Latest news with #ChanchengGlory
New Paper
01-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Mo lands first Group success with Pray For Mir in Lion Rock Trophy
HONG KONG - Cody Mo celebrated a breakthrough at Sha Tin on May 31, as lightweight chance Pray For Mir gave the Hong Kong trainer his first Group success in the HK$4.2 million (S$690,000) Group 3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1,600m). Following the 47-year-old's record of 20 wins in his first campaign in 2023/24, Mo - who boasts a 68-horse stable of fresh talent and seasoned gallopers - has excelled in 2024/25 with 38 successes. "This is one of my targets for the season. Now, a dream has come true. I'm so happy - thanks to all my staff and the owners for their support," said Mo. Mo, who previously worked with legendary jockey-turned-trainer Tony Cruz, started his journey with the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 1994 as a work rider. He gained experience with David Ferraris and Benno Yung and, while with Cruz, he campaigned champion gallopers Silent Witness and Bullish Luck successfully abroad. One of three four-year-olds in the Lion Rock Trophy, Pray For Mir (Matthew Chadwick) quickly found the front from barrier 8 to make the running while Red Lion (Hugh Bowman) and Chancheng Glory (Luke Ferraris) settled behind the leader. Turning for home, Pray For Mir ($44) maintained his front spot as Chancheng Glory levelled up with him. Chadwick called on his mount at the 250m mark and Pray For Mir extended to win by ½ length over Chancheng Glory. Group 1 winner Beauty Eternal (James Orman) finished third. The winning time was 1min 33.83sec for the 1,600m on the turf. "He's (Pray For Mir) always been very honest, he just gets beat, unfortunately. The weight really helped today," said Chadwick. "He was left alone and he relaxed really well and when the other one (Chancheng Glory) put it to him, he just kept fighting and his quality just shone through." Consistent all season with one win and five placings, the son of Justify enhanced his earnings to HK$9.43 million from 15 starts in Hong Kong after arriving as a two-time winner from Sunshine Coast, Australia. "Today, Chadwick controlled the pace very well and the horse carried a light weight. At the end of the season, all the horses were maybe a bit tired and I kept him a bit fresh," said Mo. "He is a very honest horse. You can see he has so many seconds and only loses by a little bit. "We (Mo and Chadwick) have very good communication. This season, I have really been supporting local jockeys and I'm happy that we could win a Group 3 together." Mo and Chadwick have combined for 10 wins in 2024/25. The duo worked closely when Chadwick was apprenticed to Cruz, during which Mo worked as his work rider and assistant trainer. "We go way back when we were both training in Tony's stable and we've come through the ranks together, and it's great to be part of this with him," said Mo. Thriving in the absence of the world's best sprinter Ka Ying Rising, Helios Express was rewarded for a season of remarkable consistency with deserved victory in the other feature race, the HK$4.2 million Group 3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap (1,200m). After finishing second five times and third twice to Ka Ying Rising in seven starts this campaign, Helios Express ($10) - ridden by Bowman - scrambled to a short-head victory over Invincible Sage, with Patch Of Theta 1¾ lengths away in third. Winning trainer John Size has also edged closer to a 13th Hong Kong trainers' championship at Sha Tin after wrapping up the day with a double. The Australian handler took his 2024/25 tally to 60, with a seven-win buffer over compatriot David Hayes (53) with 12 meetings left in the season. Besides Helios Express, Size also struck with Masterofmyuniverse ($7) as the talented gelding made it two successive wins with a slender victory in the HK$1.86 million Class 3 Tai Wai Handicap (1,200m). Ridden by Zac Purton, Masterofmyuniverse speared through a narrow gap before denying Infinite Resolve by a nose to claim his fourth win in nine starts. HKJC
South China Morning Post
14-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Victor The Winner tunes up for Chairman's Sprint Prize as Champions Day build-up ramps up
