The Hong Kong Racing Postscript: who's hot, who's not and the best of February

South China Morning Post

27-02-2025

Brenton Avdulla had a month to remember in February with nine winners. Photos: Kenneth Chan
Brenton Avdulla had a month to remember, while Michael Chang and several jockeys came up empty-handed
With four jockeys including champion Zac Purton sidelined for varying periods after two separate falls on February 5, the landscape of Hong Kong racing changed dramatically for the rest of the month.
While several overseas riders were called on to fill the void, one of the permanent jockeys on the roster shone in Purton's absence and others had more success than previous months.
The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a month to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride.
Who's hot?
Known as 'The Gun', Brenton Avdulla fired on all cylinders in February. The Australian capitalised on several pickup rides from Purton to boot home nine winners from 54 rides at an impressive strike rate of 16.66 per cent. He is on the verge of soaring into the top four in the premiership.
John Size caps a treble! 🔥
The Master trainer wins his third race this afternoon as Juneau Pride is all out for victory with @brentonavdulla at Sha Tin...#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/1cNarkMZmH — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025
Andrea Atzeni, Karis Teetan and Alexis Badel each rode six winners – a particularly important return for Badel, who had just nine to his name through the first five months of the season.
From a training perspective, there was an even spread of winners across the ranks in February.
John Size wasn't having a great month until his four-timer at Sha Tin last Sunday boosted his February haul to six winners. Continuing his stunning resurgence after a slow start to the season, the master handler hit the lead in the championship after his four-timer.
David Hayes also had six victories and snatched the title lead back from Size at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, while Tony Cruz joined the Australian duo with six winners for the month.
Who's not?
While the absence of the injured jockeys created more opportunities for some, others continued to battle.
Jerry Chau Chun-lok, Ellis Wong Chi-wang and Antoine Hamelin were among a group of riders to come up empty-handed for the month and they carry lengthy winning droughts into March.
Michael Chang Chun-wai failed to visit the winners' enclosure from his 28 runners, while Danny Shum Chap-shing was about to join him with a winless month until Moments In Time ended his drought of 39 runners with victory at the Valley on Wednesday night.
Win of month
Voyage Bubble overcame plenty of challenges to record what was arguably the best victory of his career in last Sunday's Group One Gold Cup (2,000m).
CLASS PREVAILS! 🙌
Aiming to become the second horse to win Hong Kong's #TripleCrown after River Verdon in 1993/94, Voyage Bubble captures the second leg - @Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup - with @mcacajamez at Sha Tin... 🏆@WorldPool | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/ZauVUYRIWc — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025
Shuffled back to second last and stumbling when striking the heels of a rival near the 850m, Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's stable star looked in a world of trouble.
Things only got worse when he was held up from the top of the straight until the 300m, but once James McDonald got him into the clear he exploded with a brilliant turn of foot to put the result beyond doubt in the blink of an eye. It was a special performance.
Ride of month
Keagan de Melo has been starved of opportunity this season, but the South African conjured something from virtually nothing with a terrific ride on Carryon Smiling at Sha Tin last Sunday.
Taken back to near last from gate 11 in the early stages, Carryon Smiling settled on the inside rail and De Melo saved valuable ground before coming off the fence in the straight.
Carryon Smiling kicked off a superb day of racing action at Sha Tin with a shock 83/1 victory in the opener under @kdemelo01! 👏#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/t2NmMoyxGJ — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025
De Melo angled the Chris So Wai-yin-trained gelding into the clear between rivals near the 250m and he responded with a strong finish, saluting at the huge odds of $84.70 – the second-roughest winner of the term so far.
De Melo's ride on his other winner for the month, Charming Steed, was also a top effort. He sent the Caspar Fownes-trained gelding forward from gate 13 to lob in a perfect spot three back and one off the fence en route to a dominant win on the dirt.