Latest news with #ClassTwoSeoulHandicap
South China Morning Post
30-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Jimmy Ting back in business as Glory Elite gets a peach to win Happy Valley feature
Derek Leung controls proceedings from the front to snare the Class Two Seoul Handicap (1,000m) aboard smart four-year-old Jimmy Ting Koon-ho ended a three-year drought at Class Two level when Glory Elite made all the running to win the Seoul Handicap (1,000m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Second favourite at $4.3, Glory Elite burst out of the gates under Derek Leung Ka-chun and set a good pace out in front. He was stalked all the way by $1.8 favourite Colourful King, who followed him through on the rail and had every chance to go past. But Glory Elite held firm out in front and turned away his challenge, winning a shade comfortably in the end by three-quarters of a length. It was a poignant success for Ting, who was last in the winners' enclosure after a Class Two when My Sugar won at Sha Tin back in March 2022. 'The first time he raced at the Valley, it was over 1,200m and he was wide all the way – which was no good,' said Ting. 'Last time he went very fast but still kept going and it was only the last 100m when he stopped. That's why when I saw the 1,000m race here and there were less horses entered, I thought he would be fast enough. Newsletter Daily Coffee and Sports By submitting, you consent to receiving marketing emails from SCMP. If you don't want these, tick here {{message}} Thanks for signing up for our newsletter! Please check your email to confirm your subscription. Follow us on Facebook to get our latest news. 'Derek knows the horse well and I think he's the best jockey for him. I will give him a rest now – there are no races for him. Maybe he will have one race at the end of the season if there was some rain. He likes the soft ground. Derek Leung takes the acclaim of the crowd as he heads back in on Glory Elite. 'He's the best horse in my stable at the moment. I hope he can improve again but I think he's at his best now at four-years-old.' It was win number 21 of the campaign for Leung, who showed all his prowess to fend off in-form rival Andrea Atzeni in the finish. 'He's good. He was a bit more relaxed than at Sha Tin,' said Leung. 'He stood well in the gates and there weren't many 1,000m horses in the field and I made sure in the first 400m he didn't make any mistakes. He's very honest, very straightforward.' Zac Purton and Loving Vibes (centre) fend off a late challenge to win. Elsewhere on the card, Zac Purton continued his red-hot form with a double aboard The Azure and Loving Vibes. Purton, who rode a treble on last Sunday's Champions Day – headlined by Ka Ying Rising – rode a mighty race to get $2.9 favourite The Azure home in a thrilling three-way photo for the Class Four Incheon Handicap (1,650m). Things got ever better for him when Loving Vibes toughed it out to win the second section of the Class Four Yeongcheon Handicap (1,200m) after a perfect rails trip, fending off a fast-finishing Never Too Soon. And trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing will have been relieved to see Harmony Galaxy win the Class Four Korea Racing Authority Trophy (1,800m) to snap his losing sequence that stretched back to April 9 – when Harmony Galaxy also won at Happy Valley three weeks ago. Danny Shum is all smiles after Harmony Galaxy's win. Sent off an unconsidered $20.35 shot, Harmony Galaxy was last turning into the straight and was forced to spin widest of all under Brenton Avdulla. Once he had clear passage, he surged down the outside to win with a bit to spare – which looked very unlikely the entire way. 'He was good, he's been racing well. He won with Hughy Bowman on him the other day and he had to carry the big weight today, but obviously they went a good gallop so it suited him,' Avdulla said. 'He chimed into it nicely and I was able to get to the outside and rip home. I think there's still a bit of upside to him when he gets up to Class Three – he'll drop a lot in weight and still be competitive.'
South China Morning Post
28-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Colourful King ‘getting better' as Andrea Atzeni aims for a big night at Happy Valley
Andrea Atzeni is hoping to be the hat-trick hero at Happy Valley on Wednesday night when Colourful King and Crystal Powerful both go for three wins on the spin. Sardinian Atzeni, sitting third in the jockeys rankings with 45 winners for the season, has another strong book of in-form rides to enhance his tally. Colourful King is his mount in the feature Class Two Seoul Handicap (1,000m), winner of both his starts at Happy Valley since a promising Hong Kong debut at Sha Tin. He dived late to beat Youthful Spirit by a nose in a Class Three over 1,000m in March, but increased the margin by two lengths when flashing clear of him again in another course and distance Class Three. Big win, Colourful King! 🚀@EustaceRacing's talented sprinter explodes to consecutive victories under @Atzenijockey in the Hong Kong China Rugby Cup at Happy Valley... 🏆#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 9, 2025 His sights are raised today against some seasoned rivals, but David Eustace's charge – a dual winner at Sandown in Australia before shipping over – is totally unexposed and should have plenty more to offer. 'He's thrived since David [Eustace] switched him to the Valley,' said Atzeni. 'I thought he was really impressive again last time and he's definitely improved since his last run. 'He's going up into a Class Two and will need to improve, but he's a horse who has done nothing wrong and seems to be getting better.' Atzeni also rides Crystal Powerful, who is on the hat-trick trail in the Class Three Yeongcheon Handicap (1,200m) for trainer Cody Mo Wai-kit. Crystal Powerful won back-to-back races at the Valley last season and has repeated the feat this campaign. He showed a very willing attitude to edge out Diamond Soars in a 1,000m Class Three in March, knuckling down after being outpaced at the top of the straight to win by a head. It was a similar story over course and distance three weeks later, with Atzeni all action to get his partner up by a short head. Crystal Powerful does it again! An in-form @Atzenijockey scores consecutive wins with Cody Mo's sprinter in the Japan Racing Association Trophy... 🔥 #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 2, 2025 Those runs have suggested a return to 1,200m – the trip he gained both his wins over last season – would be perfect and he gets that on Wednesday. He has the ideal draw in stall seven and Atzeni is hoping lightening can strike for a third time. 'I think dropping to 1,000m was a good shout, as he's been showing a lot more speed lately,' said Atzeni. 'I think the key for him has been the draw – he's a horse who needs to be handy and we've been lucky with our barriers lately. 'Obviously his two recent wins have come over 1,000m, but he this trip suits him just as well and we've got another good draw to work from. I don't think another rise in the weights will stop him from going close.' Atzeni has been enjoying another stellar season, with only Zac Purton (100) and Hugh Bowman (57) ahead of his 45-win haul. The 34-year-old is just three winners away from last season's tally and after a slow start to the season, it goes to show just how well things have been going for Atzeni that he is so close already. 'Things couldn't have gone much better the last six to 10 weeks,' said Atzeni. 'We had a bit of a slow start, but it's great to finish strong and I'd love to get through the 50-winner mark and beyond. 'There's still plenty of racing left and I'm really grateful to all the support I'm getting. I'll just have to keep kicking and hopefully I can beat last season's tally at the very least.'
