Latest news with #ClassicCup
South China Morning Post
19-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
David Hayes hopes for a Champions & Chater upset with Rubylot against ‘horse to beat' Dubai Honour
Trainer praying for some rain to help his Classic Cup (1,800m) winner measure up at the elite level Dubai Honour is the 'horse to beat' in Sunday's Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) but David Hayes is relishing the chance to try and cause an upset with Classic Cup (1,800m) winner Rubylot. Rubylot ran sixth in the first leg of the Classic Series, the Classic Mile, before defying $14 odds to come from nearly last to first to mow down My Wish and win the Classic Cup. The four-year-old ran another stormer when finishing strongly into fifth in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) and was last seen finishing an unlucky sixth in the Group One FWD QE II Cup (2,000m) on Champions Day. Rubylot was shuffled to the back of the field after an inside trip and his rider Hugh Bowman had to take the daring route between horses, copping a sizeable bump before lashing home. Rubylot mows them down in the Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin! My Wish is brave in defeat as @brentonavdulla and David Hayes combine for victory... 🏆#4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 2, 2025 Hayes reports Rubylot is in flying form in the mornings as he prepares to watch the Rubick galloper have his final piece of work. 'We're up at Conghua for his final piece of work on Tuesday before Sunday's big day,' said Hayes. 'He's working like a horse that's really peaking and not going off. 'He's by Rubick so some people would say he wouldn't run a mile and a half, but if you look at the dam's side, it's a very dour European type. 'With luck, I think he could have easily placed in the QE II Cup and that's the elite level. Hugh [Bowman] is very confident he can run a placing and be competitive with the locals.' The race has been billed as a clash between the Triple Crown-seeking Voyage Bubble and top-class foreign raider Dubai Honour, with the rest of the runners making up a supporting cast. Voyage Bubble will bid to become just the second Hong Kong Triple Crown winner on Sunday after wins in the Group One Stewards' Cup (1,600m) and the Group One Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m), but like a vast majority of the locals he has stamina to prove on his first try at the trip. No such reservations are held for William Haggas' Dubai Honour, who is a two-time Group One winner at the 2,400m distance, most recently when flashing home to collect the Group One Tancred Stakes at Rosehill (2,400m). He is proven at Sha Tin by virtue of his narrow second in the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) back in December and Hayes is under no illusions about who is the horse to beat. A fourth Group 1 for Dubai Honour! 🏆@TomMarquand's mount protected his 100% record in Australia earlier this morning, seeing off Duke De Sessa to land the Tancred Stakes for @WilliamHaggas... — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 1, 2025 'Dubai Honour is the horse to beat, he's got nothing to prove compared to the local horses,' said Hayes. 'People have billed it as a clash between him and Voyage Bubble and I do see it that way as well. 'If there's a horse that can cause an upset, maybe that's us, but realistically I'd be over the moon to run in the first three. I have incredible respect for Voyage Bubble. 'I haven't looked at Voyage Bubble's pedigree but he's very good at 2,000m – if it rains then Rubylot will love it and it will make things very interesting.'
South China Morning Post
19-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Steps Ahead and Bundle Award bid to strengthen Derby form in Sha Tin Class Two
Steps Ahead and Bundle Award headline a trio of four-year-olds dropping back from the 2,000m of the Hong Kong Derby to contest Sunday's Class Two Hong Kong Lions Cup (1,800m) at Sha Tin. While there are questions about the strength of this year's Derby, won in an upset by maiden galloper Cap Ferrat, Steps Ahead and Bundle Award will be joined by Californiatotality in attempting to boost the form from the city's biggest race. Rubylot was the first four-year-old to reappear from the Derby, but he finished eighth of nine runners behind Divano last Sunday in what was more of a warm-up run for the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) next weekend. Steps Ahead was sent out an $82 roughie in the Derby and was only beaten two and a half lengths in ninth, despite running into trouble twice in the straight. HISTORY AT SHA TIN! 👏👏@CWilliamsJockey wins the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby aboard Cap Ferrat for trainer Francis Lui over a fast-closing My Wish... #4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025 The Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained gelding was a Class Three winner at the course and distance of Sunday's race in February and a solid fifth to Rubylot in the Classic Cup (1,800m) before the Derby. 'He'll be having his first run back from the four-year-old series. In the Classic Cup and Derby he ran quite well,' jockey Lyle Hewitson said. 'He probably should have finished closer if he had have got more room in the straight, so I was happy with him.' While Steps Ahead drops to a career-low 118 pounds on Sunday, the son of Written By has to overcome barrier 10 in a competitive field of 11. Champion jockey Zac Purton will partner Bundle Award for the first time, with the John Size-trained gelding fresh from a two-length seventh in the Derby. The former Australian galloper won his previous start, a Class Two over 1,800m, and a 1,400m race in January. 'Obviously he won well two starts back over the track and distance,' Purton said. 'He ran a nice race in the Derby, he gets in well into this race with a light weight [121 pounds] and he's drawn well [barrier three], so he'll be a chance.' Californiatotality will be out to bounce back from a his 11th behind Cap Ferrat on March 23. The Tony Cruz-trained gelding is a three-time winner this term, including two at the course and distance of Sunday's race, and could be dangerous with just 116 pounds. Alexis Badel will ride Californiatotality, who has drawn gate five. Elsewhere on Sunday's 10-race card, Hewitson will bid to repay the faith shown by Lui and Gallant Epoch's connections in the Class Four Tsing Lung Tau Handicap (1,400m). 'I erred in judgment last time, so it's nice that I got the opportunity again and hopefully we get back to winning ways,' the South African jockey said of Gallant Epoch's last-start 12th at Happy Valley when he faded after being pushed forward early to lead. 'He has become quite a funny horse. I don't think he's putting it all in but once he gets control of a race, then he's quite good. 'Hopefully he can do that again and be strong off the front. It looks a competitive race.' Gallant Epoch made all to brilliantly score by two lengths at Sha Tin three starts ago.
