Like cream rises to the top, so does Kai Ying Rising- and Peter V’Landys.

From being something of a non-believer whether the horse race known as the Everest would be a success, mainly because of the politics of horse racing going on at the time, these days I have switched sides. I have nothing but respect for the ways in which the head of Racing New South Wales Peter V’Landys fine tuned the Pegasus slot race from America into an event marketed as something for a younger demographic in Australia- and is today a global success and very probably the most popular flag bearer for the pastime.

On Saturday afternoon, the world saw what he has achieved and, strike up another Neil Diamond written song, this one for called “I’m A Believer” for what the Everest has become from those first days when the entertainment fare came from artists like Jason Derulo and people like a member of One Direction who wasn’t Harry Styles.

As I have always said, people make a city, people make a country and people create the atmosphere and inspiration needed for things like horse racing to come alive.

It has everything to do with the positivity and happiness that these people bring to the table. It’s something that cannot be researched or created by committee and controlled and choreographed.

Creating something like the Everest and knowing when to hand it over to the generation and have them have ownership of the product is what I believe V’Landys will do, especially as he has gone on record as saying that he can’t see him doing this same job in five years time.

Was Peter V’Landys even there on course? One couldn’t help seeing the CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club lurking around, but where was Pete?

As for Saturday’s Everest Day, it was spectacularly successful, and with everyone singing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”, those hundreds of thousands at Randwick showed that everything old can be new and young again and part of one collective Feel Good moment.

Today’s youth market could best be described as “confused and somewhat cynical”. But the way that the head of Racing New South Wales has relentlessly promoted this race should be applauded, because it’s very clear that he always knew the market he was after and pulled out all stops to reach them.

It might not have been “cool”, because very little in the world today is cool- but it was FUN seeing people fabulously dressed for a big day out.

As someone from Hong Kong so succinctly put it, “It certainly was better than watching some old geezers with their heads buried in their form guides!”

We all need FUN in our lives because fun is infectious and cannot be choreographed. Fun means happiness and is inspiring. It’s not all about winning and asking how much money you won. That’s gauche and fugly.

Me, I certainly don’t know it all, but I do know what is good promotions, I read the tea leaves and people pretty well and know that those with no experience in bona fide marketing should really stay away from muddying the waters.

Leaders should also lead and not try to force themselves onto successes that don’t belong to them. That often results in sad photobombing that looks desperate.

Where I have seen Hong Kong go off the rails is when it tries to be what it’s not and becomes a random oversupply of things and flings no one wants.

There’s no demand for things loosey goosey, and in recent years, there’s been lots of it. This is because those given the jobs of giving Hong Kong what it needs to look like more than a dumpy Chinese fishing village for elders appear to be prime examples of what the Peter Principle is about.

In the meantime, congratulations, Peter V’Landys for rolling out the red carpet for horse racing’s show of shows that had it all including a spectacular barrier draw and the perfect showcase for one Hong Kong’s finest athletes and the human team around him.

Of course, many thanks to Ka Ying Rising, his incredibly passionate group of owners from Hong Kong and the rest of the team- Jockey Zac Purton who, with this win took his career to another level, and trainer David Hayes and his team including wife Pru for waving the flag high for Hong Kong.

The racing media will cover everything about the race in great detail whereas for me, it’s always about all the parts that are going to come together and make what has been my home for so long restored to the truly international city it once was.

Next: Very probably, an online multilingual racing lifestyle channel that will attract a much larger audience, will be cutting edge and smoothen the edges with an indie spirit that’s not beholden to anyone.

Those days of repeating formulas are quickly coming to an end. Or have already run their race and are drowning in irrelevance.

---