Latest news with #Badel
South China Morning Post
23-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Alexis Badel tunes up for Champions Mile bid with breakthrough treble at Happy Valley
French jockey lands his first three-timer since October 2022 at city circuit ahead of Group One ride on Sunday Alexis Badel struck top form ahead of his bid for Group One glory on Champions Day with his first treble in two and a half years at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Set to ride consistent galloper Happy Together in Sunday's Champions Mile, the Frenchman tuned up for the city's second biggest meeting of the year with wins on Winning Heart, Leather Master and Power Koepp. 'It's important, my form's good,' Badel said after moving to 25 wins for the campaign. 'I feel good. I've had decent support and a nice book of rides and it's nice to deliver.' Two wins from his past three starts! Mark Newnham has Power Koepp in serious form as @AlexisBadel grabs a treble at Happy Valley... 🔥#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 23, 2025 Frankie Lor Fu-chuen's Happy Together faces a tough test against the likes of star miler Voyage Bubble and nine-time Australian Group One winner Mr Brightside in a strong edition of the Champions Mile. However, the six-year-old has been a model of consistency in Hong Kong with six wins and three top-five finishes in his three Group One starts. 'Happy Together is my faithful friend and I believe his form is good and I think it's interesting to see him over the mile,' Badel said. 'I think it makes it more simple. It's a tough race but he's so honest. He'll run a place.' Badel bagged the opening two races at the Valley, with Tony Cruz's Winning Heart overcoming a wide run throughout to claim the Class Five Flamingo Flower Handicap (1,200m) before Manfred Man Ka-leung's Leather Master broke through for his first triumph at start 20 in the Class Five Freesia Handicap (1,800m). Power Koepp continued his top form since a transfer to Mark Newnham, landing his second win from three starts for his new stable in the Class Three Kalanchoe Handicap (1,200m). Perfectly placed by Badel in the box seat from gate two, the seven-year-old surged to the lead passing the 200m and held off a gutsy Lucky Eight to win by a short head. Elsewhere on Wednesday night, the Valley's leading trainer Caspar Fownes and his apprentice Ellis Wong Chi-wang teamed up for a race-to-race double with Super Sixty and Sky Cap. It was 24-year-old Wong's first brace since May last year. 'It's very nice. He's a good kid, so hopefully he'll kick on from this,' Fownes said. 'He gave them nice rides, they were deserving of their victories and hopefully he can get some more support now and more winners.' Wong capitalised on gate one to spear Super Sixty along the inside for a fast-finishing win in the Class Four Geranium Handicap (1,000m) before making all on Sky Cap in the Class Four The Lusitano Challenge Cup (1,200m). Sky Cap keeps finding out in front! @elliswong05 and Caspar Fownes combine for a double by capturing the Lusitano Challenge Cup at Happy Valley at 28/1... 🏆#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 23, 2025 Starting a $29.9 outsider after finishing no better than seventh from his five starts, Capitalist three-year-old Sky Cap kicked clear in the straight and hung on late to beat Bienvenue by a neck. 'It was a surprise, but his last run was a lot better. He was only beaten three and a half lengths at Sha Tin and came here with an inside gate [two],' Fownes said. 'He was going to be competitive but winning or not, you don't know. We're just happy to get the result.' Cruz shared training honours with Fownes after also notching a brace with Winning Heart and Fallon, who continued his consistent form with a strong win under Ben Thompson in the Class Three Roselle Handicap (1,800m).
