch administration. The Hong Kong races always attract a fascinating group of runners for the four top level Grade 1 events. The top notch horses included the current European Champion, Dylan Thomas, and the reigning Australian Horse of the Year, Miss Andretti. Sadly, both failed to fire on race day. It was the hometown sensation, Sacred Kingdom, who stole the show and claimed the honour of being the highest rated sprinter since Silent Witness to grace the tracks of Hong Kong. He obtained a 123 rating equal to the great one in this breathtaking show of speed.
The four city trip ended with a chance meeting of an old friend, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's former Information Secretary, Wilson Cheng. He is now contracted to the Jockey Club but has formally retired from full active duty to the disappointment of many of his friends in the press room. Here's wishing you well in your retirement, Wilson.

Exhausted but excited about another wonderful adventure, it was back home to another hot summer in South Africa, with the J&B Met next on the travel agenda.