Soleil Fighter clinches Million Challenge with Happy Valley win under Ryan Moore
Leading the series on 50 points heading into Wednesday night's finale, Soleil Fighter put the result beyond doubt with a strong win as the $1.45 favourite in the Class Three Tsui Man Handicap (1,650m).
Starting a three-meeting stint in Hong Kong as cover for several injured jockeys, Moore was at his brilliant best on the David Hayes-trained gelding before also guiding Moments In Time to victory in the Class One Shan Kwong Handicap (1,650m).
'He did it nicely,' Moore said of Soleil Fighter.
Soleil Fighter smashes them under Ryan Moore! 🇬🇧
The DBS x Manulife Million Challenge leader confirms victory in the series for trainer David Hayes, scooping a HK$1 million bonus for owners... @AtTheRaces #HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/0tNuN51DJ2 — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 26, 2025
'He's obviously been in great form and he was a nice ride to pick up. I'm fortunate to ride him.'
After a soft run in the box seat from the inside gate, Soleil Fighter worked off the inside on the turn and shot clear once hitting the front at the top of the straight to beat Romantic Laos by a length.
Owner Kin Sun Sze-to collected a HK$1 million bonus for Soleil Fighter's success in the Million Challenge, which runs from September to February at the Valley for horses in Class Three and above.
'It's so nice for the owner because the colours get put on the race book for most of the season and the bonus is lovely,' said Hayes, who also won last year's Million Challenge when Tomodachi Kokoroe tied with Danny Shum Chap-shing's Copartner Ambition.
'Ryan thought he got to the front a little bit early and he switched off. It looked like they were coming at him, but he said he had plenty more in hand.'
Aurora Lady also bagged 15 points for winning Wednesday night's Class Three Sing Woo Handicap (1,200m), helping him finish second in the Million Challenge on 51 points and deliver connections a HK$350,000 bonus.
Red Elegance's victory in the Class Three King Kwong Handicap (1,000m) lifted him to third placing on 48 points, with connections pocketing a HK$150,000 bonus.
Soleil Fighter, a two-time winner in Britain pre-import, has been a model of consistency this season with three wins and four placings at the city circuit.
The Sea The Moon gelding was bought as a Classic Series hope but sustained a serious injury not long after making the move to Hong Kong.
'What's so nice for this horse, he arrived and fractured a splint bone before he started fast work, so he missed his Derby year,' Hayes said.
'It's nice he's getting a few rewards now and Ryan said there's plenty more to come.
'He was bought for the lead-ups [to the Derby] and he got wiped out with the splint bone, so I really have to thank the owner for being so patient and giving us the chance to develop him.
'I've been dying to get him to Sha Tin, but he started winning the challenge.'
Son Pak Fu dives late to claim Copartner Prance!
Tony Cruz's charge gets the Class 1 win under a supreme @mattLchadwixk ride at Happy Valley... 💥#HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/vqIlxVIMqB — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 26, 2025
Elsewhere on the card, Tony Cruz won the opening two races when Son Pak Fu saluted in the Class One Blue Pool Handicap (1,200m) under Matthew Chadwick and Serangoon was lifted home by Harry Bentley in the Class Four Yuk Sau Handicap (2,200m).
Son Pak Fu won six Valley races for Benno Yung Tin-pang, but Wednesday night's win was his first since a transfer to Cruz last year.
'This horse seems to love this track,' Cruz said. 'He's won all his races here. Whatever the programme is, he'll definitely come back here.'
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