South China Morning Post
04-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Alexis Badel bids to maintain strong form at Happy Valley: ‘I'm looking to continue on that'
Alexis Badel is aiming to extend his recent run of success to the Valley on Wednesday night. Photos: Kenneth Chan After booting home six winners in February, Frenchman sets sights on more success at city circuit with eight rides Fresh from his most successful month of the season, Alexis Badel hopes to continue his strong form at Happy Valley on Wednesday night with the consistent Spicy Gold headlining his eight rides. After managing just nine wins from the first five months of the term, the Frenchman was one of several jockeys to capitalise on picking up stronger rides after four riders were injured in two separate falls on February 9. 'I wasn't expecting anything less. With many jockeys injured or suspended, it's been good to end up with some good books of rides and to deliver,' Badel said after booting home six winners in February. 'I'm looking to continue on that and build on that.' Spicy Gold circles the field for a third consecutive win at Happy Valley! 🤯 The in-form son of So You Think gives Mark Newnham a double from the first five races... @AlexisBadel #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) October 16, 2024 Badel believes Spicy Gold strikes an ideal race in the Class Three New Lantao Bus Handicap (1,200m), with the Mark Newnham-trained gelding bidding to add to his three Valley wins in succession last year. Since completing his hat-trick in October, Spicy Gold has notched a pair of close seconds and two unlucky fifths. Newnham has opted to remove the hood and add pacifiers to the son of So You Think's gear and he has drawn barrier five in Wednesday night's field of 10. 'He's got a good draw and his form's good,' Badel said. 'I believe the race is open, but without underestimating anyone, I think he's found a race that could suit. He used to do a lot wrong but now he's more mature. He's a talented horse and deserves another win.' In an even race to finish the nine-event card, Spicy Gold clashes with Valley specialist Sugar Sugar, last-start runner-up Eason, Seasons Wit, Sports Legend, A Americ Te Specso, California Deeply, Legendary Impact, Aurio and Sweet Briar. Badel has solid claims in another Class Three on Wednesday night, The Kwoon Chung Bus 60th Anniversary Cup (1,200m), when he rides Beauty Infinity. In his return from a fetlock injury, the John Size-trained gelding stormed home from last to run an eye-catching fourth to Beauty Destiny on February 19. 'He's a good ride. I thought his last run was really good. He was taken back early and he finished on very strongly,' Badel said. Wow, Beauty Destiny! 🤯 Frankie Lor's sprinter just keeps getting better as he saunters to a fourth win from his past five starts... @Atzenijockey #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 19, 2025 'He's got a better gate [barrier two], so that should help me to be in a more reasonable spot and if he hits the line strong, he should be running very well.' Golden Fairy, Gimme Five, Santorini, Silver Spurs, Can't Go Wong and En Perfecto are Badel's other Valley rides. 'Can't Go Wong is always competitive and strong at the course and distance. He's got a bit of weight but I think if the pace is good, he will finish well,' Badel said of the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained gelding, who carries 134 pounds in the Class Four Kwoon Chung Inclusive & Accessible Service Handicap (1,800m). Badel said his rides at Sha Tin on Sunday include Unbelievable, who returns from a tendon injury in a Class Two over 1,800m, last-start winner Brilliant Express, Happy Regency Star and Beauty Live.
South China Morning Post
11-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Badel aims to take advantage of Lucky pickup ride at Sha Tin dirt meeting
French jockey highlights Jamie Richards-trained gelding as the best of his seven mounts on the all-weather card by Jay Rooney on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 2:25 PM Alexis Badel is all smiles after making the most of the late call-up to ride Righteous Arion at Sha Tin on Sunday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Alexis Badel hopes to capitalise on several pickup rides, headlined by Lucky Touch, after a jockey shortage forced the Jockey Club to lift his suspension for Wednesday night's all-dirt meeting at Sha Tin. The Frenchman scored a much-needed winner on Sunday when he got the late call-up to replace Angus Chung Yik-lai on Righteous Arion, who held off the previously unbeaten Hong Lok Golf to claim a narrow victory. Chung, Zac Purton, Vincent Ho Chak-yiu and Keith Yeung Ming-lun were ruled out for multiple weeks after they were injured in falls on Sunday. Badel will look to add to his 10 triumphs this season with a book of seven rides on Wednesday night, with the Jamie Richards-trained Lucky Touch his strongest pickup mount. Badel hops aboard Lucky Touch for the second time in the Class Four Po Shek Wu Handicap (1,650m), having partnered the son of Sweynesse two starts ago when he ran second to Take Action at Happy Valley. Lucky Touch was to be ridden again by Purton, who rode him last start when he rocketed home late to run a close third to the in-form Never Peter Out when trying the dirt for the first time. 'I like Lucky Touch. He was a good run last time,' Badel said. 'Ever Smart is a bit better than his form suggests, I believe, regardless of the draw. There are a couple that should run well.' Ever Smart was another Purton ride, with the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained gelding pursuing a breakthrough success in the Class Five Diamond Hill Handicap (1,200m). He ran back-to-back thirds at the Valley before leading from barrier 14 and fading to run 12th to Ho Ho Star at Sha Tin last start. Badel replaces Chung on Superb Capitalist in the strongest race on the nine-event card, the Class Two Tin Chak Handicap (1,200m). Trained by Tony Cruz, Superb Capitalist will be out to recapture his best form after misfiring in recent runs. It will be the five-year-old's first start on the dirt since his debut on the surface in May 2023, which yielded a solid fourth. Mark Newnham holds the key to the Tin Chak Handicap with Sing Dragon, who chases a fifth victory on the dirt, and consistent sprinter Full Credit. Capital Delight and Bundle Of Charm also look to have claims. Strive For Glory, All Are Mine, Monta Frutta and Beato are Badel's other rides on Wednesday night.
