Latest news with #CasparFownes
South China Morning Post
04-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Caspar Fownes is ‘King of the Valley' once more, while Ellis Wong continues strong form
Caspar Fownes rocketed to the top of the unofficial Happy Valley trainers' championship and Ellis Wong Chi-wang continued his strong form as the pair bagged doubles at the city circuit on Wednesday night. Wins from Joy Of Spring in the Class Three Tai Tam Gap Handicap (1,800m) and Kaholo Angel in the card-closing Class Two Wan Chai Gap Handicap (1,200m) took Fownes to 23 victories at the track this season, with the 'King of the Valley' leapfrogging Mark Newnham to assume the lead. 'We're back in front. We'll keep doing our best,' said Fownes before praising his apprentice Wong. 'Lovely ride – he's ridden beautifully all night, the kid. He's come a long way, he's doing well and I'm sure everyone's going to want a piece of him now. Kaholo Angel does it again! 🔥 Three wins in four starts for Caspar Fownes' in-form grey galloper as @elliswong05 makes it a double tonight... #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 4, 2025 'Lovely to get that result with [Kaholo Angel]. When you get up to Class Two in Hong Kong, it's very tough and that looked a proper field. But Ellis gave him a lovely ride and thankfully he got it done.' After five wins in May – including three last week – Wong kicked off June in fine style with an early success aboard Mega Bonus for Ricky Yiu Poon-fai in the second section of the Class Four Wong Nai Chung Gap Handicap (1,200m) before delivering the goods aboard Kaholo Angel. 'I have to thank my boss [Fownes] for all his support. I've been lucky and [when you] start to ride well, the support starts to come and the confidence starts to come, too,' said Wong. 'I hope to get more winners and keep improving.' Also on Wednesday night, the win of S J Tourbillon was a welcome one for Karis Teetan, who ended a run of 39 rides without a victory by driving the Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained galloper home in the Class Four Mount Nicholson Handicap (1,800m). HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Four wins from the past three fixtures for @elliswong05! 🔥 Our apprentice makes all aboard Mega Bonus for in-form trainer Ricky Yiu at Happy Valley...#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 4, 2025 'Dennis said the horse was in good shape and that the track should help him,' said Teetan after S J Tourbillon travelled three wide before barrelling home down the middle of the good-to-yielding track. 'The only thing he said was to get him out of the gates and get him into a good rhythm and I must say he let down nicely.' Teetan wasn't the only one seeing off something of a drought at the midweek meeting, with Keagan de Melo bagging his first success since early April. After enduring 38 losing mounts, South African De Melo speared the Douglas Whyte-trained Golden Darci up the inside from behind midfield in the Class Four Cricket Club Valley Stakes (1,200m). 'He trialled well at Conghua and Dougie was kind enough to give me the ride. Drawing barrier one was really a help and I was able to get close without using him,' De Melo said. S J Tourbillon (ex Roman Empire 🇮🇪) grabs a first win in 728 days at Happy Valley! 🤯 Formerly with @coolmorestud, the Galileo gelding powers through testing conditions with @KarisTeetan for Dennis Yip... 🌧️#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 4, 2025 'These conditions really suited him and he quickened through the line really nicely. 'Things are slowly starting to pick up. There's been a couple of suspensions along the way, but nice to get a win and I'm really grateful for the support I get.' The win was Golden Darci's second from his past three starts and continued an uptick in form for De Melo's countryman Whyte. 'He let down really well and I think Keagan gave him a good ride. He was patient, he waited for the gaps to present themselves and when they did, the horse let down well,' said the trainer. 'He looks like he loves the track. He loves the pace on. The draw was certainly beneficial tonight and I do think the cut in the ground made a significant difference to his performance. Brilliant steer, @kdemelo01! 🤯 South Africa's ace rider weaves to victory in the Cricket Club Valley Stakes with Golden Darci for @DJWhyteTrainer... 🏆#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 4, 2025 'He's got a bit of confidence about him now and let's hope he's on his way. 'It's slowly ticking over again,' added Whyte after moving to 23 successes for the season. 'The horses are at their right rating and I've got a lot of older horses that, towards the back of the season, always come good. 'When there's a bit of juice in the ground like this these older horses always let down a bit better. 'Things are coming together nicely. December, January, February were slow with young horses taking their time – just the normal Hong Kong season – but the back end of the season will be nice.'