Group One winner Victor The Winner warmed up for Champions Day with a stylish trial win as the first batch of international contenders for Hong Kong's second biggest meeting of the year were scheduled to arrive on Monday. The build-up to Champions Day on Sunday week ramped up when Victor The Winner comfortably won a trial on the Sha Tin dirt on Monday that also featured Champions Day runners Chancheng Glory and Cap Ferrat. Pushed forward by Karis Teetan to lead, the David Eustace-trained Victor The Winner was never headed when scoring by a length and three-quarters in 1:10.09 over 1,200m. Teetan will take his first race ride on the six-year-old since November 2023 when he clashes with superstar Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m). It will be Victor The Winner's second start for Eustace after a transfer from the stable of Danny Shum Chap-shing, who prepared the son of Toronado to win last year's Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m). Chancheng Glory, who kept on well for second in the same trial, will also have a new rider on Champions Day with Brazilian star Joao Moreira booked for the ride in the Group One Champions Mile. 'It's another tough race and he's consistent. Joao Moreira can help him and maybe he can surprise,' trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai said. Chancheng Glory notched a career-best win in the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m) in January and copped heavy interference when ninth to Straight Arron in the Group Three Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) last start. Lui's Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero Cap Ferrat wasn't fully tested in Monday's trial, finishing six lengths behind Victor The Winner in fifth under Keith Yeung Ming-lun. Top Australian jockey Craig Williams will again ride the four-year-old when he bids to become the sixth galloper to win the Derby-Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) double in the same season. 'He trialled well and it's just to keep his condition. He's fit and happy,' Lui said. 'I think it's a tough race. He won the Derby but we don't know his quality yet and what grade.' A maiden from 13 Australian starts and three in Hong Kong before the Derby, Cap Ferrat bagged an upset victory at $26.7 when he narrowly beat My Wish in the city's most prestigious race. Meanwhile, nine-time Group One winner Mr Brightside and Japan's Liberty Island and Danon McKinley arrived in Hong Kong on Monday night. Mr Brightside will bid for a 10th Group One triumph in the Champions Mile, Liberty Island runs in the QE II Cup and Danon McKinley tackles the Chairman's Sprint Prize. The other 12 internationals are scheduled to arrive throughout this week, but one big name who will be absent is Dubai Honour. Trainer William Haggas confirmed to Jockey Club officials that the globetrotting stayer will bypass the QE II Cup after his closing second to Via Sistina in Saturday's Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,000m) at Randwick. Instead, Dubai Honour will return to England before making the trip to Hong Kong for the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) on May 25. Tony Cruz yesterday withdrew Five G Patch, La City Blanche and Winning Dragon from the QE II Cup. They are expected to run in the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) on May 4.
South China Morning Post
31-01-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Richards hopes smart debut winner can help stable ‘out of a bit of a rut'
Yee Cheong Glory hits the ground running at Sha Tin on Friday, justifying favouritism with an eye-catching victory by Sam Agars on Friday, January 31, 2025 7:25 PM Yee Cheong Glory makes a winning debut at Sha Tin on Friday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Jamie Richards hopes Yee Cheong Glory is the horse to help his stable out of a 'bit of a rut' after the dashing grey made light work of his opponents on debut at Sha Tin on Friday. Sent off $2.45 favourite for the second section of the Class Four Fat Choi Handicap (1,200m) after impressing at the trials, Yee Cheong Glory worked up to sit midfield the rail under Zac Purton before easing out into clear air upon straightening and storming to a two-and-a-quarter-length success. 'He just missed the start a little bit, but that might have been a blessing in disguise because they went along and he got into a nice rhythm. He came out at the right time and quickened up well. He's a nice horse,' said Richards of the son of Puissance De Lune, who won a 1,000m trial by seven lengths when named Father Lawrie in Australia. 'I'd say he's going to keep improving with a bit more time. I know he's bred to get over a bit of distance but at the moment he looks like he's got plenty of pace. 'He trialled well before he came and he's a nice horse. We're looking forward to the future with him.' Richards was a relieved man after his seventh winner of the campaign, with the trainer enduring six placings since his last victory on January 1. 'It's been a frustrating season, to say the least, but hopefully we can turn the corner now,' said the New Zealander. 