04-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
David Eustace's smart three-year-old dazzles at Sha Tin: ‘we've always liked him'
Dazzling Fit threw his hat in the ring as a potential Classic Series horse for next season with a sparkling win in the first section of the Class Four Cox's Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Luke Ferraris settled David Eustace's galloper in mid-pack early on and turning out of the back straight still had a lot of ground to make up.
When hitting top gear Dazzling Fit flew down the straight to record a very comfortable win over Max Que, obliging for favourite backers after being sent off $2.65.
Eustace sung the praises of his three-year-old post-race.
Seriously impressive, Dazzling Fit! 🤯@EustaceRacing's 3YO son of Ribchester explodes to a first win at Sha Tin under @LukeFerraris...#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 4, 2025
'We've always liked him. He'd put in two really good performances but was showing signs of greenness and just inexperience, which is very normal,' said Eustace.
'He was good today. He jumped well and he relaxed. He had a bit of ground to make up and I thought he flattened out well and picked them up well.
'He'll be a lovely horse for next season. He'll definitely stay a mile. Whether he needs to do that now I'm not sure, but for next year he will.
'We'll see how he is as to whether he has another run or whether we give him a chance to mature. I'll just be guided by the horse.'
Whip rules come into focus
Jockey Club officials will discuss Hong Kong's whip rules with the city's riders on Tuesday, with executive director of racing Andrew Harding suggesting 'there is probably a case for reducing, in some circumstances, the use of the whip'.
Under Hong Kong's current whip rules, jockeys can be punished for using the whip in an 'excessive, improper, unnecessary or inappropriate manner' but there are no official restrictions on how many times the whip can be used.
'We continue to look at various aspects of regulation and one of them is the use of the whip. We've been doing that for some time and having ongoing discussions with jockeys and trainers,' said Harding.
'After we have spoken to [the jockeys] and trainers and owners, we will make an assessment about whether there should be changes to the rules with a view to, if we change anything, introducing it next season.
'We're not suggesting anything at this stage. Obviously there have been changes to the way the use of the whip has been regulated in other major racing jurisdictions over time.
'We continue to monitor those changes, see how they've worked and we'll continue to do that.
'It is a conversation we'll be having with the jockeys – whether there is a case for making the changes here, and if we did make changes, what would be sensible?
'I would say overall, I think that there is probably a case for reducing, in some circumstances, the use of the whip.'
Wong ends long wait for Victory
Apprentice Britney Wong Po-ni returned to the winners' enclosure for the first time in almost two months when she booted home Circuit Victory in Sunday's Class Five Jordan Handicap (1,200m).
Winless since firing in a double on the Sha Tin dirt on March 9, Wong snapped a drought of 39 rides without success after guiding Manfred Man Ka-leung's Circuit Victory to his first victory at start 11.
The 25-year-old rider didn't let the lean period weigh her down and paid tribute to support from the industry.
'I've been not in the winners' circle for over a month, so it's all been a bit lost on me. It's good I have got all the good culture and good help around me and I just stick my head into it and I really feel good,' Wong said after notching her 13th triumph of the season.
Circuit Victory is not for catching! Apprentice Britney Wong lands her 13th win in Hong Kong... 🔥#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 4, 2025
Relishing the addition of blinkers, Circuit Victory crossed from gate 12 early to lead for Wong and drew clear in the straight to comfortably beat Ever Smart by a length and three-quarters.
'It's really great and I really appreciate all the support from Manfred,' said Wong, who received a two-meeting careless riding suspension for her winning effort.
'He's been a big supporter even since I was a trainee. It's a nice feeling to reward him and his team in this way.'
Matthew Poon Ming-fai broken an even bigger drought on Sunday, ending his streak of 75 winless rides with a desperately needed success on Cody Mo Wai-kit's Ka Ying Superb in the second section of the Cox's Handicap.
Stellenbosch to stay at home
Japanese mare Stellenbosch will not run in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) later this month, but Jockey Club officials remain confident the other two overseas entries – Dubai Honour and Al Riffa – will step out at Sha Tin on May 25.
Third in December's Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m), Stellenbosch's connections have opted to head towards the Group One Victoria Mile in Tokyo on May 18 instead of another trip abroad.
Local entries for the race, which close on May 12, are expected to be headed by Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's Triple Crown hopeful Voyage Bubble.