South China Morning Post
12-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
David Hayes reveals why he set Rubylot for QE II Cup instead of Champions Mile
Rubylot storms home down the outside to win the Classic Cup. Photos: Kenneth Chan Rubylot's Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) campaign and a slightly unlucky run in the city's most prestigious race convinced David Hayes to plot a path towards the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) on April 27. The Australian Hall of Fame trainer was tossing up whether to drop Rubylot back to the 1,600m of the Group One Champions Mile or pit him against world-class opposition, headlined by French star Goliath and Japan's Liberty Island and Prognosis, in the QE II Cup. A brilliant winner of the second leg of the four-year-old series, the Classic Cup (1,800m), Rubylot was a beaten favourite when fifth to Cap Ferrat in last month's Derby but had an excuse when he was bumped by Noisy Boy several times. 'I think because he had been prepared for a Derby, we might as well try him against the best 2,000m horses,' Hayes said. HISTORY AT SHA TIN! 👏👏@CWilliamsJockey wins the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby aboard Cap Ferrat for trainer Francis Lui over a fast-closing My Wish... #4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025 'If he measures up, great. But if he doesn't measure up, he'll be kept for shorter distances.' Hayes made another crucial call when opting to start Rubylot in Sunday's Class One Healthy Community Handicap (1,400m), rather than trial him at Sha Tin on Tuesday. That decision paves the way for an audacious bid to drop back in trip three weeks after the Derby, before jumping back up to 10 furlongs two weeks later. 'We just thought rather than trial against Voyage Bubble for no money and he loves it wet – there's a little bit of rain around – why not give him a warm-up race in this?' Hayes said. 'He's won three races at 1,400m. I think he's freshened up well and he'll run a good race. 'Coming back from 2,000m in three weeks is never easy, but I gave him a bit of sprint work at the start of the week and he responded well. 'It might be a bit short but he'll run really well. In the Derby he was bumped the whole way – he kept getting bumped, not interfered with but just put off. I think if we just get him in a rhythm and save him for one late run, he'll fly home.' With Rubylot dropping down towards the bottom of the weights with 119 pounds, lightweight jockey Karis Teetan has picked up the plum ride from the gelding's regular rider Brenton Avdulla, who teams up with top weight Beauty Joy. Dropping back from Group races for the first time since 2023, the Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Joy rarely visits the winners' enclosure but also consistently performs above expectations, including a third behind Voyage Bubble in the Group One Hong Kong Mile in December. The strongest race on Sunday's card also includes last year's Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) victor Invincible Sage, Group Three winners Patch Of Theta, Mugen and Taj Dragon, as well as Drombeg Banner, Mr Ascendency and Classic Mile runner-up Divano. Sitting second on the trainers' championship with 41 wins this term, Hayes will also be represented by Ka Ying Resilience, Falcon Court, Honest Witness, Positive Smile, Night Purosangue and Ariel on Sunday. Honest Witness looks capable of improving second up in the Class Four JC Campsite Reimagination Project Handicap (1,200m) after a solid debut fourth to Super Strong Kid down the 1,000m straight. Zac Purton hops aboard the Written By three-year-old on Sunday.
