Latest news with #ChrisSo
South China Morning Post
10 hours ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Chris So has Group One hopes for Hong Lok Golf after exciting Happy Valley win
Group One goals could be on the agenda for Hong Lok Golf next season after the exciting galloper continued his rapid rise with a successful Happy Valley debut on Wednesday night. Sent off the $2.8 favourite for the Class Two Cheung Sha Handicap (1,650m), Hong Lok Golf settled sixth and worked into the race when Harry Bentley made his move on the turn. As the $3.5 second favourite Soleil Fighter shot to the lead early in the straight, Steps Ahead launched a determined challenge to hit the front at the 100m. But it was Hong Lok Golf who dug deep when it counted most, lifting down the centre of the track to edge Steps Ahead by a short head. Soleil Fighter was close behind in third. Hong Lok Golf added to his reputation as a rising star of Hong Kong racing with his sixth win from seven starts. The Chris So Wai-yin-trained gelding should arguably be unbeaten, with a luckless second to Righteous Arion at Sha Tin in February his only defeat. Class act, Hong Lok Golf! 🤯 Chris So's talent lifts his impressive record to six wins from seven starts, lunging late to deny Steps Ahead with a second straight Class 2 win... @HarryBentley_ #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 11, 2025 'I was worried about coming to Happy Valley for the first time, but I thought the horse could be flexible – he can lead, sit off the pace or come from behind - so it was worth the try,' said So. 'Every time he gives you a surprise - he's such a tough horse and never gives up, he always hits the line strongly. I hope he can be a Group One horse in time. 'I don't think we'll go for the Group Three [Premier Plate] next week, there is a [Class One] mile race on July 13 at Sha Tin that we can maybe look at, but we'll see how he pulls up and what the owner thinks.' 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. Bentley, who has been aboard Hong Lok Golf in all seven starts, labelled the four-year-old 'a jockey's dream'. 'This horse is just so tough and he really goes to the well,' Bentley said. Trainer Chris So (second from left), jockey Harry Bentley (centre) and connections of Hong Lok Golf celebrate. 'The pace was a bit sedate, perhaps, for him early on. We got a lovely run through following Steps Ahead but the straight here is a bit on the short side for him and it blunts his staying power, where Sha Tin really suits him with the long straight. 'Chris and his team have done a really good job in keeping him in tip-top shape until now.' A day after celebrating his 33rd birthday, Bentley notched a Valley double after also striking on Jimmy Ting Koon-ho's Smiling Emperor in the Class Five Tai Wo Ping Handicap (1,650m). Elsewhere on Wednesday night, Caspar Fownes extended his lead in the unofficial Valley trainers' championship with a race-to-race double courtesy of Autumn Delight and Capital Delight. Autumn Delight broke through at start six, capitalising on a dream run just off the speed from gate four to claim the second section of the Class Four Tai Hang Tung Handicap (1,200m) under Andrea Atzeni. Andrea Atzeni high-fives the Valley crowd after booting home Autumn Delight. 'It's nice when you can get a result with horses that have a lot of problems,' Fownes said of the four-year-old, who was struck down by a tendon injury last year. 'The owners have been very patient and now they're starting to get the rewards. I think this horse hopefully will improve and win another race before the season finishes.' Capital Delight successfully backed up from a closing second a week earlier to score a barnstorming triumph in the Class Four Tai Kok Tsui Handicap (1,650m) for in-form apprentice Ellis Wong Chi-wang, who has booted home eight winners since the start of May. Known as 'the King of the Valley', Fownes has recorded 25 wins at the city circuit this term. Mark Newnham is his nearest rival with 22. Karis Teetan also chimed in with a brace aboard Smart City and Definitive.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Lok Golf steps into the unknown: ‘If you never try, you never know'
Chris So-trained galloper's winning streak goes on the line at Happy Valley this Wednesday night Hong Lok Golf will put his winning streak on the line when he faces a tricky test on Happy Valley debut this Wednesday night. Victorious in five of six career starts – all at Sha Tin – including the past three on the bounce, Hong Lok Golf will step into unfamiliar territory for the Class Two Cheung Sha Handicap (1,650m). Fresh from a successful Sha Tin Sunday thanks to the victory of Perfectday, trainer Chris So Wai-yin is confident his stable star will take to the city circuit despite having never even trialled there. 'We didn't have too many options for him but owner [Jackie Wong See-sum] really wanted to race him again, so we picked Happy Valley,' said So. HONG LOK GOLF makes it five from six! 🔥 Chris So's rising star continues his red-hot form with a Class 2 win at Sha Tin under @HarryBentley_!# — Hong Kong Racing (@HongKong_Racing) May 4, 2025 'It seems like he will handle the track but we don't know yet – we have to take a chance. If you never try, you never know. 'I told the owner that many things are unknown but he said 'we have to try'. I think it might suit him.' So was thrilled to see Hong Lok Golf draw barrier four for his first appearance at the tight-turning Valley track, ensuring regular jockey Harry Bentley has options. 'It's a small field and having that good draw is most important. The horse is flexible – he can go in front or come from behind – and his form is still good,' said So of Hong Lok Golf, who coasted into second in a recent dirt trial. 'His trial was OK. It was just a soft trial and he looked good.' After Hong Lok Golf's most recent victory in a Class Two on May 4, So put May 31's Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) on the table for his galloper. Four wins from five starts! 🤯 Hong Lok Golf just keeps getting better as Chris So lands a 400th Hong Kong win as a trainer... 👏 @HarryBentley_ #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 13, 2025 He eventually decided against throwing the son of Grunt in the deep end in a race won by Pray For Mir from 17lb out of the handicap. Cody Mo Wai-kit's charge, who Hong Lok Golf defeated in that Class Two in early May, was hit with a 21-point ratings hike for his troubles. Should Hong Lok Golf win again on Wednesday night and lift his rating well into the 90s, however, So will consider backing him up in the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) at Sha Tin on June 22. 'For the Group Three on the 31st, the handicap was no good for us. Cody's horse went up 21 points. That's no good – it's tough to win again,' said So. 'Maybe, we will see [whether we go to the Premier Plate] – let's see how he runs this week first. I want to give him a chance to run at Happy Valley and then we will see. 'I think the 1,650m is suitable for him now but eventually he may need further.' Hong Lok Golf is one of four runners for So at the fourth-last Valley meeting of the season. He also saddles up Young Striker, Our Lucky Glory and Know At Heart.
