Bundle Award rockets into Hong Kong Derby contention with barnstorming win
Talented four-year-old Bundle Award blasted into Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) calculations with a barnstorming victory in Sunday's Class Two Carpenter Handicap (1,800m) at Sha Tin.
Needing a win to boost his rating and secure a Derby berth, the John Size-trained gelding delivered handsomely, rocketing home from last under Ben Thompson to score by a length and a quarter.
With his rating to jump from 75 into the 80s, Bundle Award will leap into the field of 14 for the city's most prestigious race on March 23.
'He did very well. He seems to settle and relax and didn't seem to waste any energy. He had plenty of resources left for the finish,' Size said after Bundle Award bounced back from his last-start fifth behind Sky Heart.
Bundle Award punches his 2025 @BMW Hong Kong Derby ticket! 🔥@BenThompson2102 gets John Size's galloper home from the back of the field for a first Class 2 win at Sha Tin... #HKracing pic.twitter.com/erpfaq3dNP — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 9, 2025
'I think that he drew well last start – he drew gate one. Maybe that was no help to him. Anyway, today he showed us what he wanted.'
Ridden patiently from barrier eight behind a solid speed set by $3.8 favourite Sky Heart, Bundle Award exploded down the centre of the track in the straight to comfortably account for Markwin.
Like Bundle Award, the Cody Mo Wai-kit-trained Markwin was racing out of the handicap and the second placing could lift him from a rating of 76 into the Derby picture.
Helene Feeling ran third ahead of Caspar Fownes' duo Lo Rider and Sky Heart, who look set to miss out on Derby starts after coming up short.
Sky Heart, who copped pressure from Unbelievable mid-race, kicked clear early in the straight but was collared passing the 150m.
The Carpenter Handicap is unofficially known as the Collection Stakes after John Moore persuaded Jockey Club officials to expand the contest's ratings band, allowing his import Collection to run a fortnight before the Derby. Collection saluted by more than four lengths and went on to win the 2009 Derby as the $1.4 favourite.
Bundle Award's second Hong Kong victory, following his 1,400m triumph under James McDonald in January, left an impression on Thompson.
'It felt as good as it would have looked,' Thompson said. 'I was confident he would let rip when it was time to go. He was super.
'He's handled by a master in John Size. He's versatile. He's a lovely horse.'
Thompson will be in the frame for his first Hong Kong Derby ride in what would be a huge opportunity for the Australian jockey.
Master trainer Size, who maintained his lead in the trainers' premiership with his 37th success of the season, will chase a fourth Derby after previous success with Fay Fay (2012), Luger (2015) and Ping Hai Star (2018).
Size and David Hayes are tied on 37 wins but the former holds the title lead with more seconds.
Bundle Award won three straight races in Victoria last year under the name of Prince Prawn before he was bought by Hong Kong owner Colin Lo Chor-cheong.
Future star!? 3YO Patch Of Cosmo upstages quality opposition again with a second Class 3 win at Sha Tin with @mattLchadwixk...#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/6VvnjnCT9y — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 9, 2025
In other Derby news on Sunday, Light Years Charm's late bid to leap into contention for the HK$26 million feature came up short.
Chasing back-to-back wins and a boost to his rating of 75, the David Eustace-trained gelding could only manage third as the $2 favourite in the Class Three Tak Ku Ling Handicap (1,600m), which was won by Patch Of Cosmo.
The other Derby hopefuls in the race, Liveandletlive and Top Gun, ran fifth and 13th, respectively.
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