Karis Teetan picks up Classic Cup ride on Johannes Brahms as Pierre Ng eyes Happy Valley success
Karis Teetan has picked up the ride on Johannes Brahms in Sunday's Classic Cup (1,800m) and trainer Pierre Ng Pang-chi hopes to start a big week with a last-gasp DBS x Manulife Million Challenge triumph at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Fresh from his Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) victory on Ka Ying Rising on Sunday, Teetan will team up with Johannes Brahms for the first time when Ng's import bids to repeat his impressive last-start win over 1,600m at Sha Tin.
Andrea Atzeni guided the former Aidan O'Brien-trained gelding to victory on February 15, but Ng was forced to search for a new rider with the Sardinian jockey committed to riding Dennis Yip Chor-hong's Noisy Boy in the Classic Cup.
'Before the last run, it was hard to book a jockey for him but luckily we've got Karis on him. Hopefully we get a better draw and he can run well,' Ng said.
Tough win, Johannes Brahms! 💪
Former Aidan O'Brien galloper grabs a second win in Hong Kong, taking the Class 2 Heung Yee Kuk Cup at Sha Tin, for @Atzenijockey and Pierre Ng... 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/BYjvTgQCMg — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 16, 2025
Johannes Brahms bounced back from his well-beaten last of 14 when caught wide in the Classic Mile to beat Speed Dragon in the Class Two Heung Yee Kuk Cup.
A Naas maiden winner and Group Two runner-up pre-import, the son of Siyouni also won on his third Hong Kong start in December when ridden by James McDonald.
Before turning his attention to the second leg of the four-year-old series, Ng has high hopes for I Can and Aurora Lady figuring in the Million Challenge finale at the Valley.
Soleil Fighter, the series leader on 50 points, can clinch the HK$1 million bonus for connections if he salutes in the Class Three Tsui Man Handicap (1,650m), but Ng's duo can strike if the David Hayes-trained gelding doesn't win.
I Can is tied for second on 42 points with Gustosismo, who isn't racing on Wednesday night. Ng's three-time Valley winner will clash with Soleil Fighter in the Tsui Man Handicap.
Running from September to February for Class Three horses and above, the Million Challenge is decided on a format of 15 points for a win, six for second, four for third and three for fourth.
'He's very consistent. He's always very close,' Ng said of I Can.
'He just needs the race run at a suitable pace and he'll run well.'
It's the 'Zac Purton Show' at Happy Valley! 📺
The superstar jockey makes it SIX WINS on the card tonight as Aurora Lady denies a fast-closing Beauty Destiny with consecutive victories... 🔥
@zpurton | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/MVyYTD9fxf — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 26, 2024
Atzeni will ride I Can and Aurora Lady (36 points), who will bid to improve on his fifth-place standing in the Million Challenge when he contests the Class Three Sing Woo Handicap (1,200m).
Also a three-time Valley winner, Aurora Lady returns to the city circuit after having plenty of excuses when ninth to Green N White in the Class Two Chinese New Year Cup (1,400m) at the Lunar New Year meeting.
'It was just a race that didn't suit him and he pulled hard,' Ng said of Aurora Lady, who also pulled up with an epiglottic entrapment and lame in the left front leg the next day.
'He's back to normal now and we're running him at his best distance. He's won three times this season at this track and distance, so I think he will be performing.'
The Valley meeting also features two Class One contests, with Ng's Group Three winner Taj Dragon set for the first of them, the Blue Pool Handicap (1,200m).
'He was a bit unlucky last start, he didn't get a clear run,' Ng said of Taj Dragon's fifth behind Lucky With You at Sha Tin.
'He still finished off well even though he was carrying top weight. He definitely has the class for Class One. He's up against some good Happy Valley horses, but hopefully he can go well.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
05-08-2025
- South China Morning Post
Tributes paid after Macau footballer is killed in car crash aged 20
Tributes have been paid to a young Macau footballer who played for his city's representative team, after he was killed in a car accident on Monday. Leon Ng Lai-teng, who was 20 years old, was one of six passengers involved in a single-vehicle accident near Macau's Grand Prix Building, local media reported. The car crashed into barriers on Avenida da Amizade on Monday morning. Reports stated that the vehicle's 20-year-old female driver lost her life in the crash, as did Ng, another 20-year-old male and a 19-year-old male. Three further people suffered life-threatening injuries, according to the reports. Ng had played for Macau's representative team against their Hong Kong counterparts at Hong Kong's Mong Kok Stadium in March this year. Leon Ng in action for his club. Photo: Instagram/chingfung_macau His club team, Cheng Fung, paid tribute to their player's 'hard work, spirit and passion for football'. A right-sided defender in his football career, Ng played in Hong Kong last year when he took part in December's qualifying tournament, hosted in the city, for this summer's East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) Championship in South Korea.
South China Morning Post
08-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hugh Bowman eyes best Hong Kong season before a freshen up, and maybe some rides, in Europe
A 'delighted' Hugh Bowman is itching to head off to Europe for a break and maybe even a few race rides, but first he's keen to better his Hong Kong personal best of 69 wins in a season. The star Australian sits on 68 victories with three meetings to go in the 2024-25 campaign and he has six chances to add to his tally at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. 'I'm delighted – it's been a pretty consistent year for me,' said the jockey. 'It's been a good, consistent flow of winners with the exception of being a little bit quiet through the November-December period and a little bit quiet through June. 'It's been an improvement on last year, but bearing in mind that last year I was injured for a period of time and I did struggle with careless riding suspensions. I've had a few this year but it hasn't been quite to the same extent as last year. 'That's an area I'd like to improve on again next season. I set a goal to ride 100 winners. I think that might have been a little bit ambitious, actually – I won't do that again – but I do think I can do better than I've done this year.' Bowman rates Enjoy Golf in the first section of the Class Four Garden Handicap (1,200m) and Prince Alex in the Class Four Green Handicap (1,650m) among his better hopes at the midweek meeting. Enjoy Golf makes all for an impressive first win as @HugeBowman collects a race-to-race double at Sha Tin... ✌️ #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 8, 2024 'Enjoy Golf has been a good horse to me although he's only won one race. I think I've had four seconds on him, which is always a bit concerning,' said Bowman. 'But his only go at Happy Valley was at 1,650m, which is too far, so he's an interesting runner and he's got to be a chance. And Prince Alex freshened up, a long time between runs from gate one – they're probably the chances, those two.' While Bowman is counting down the days until his flight out of Hong Kong, he admits he'll likely get itchy feet at some stage during the off-season and potentially look to do some riding while travelling. 'I can't wait to get away. It's been a long year for everyone but in saying that, I feel like I'm finishing the year full of enthusiasm,' he said. 'For me, two months [off] is a bit too long, but it is what it is. We'll have a break, freshen up and come back and hit the ground running. If the opportunity arises, I'll look to ride in Europe, whether in the UK or possibly France.'
The Standard
08-07-2025
- The Standard
HAWK EYE VIEW: Romantic Warrior third pick in HOTY tussle
Forever Young (Left) beats Romantic Warrior by a neck in the Saudi Cup. The margin might be the difference in Romantic Warrior's Horse of the Year hopes (HKJC)