'The horses are running well, we're just having too many placings and you're losing quite a few stable transfers, which is just Hong Kong. Hopefully this one can get us out of a bit of a rut.' — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 31, 2025 Yee Cheong Glory also delivered a welcome winner to Purton, who drew the ire of punters in the parade ring after falling short aboard a few favourites early on the card. Purton went onto complete a double in the finale, with the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained Packing Angel a comfortable winner. Packing Angel's Class Three Kut Cheong Handicap (1,400m) success was just the tonic for connections after Packing Hermod could only manage third as favourite in the Classic Mile. Hong Kong Derby hopeful Packing Angel's third victory on the bounce also completed a double for Lui after he earlier snared the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m) with Chancheng Glory. Yip strikes first in Year of the Snake Dennis Yip Chor-hong knew it was going to take a bit of luck for Ho Ho Star to break his maiden and the 57-year-old hopes the gelding's 'auspicious' victory in the first race of the Year of the Snake is a pointer to good things to come for the stable. Winless from his first 19 starts, Ho Ho Star had dropped to a mark of 28 before arresting his slide in the Class Five Kung Hei Handicap (1,200m). 'I'm happy. The first winner of the Chinese New Year is lucky, of course,' said Yip after his 16th winner of the season. 'It has been difficult to get a win out of this horse.' After positioning Ho Ho Star midfield the rail in a race run a tick inside standard early, jockey Matthew Chadwick rode for luck up the inside before driving his mount through a tight gap late in proceedings. 'It was a nice ride, the jockey did everything right,' said Yip, who was dressed resplendently in gold. 'He needs the fast pace and he needs help getting around the turn. 'We have tried with Zac, we have put on lots of good jockeys and we finally got lucky. This jockey did all the best things for the horse.' Thompson repays loyal Folks Ben Thompson ended a lengthy drought and rewarded the loyalty of the owner of New Future Folks, So Wing-keung, in the process at Sha Tin, with the 27-year-old booting Michael Chang Chun-wai's four-year-old to a second career win. Thompson went 59 rides without a victory before steering the well-backed New Future Folks to a front-running success in the Class Three Red Packet Handicap (1,600m). The Australian rider led at a sedate pace aboard the $18 shot before kicking clear in the final 200m to secure his first win since New Future Folks recorded his breakthrough success on December 15. The Class Three victory secured Thompson his fourth win for the season, three of which have been for owner So. While Thompson has not been able to gain much momentum in the 2024-25 campaign, So has been a loyal supporter of the young rider. He provided Thompson with three of his five rides on Friday in the form of Always My Folks, Forever Folks and New Future Folks.
South China Morning Post
31-01-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hugh Bowman bags brilliant four-timer as Chancheng lands Group Three gamble
Australian celebrates Sha Tin successes aboard Sunstrider, Chancheng Glory, Brilliant Express and Green N White by Jack Dawling on Friday, January 31, 2025 6:49 PM Hugh Bowman celebrates his fourth win of the afternoon at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Hugh Bowman rang in the Year of the Snake in perfect style at Sha Tin on Friday, with Chancheng Glory's Group Three win the highlight of his fantastic four-timer in front of a packed crowd. Bowman celebrated his biggest haul in exactly a year thanks to wins aboard Sunstrider, Chancheng Glory, Brilliant Express and Green N White in consecutive races. 'I had good rides on paper and it's all worked out well,' Bowman said. 'I got into good running positions and when it didn't work out for me early, it worked out late. 'All my rides have shown they were capable and it's nice for it all to happen in one day.' — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 31, 2025 Chancheng Glory was by no means disgraced at the top level on his past two starts and relished a step into calmer waters to plunder the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m). After Chancheng Glory was brown-lamped from $15 into $7 in betting, Bowman made no mistake finding a prominent position from barrier nine and his mount travelled powerfully turning for home. The five-year-old hit the front alongside the Tony Cruz-trained Winning Dragon 250m out and his stamina came to the fore, with Lui's charge outstaying his main challenger in the closing stages to prevail by three-quarters of a length. 'When he jumped well and travelled, I was always very confident,' Bowman said. 'He was aided by a nice, genuine speed set by Sword Point and his class showed over the final two furlongs. 