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Chris So dealt mixed bag of barriers for seven-strong team at Sha Tin
Trainer Chris So and jockey Zac Purton will team up with Pakistan Legacy and With A Smile at Sha Tin on Sunday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Armed with a strong team of seven runners at Sha Tin on Sunday, Chris So Wai-yin was left with mixed emotions after Pakistan Legacy drew ideally in barrier three but three of his other prominent chances copped wide gates. Closing in on his first Hong Kong success after two seconds from four local starts, Pakistan Legacy was dealt a sweet draw for the Class Three Beas River Country Club Handicap (1,200m) after jumping from 11 last start when fifth to the reopposing Moduleconstruction. While So was thrilled with the Australian import's improved draw, the 56-year-old rued double-digit gates drawn by last-start winner With A Smile (13), Mask Rider (10) and Winning Gold (10). Unbeaten from two pre-import starts, Pakistan Legacy has run close seconds to Super Legends and Lady's Choice and was forced to settle further back than expected from barrier 11 last start. He had made up late ground to finish two lengths behind Francis Lui Kin-wai's Moduleconstruction, who must overcome a wide draw in 11 on Sunday and a 6lbs swing in favour of Pakistan Legacy. Pakistan Legacy (left) finishes a close second to Super Legends on his Hong Kong debut. 'I was hoping for a good draw,' So said. 'Zac [Purton] always sticks with him. He thinks the horse is OK and the owner is good friends with Zac. 'The horse has run very well, he just needs some luck. He's healthy and everything's all right.' 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. So, who has prepared 29 winners this term, will also be relying on Purton's magic to help With A Smile overcome his wide gate in the Class Four Sha Tin Clubhouse Handicap (1,400m). Purton was aboard for the Merchant Navy three-year-old's maiden victory last start, when he shrugged off a wide run without cover from barrier 12 to narrowly score over 1,400m at Sha Tin. With A Smile strikes for a @zpurton double! ✌️ Chris So's impressive Merchant Navy 3YO breaks through for a first win at his fourth start at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 13, 2025 'I think after his last run, he's still improving,' So said of With A Smile, who broke through at start four. 'Zac sticks with him and I think the horse is up-and-coming. Let's see.' With A Smile jumps 7lbs on his last-start triumph to carry equal top weight of 135lbs. Another Australian import, Mask Rider, chases his second win in the city in the Class Three Members Cup (1,200m) on dirt after scoring first up in January. The Justify gelding has only registered one placing in four subsequent runs, but he had excuses last time out when sixth to Must Go after being trapped wide throughout from barrier nine. Mask Rider (centre) wins a recent dirt trial under Britney Wong. 'He's another one that needed a good draw,' So said. 'Britney [Wong Po-ni] has won a lot of races on the dirt and we asked her to ride him again. His last run was good and hopefully we get some luck.' Winning Gold has been hampered by wide draws since scoring on objection over Sky Trust in February. James Orman will again ride the four-time winner in Sunday's final race, the Class Three Shenzhen Centre Handicap (1,600m). 'He's very competitive – every race, he never disappoints,' So said. 'Hopefully he can win a Class Three, but they are all strong.' Protest upheld! Sky Trust crosses the line first, however, it's Winning Gold and @KarisTeetan who lift the finale... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 9, 2025 Hinokami Kagura, Firefoot and Fortune Racer are the other runners on Sunday for So, who continues to weigh up whether to set emerging stable star Hong Lok Golf for the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) on May 31. 'He will run again, but there aren't many races for him,' So said of the five-time winner from six starts. 'There is the Group Three on May 31. We'll get him ready and the other race would be at Happy Valley, but we have to discuss with the owner. 'The horse can race forward, so I think Happy Valley would also suit him.'
