Jamie Richards scores Happy Valley double amid ‘tough old struggle' this season
Trainer Jamie Richards and jockey Zac Purton debrief after combining to win with Sunday's Serenade at Happy Valley. Photos: Kenneth Chan
Iconical and Sunday's Serenade lift Kiwi handler's spirits at city circuit as he battles for winners this term
Battling what he admits has been a 'tough old struggle' this season, a relieved Jamie Richards celebrated his first double in almost 12 months at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Languishing near the bottom of the trainers' championship this term, the Kiwi handler is hopeful his campaign will take a turn for the better after combining with champion jockey Zac Purton to win with Iconical and Sunday's Serenade.
'It's my first one of the year, I think,' said Richards, who moved to 15 wins after his first brace since May last year.
'It's been a pretty tough old struggle to be honest, but hopefully we can get things going again. It's not the sort of place you want to have a lean spell in, but we're working hard, made a few little changes and hopefully we can be strong towards the end of the season.'
Sunday's Serenade swamps them all! @JamieRichards3 and @zpurton team up for a double at Happy Valley in the Ewo Challenge Trophy... 🏆#HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/3yFBo6A9H5 — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 16, 2025
Iconical broke through at start seven when astutely rated in front by Purton in the first section of the Class Four Thistle Handicap (1,650m).
Sent out a $10 chance with a Happy Valley fourth his best previous result, the Needs Further four-year-old was never headed when he accounted for Owners' Praise by a length and a half.
'He's one of those horses that always trials well but hasn't fronted up race day yet,' Richards said.
'Usually when that happens, it's just a matter of taking a few races to work it out. He got a lovely ride tonight from Zac, controlled it off the front and ran well.'
Sunday's Serenade helped clinch Richards' double when he made it two wins in a row with a barnstorming display in the Class Four The EWO Challenge Trophy (1,650m).
Relishing a strong speed set by Mighty Commander, Sunday's Serenade swooped from near last to salute as the $3.6 second favourite.
'He's done a good job his last couple of starts,' Richards said after the Ardrossan gelding beat Dragon Star by half a length.
'He was aided by a beautiful ride by Brenton [Avdulla] a month ago and then tonight the pace was on, which suited him to get over the top of them.
'[Sunday's Serenade and Iconical are] only young horses, so let's hope there's more in store.'
Purton, who lifted his seasonal tally to 92 wins, was impressed by Sunday's Serenade.
'I got a little bit further back than I thought I would be and, as it turned out, the pace was strong and it suited him and he came with a strong run,' Purton said.
'He's another one who's turned the corner. It's taken him a few runs, but he's going the right way now.'
Elsewhere on the Valley card, Andrea Atzeni continued his red-hot form with a treble aboard Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's Giant Leap, Mark Newnham-trained Crimson Flash and John Size's A Americ Te Specso.
'It's good going, we hit the ground running but I've had good support,' said Atzeni, who has ridden 17 winners since March 12.
'It's always nice to come racing with good chances and because I can ride light, it makes my job a little bit easier especially with horses like Crimson Flash, who was up in class with a light weight [118 pounds].'
Newnham chimed in with a brace after Fatal Blow also won the first section of the Class Four Dianthus Handicap (1,200m) under Luke Ferraris.
Meanwhile, 10 overseas jockeys have been granted permission by the Jockey Club to ride at the FWD Champions Day meeting on Sunday week.
James McDonald (Prognosis, Voyage Bubble and Lucky Sweynesse), Joao Moreira (Chancheng Glory and Satono Reve), Yuga Kawada (Liberty Island and Gaia Force), Christophe Soumillon (Goliath), Tom Marquand (Lake Forest), Craig Williams (Mr Brightside, Cap Ferrat and A Shin Fencer), Damian Lane (Tastiera and Danon McKinley), Tim Clark (Royal Patronage), Atsuya Nishimura (Lugal) and Adrie de Vries (Calif) will be in action at the showpiece meeting.
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