'I get limited opportunities in these races with the weight conditions but it is what it is. I thought his run last start had a lot of merit against the highest quality of horses so it's nice to see him do that. After the HK$4.2 million contest, Francis Lui Kin-wai confirmed his Group Three winner will target the Group One Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m) on February 23. 'He's one of the most honest horses in my stable,' Lui said. 'He's always been a Group Two and Group Three handicap horse, but Group Ones have been a bit too much for him. 'However, he'll go for the Gold Cup next. The 2,000m suits him better than 1,400m in the [Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup] on the same day, so he'll go for that.' Bowman opened his account for the afternoon in the Class Four Good Fortune Handicap (1,600m), spearing $7.6 chance Sunstrider to success from the near the rear of the field. Stepping down to Class Four level for the first time, Sunstrider surged to his first local success at start 10. Brilliant Express delivered Bowman his third success of the meeting, with the $2.1 favourite obliging after showing an impressive turn of foot to fly home from 10th in the straight. The Australian topped off his successful Friday in the Class Two Chinese New Year Cup (1,400m), with the 44-year-old saluting aboard Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's Green N White in a thrilling finish. After settling near the tail of the field, Green N White made smooth headway turning for home before finding traffic at the top of the straight. Switched into the clear before the 200m marker, Green N White responded to Bowman's urgings to spear through a gap and hit the front in the closing stages. Bowman's 507-1 four-timer took him to 37 wins for the season after 42 meetings – 43 behind runaway premiership leader Zac Purton.
South China Morning Post
30-01-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Lor backs Happy Together to take advantage of weight drop in Centenary Vase
Veteran handler rates consistent galloper 'a better chance this time' in Group Three feature on Lunar New Year card by Jay Rooney on Thursday, January 30, 2025 2:31 PM Alexis Badel guides Happy Together to victory in last year's January Cup. Photos: Kenneth Chan Happy Together was brave in defeat under top weight last start and Frankie Lor Fu-chuen believes the consistent galloper gets an even better chance to strike in Friday's Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m) at Sha Tin. Defending his Group Three January Cup (1,800m) crown at Happy Valley on January 8, Happy Together stormed home from near last under 135 pounds to fall half a length short of winner Helene Feeling when a game second. The six-year-old had trouble securing a clear run around the home turn when improving into a narrow gap between Star Contact and Helene Feeling, adding further merit to his performance. Despite remaining towards the top of the weights off a mark of 111, Happy Together drops four pounds with the inclusion of the 115-rated Straight Arron in the HK$4.2 million feature. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 8, 2025 'I think he has a better chance this time because he doesn't have to carry 135,' Lor said. 'He still has 131, but I think the horse still has a bit of improvement in him and I think this will be his best season. I think he will run a good race.' A revelation since joining Lor's stable in 2023, Happy Together has racked up five wins and raced with distinction at the highest level. The former Irish galloper was a solid fourth to Romantic Warrior in last term's Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) and fifth, promoted from sixth on objection, behind Voyage Bubble in December's Group One Hong Kong Mile. He had excuses when a beaten $3.2 favourite in last year's Centenary Vase, finishing seventh behind Nimble Nimbus, who chases back-to-back successes in the race on Friday. The field of 11 also features Lor's dual dirt winner Sword Point, Chancheng Glory, Ensued, La City Blanche, Five G Patch, Encountered, Hong Kong Derby prospect Stunning Peach and Winning Dragon. Sword Point returns to the turf after his second all-weather triumph from as many starts on the surface, which prompted Lor to enter him for the Group One Dubai World Cup (2,000m) and Group Two Godolphin Mile on dirt in April. 'It won't be easy for him on the turf and he needs to carry 131, but I think he can still go close,' Lor said. 'There aren't many dirt races for him and I've entered him for Dubai, but at this moment I haven't heard any reply from them yet.' Lor will be represented in Friday's Classic Mile by Top Gun, who will be ridden by top Australian jockey Jamie Melham. 'He's not really one of the leading chances at the moment, but maybe a change in jockey will bring out some improvement,' Lor said of the Time Test gelding, who has won once from eight Hong Kong starts.