South China Morning Post
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Caspar Fownes praises ‘amazing owner' Aaron Kwok as Dancing Classics shines on debut
Cantopop star Aaron Kwok (centre) enjoys Dancing Classics' victory with jockey Hugh Bowman and trainer Caspar Fownes (second from left). Photos: Kenneth Chan Caspar Fownes praised the patience of 'amazing owner' Aaron Kwok Fu-shing after debutant Dancing Classics saluted for the Cantopop star at Sha Tin on Sunday. Almost two years after arriving in Hong Kong, Dancing Classics finally made it to race day after experiencing repeated lameness. It was worth the wait for connections, with the four-year-old steaming to victory in 55.57 seconds in the Class Four Beijing Clubhouse Cup (1,000m). 'He's had a lot of issues. It's very expensive to keep paying up for these horses and it's very rewarding,' said Fownes. Bravo, Aaron Kwok! 🖤❤️ Hong Kong's celebrity icon tastes victory at Sha Tin with smart debutant Dancing Classics for @HugeBowman and Caspar Fownes... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 18, 2025 'It means a lot when you know they've got potential and they've just constantly got issues and you bring them back.' Prominent throughout near the outside rail after beginning well under Hugh Bowman from barrier 12, Dancing Classics assumed control inside the 150m to see off Fun Elite by a length. Kwok's fifth horse with Fownes, Dancing Classics became the third of those to win on debut, while the other two have run second before going on to taste success later in their careers. 'We've been lucky – we've bought him some really nice horses over the years,' said Fownes. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. '[Dancing Classic's] got a very big engine. We just hope now that he pulls up well and we've got a horse for the end of the season coming in with a fresh pair of legs. Dancing Classics (red and black colours) charges down the Sha Tin straight on Sunday. 'Hopefully [Kwok] can get rewarded for being an amazing owner and being so patient and believing.' Bowman was pleased Dancing Classics finally got to show his wares on race day after first getting a feel for the son of Press Statement in a couple of Conghua trials. 'He's a horse that's shown a bit – a fair bit, actually,' said Bowman. 'I trialled him at Conghua some months ago and I was very excited by him. He's been plagued by a few niggling issues between then and now, so it's taken a bit of time. 'My second ride on him was during the week. I bounced him down the back and I was pretty satisfied he could come here and perform well and he did that with flying colours. 'He's got improvement to come and he's an exciting, young horse.'
South China Morning Post
12-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Fownes wishes injured Ho well on way to treble: ‘we love you buddy'
Trainer gets the chocolates with Daily Trophy, Charming Steed and Capital Delight at Sha Tin on Wednesday night by Sam Agars on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 11:21 PM Caspar Fownes enjoys his treble with son Ronan. Photo: Kenneth Chan Caspar Fownes sent his love to the injured Vincent Ho Chak-yiu while reeling off a treble at Sha Tin on Wednesday night. Fownes got the chocolates with Daily Trophy, Charming Steed and Capital Delight, with his former apprentice never far from his thoughts during the midweek all-weather meeting. 'Obviously Vincent was supposed to ride [Charming Steed]. Vincent if you're watching, we love you buddy. Get well soon,' said Fownes. Ho, who is in hospital recovering from the head injury and minor shoulder and neck fractures he suffered in a nasty fall at Sha Tin on Sunday, would have also been aboard Capital Delight, but it was Brenton Avdulla who speared the galloper to victory in the evening's feature – the Class Two Tin Chak Handicap (1,200m). — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 12, 2025 'He's been a very nice horse for the stable. He's won at Happy Valley and he's got a particular liking for the dirt,' Fownes said. 'He's quite versatile – 1,200m up to 1,650m – and it was nice to see him just win on the line. We were lucky but we're very happy.' After Daily Trophy snared the first section of the Class Four Kam Shan Handicap (1,200m) under Harry Bentley, Keagan de Melo made the most of his opportunity aboard Charming Steed in the Class Four Silvermine Bay Handicap (1,800m). 'I asked Keagan if he was available and I gave him a chance. He rode a beautiful race so hopefully he can get some more support and some more winners,' Fownes said of the South African jockey, who moved to six winners for the campaign. Ho was one of four jockeys injured on the weekend – Zac Purton, Angus Chung Yik-lai and Keith Yeung Ming-lun are also sidelined – and there was more chaos at Sha Tin on Wednesday night, with Britney Wong Po-ni and Alexis Badel hitting the deck in the opening strides of the Charming Steed race. Wong appeared to slide straight off the back of $16 chance Snowalot on jumping, while All Are Mine ($14) bounded on jumping then knuckled, sending Badel flying into the dirt. Both jockeys walked away unscathed and both horses were declared runners. David Hayes was the other trainer to enjoy multiple successes on the evening, saluting with Falcon Court and Precision Goal to move to 30 winners and the top of the trainers' premiership. 'I'm very happy with my team, my mafoos, my riding boys – they're doing a great job,' Hayes said. 'At the moment, we're winning with older horses. The Ferraris start running soon.' While the evening didn't end on a positive note for Fownes, with M Unicorn scratched after bursting through the gates, Dylan Mo Hin-tung was ecstatic after piloting Frankie Lor Fu-chuen's Never Peter Out to his third straight success.