South China Morning Post
27-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Derby placegetter Packing Angel sidelined by knee injuries, while Ramadan heads to Australia
Packing Angel (right) finishes third behind Cap Ferrat in the Hong Kong Derby. Photos: Kenneth Chan Packing Angel won't race again until next season after pulling up from his third in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) with knee injuries, while fellow four-year-old Ramadan is set to continue his racing career in Australia. Trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai confirmed Packing Angel will undergo surgery on both knees after sustaining bone injuries. An impressive winner of three consecutive 1,400m races this term, the son of Shocking followed a solid fourth to Rubylot in the Classic Cup (1,800m) with a close third behind stablemate Cap Ferrat in last Sunday's Derby. 'He needs an operation. He might be out for three months,' Lui said. HISTORY AT SHA TIN! 👏👏@CWilliamsJockey wins the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby aboard Cap Ferrat for trainer Francis Lui over a fast-closing My Wish... #4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025 'Sometimes you don't know with the ground and especially with a young horse.' Hong Kong's firm ground was also a consideration for trainer Mark Newnham and the Yulong Investments team when they pulled the pin on Ramadan's Hong Kong venture after two runs for the Australian handler and a long last in December's Group One Hong Kong Mile when under the care of James Ferguson. The colt arrived in the city with an impressive record in France, winning five of his 10 starts including a Group Two and pair of Group Threes at a mile. 'He'll go to Australia. We just thought he's best suited there,' Newnham said. 'His French form's on soft ground, so he'll like the softer ground in Australia. [Yulong's Zhang Yuesheng] is keen to replace him – we've already put in a replacement form.' Newnham prepared Yulong's first Hong Kong winner, Show Respect at Happy Valley in March last year, and he trains a small team for the global racing and breeding operation. Reach The Peak, a Caulfield winner from his three Australian starts, is Yulong's latest addition to Newnham's team after coming out of quarantine this week. Another of Newnham's overseas imports, Mid Winter Wind, will drop back to 1,200m for Sunday's Class Two Barker Handicap after a last-start fifth to Johannes Brahms over 1,600m. Surprise at odds of 41/1! 🤯 Well back in the field on the turn, South African Group 3 winner Mid Winter Wind scores on debut in Hong Kong for @LukeFerraris and Mark Newnham... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 31, 2025 The former South African galloper made a big impression on his Hong Kong debut when he stormed home to win by over six furlongs in January. 'He was pretty dynamic first up and then we had to have a shot to see if we could be a chance to join into the four-year-old series,' said Newnham. 'But at the mile he loomed up to win and couldn't quite finish them off and that's in line with his form in South Africa. 'I'm happy to keep him to sprinting. It looks a good race so it will be a decent test of where he's at, but he's in good condition.' The Australian handler also confirmed My Wish is on track to progress to the Group One Champions Mile on April 27 after his slashing second in the Derby. My Wish was only beaten a short head after producing the fastest final 400m over 2,000m at Sha Tin – 21.39 seconds – since sectional times were introduced in 2008. 'All going well, he'll have his chance in the Champions Mile. We'll just see how that goes in the next week or two,' Newnham said. Lui said Derby hero Cap Ferrat will progress to April 27's Group One QE II Cup (2,000m), which is expected to have a strong overseas flavour including French star Goliath and Japan's Liberty Island.
South China Morning Post
23-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Mark Newnham left to rue what might have been with ‘brave' Hong Kong Derby runner-up My Wish
My Wish (right) falls narrowly short of Cap Ferrat (left) in Sunday's Hong Kong Derby (2,000m). Photos: Kenneth Chan Mark Newnham was left to rue what might have been after he and jockey Luke Ferraris went within a short head of orchestrating a brilliant BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) victory with My Wish at Sha Tin on Sunday. After being lumped with the outside gate of 14, Newnham and Ferraris hatched a plan to take second favourite My Wish – who has done most of his racing on or near the speed – back to last. In a race run at a crawl from the 1,600m to the 800m before they rattled home, Ferraris unleashed My Wish in the home straight but the Classic Mile winner fell just short of winner Cap Ferrat despite steaming home with a final 400m of 21.39 seconds. 'Very brave. He's been the best four-year-old through the series,' said Newnham after My Wish added a Derby second to his runner-up finish in the Classic Cup (1,800m) earlier this month. HISTORY AT SHA TIN! 👏👏@CWilliamsJockey wins the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby aboard Cap Ferrat for trainer Francis Lui over a fast-closing My Wish... #4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025 'On Thursday, we probably knew our fate but to run so close, it's disappointing. We came up with a plan of where to ride him and how to ride him. All that went to script except we got beaten a short head. 'We needed to do something from gate 14. It was no good going out there just hoping to get a spot. I thought our best chance was just to get him to relax, conserve energy and use his sprint. 'He did all those things and Luke did all the right things, we just didn't quite win. 'The winner – gate two, third on the fence, didn't come round a horse. That's the way it fell today but in the future we've got a very good horse.' My Wish holds an entry for the Group One Champions Mile at the end of next month, but Newnham isn't yet sure where his stable star will head next. 'He's a very good horse, there's no doubt about that. In all his starts, he's never run badly,' said the Australian handler. 'He's missed a place once and that was his first start at 1,000m. I think there's still improvement to come in him next year, so there's a very good future for him. 'He didn't quite get the job done today but I'm sure his turn will come.' Moreira bags brace While a third Derby victory narrowly eluded him, Joao Moreira had a fruitful afternoon at Sha Tin all the same, landing a double with victories aboard Packing Hermod and Master Trillion. Moreira may have thought he was poised to add to his Derby victories aboard Rapper Dragon (2017) and Sky Darci (2021) when Packing Angel travelled strongly into the race from midfield, but the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained galloper couldn't quite go on with it and had to settle for a neck third. 'He ran terrific. He travelled a little bit strong – if he relaxed a little bit more the result could have been different, but that was a huge run,' said Moreira. It was a different story for stablemate Packing Hermod, who stepped back in trip for the Class Two Rapper Dragon Handicap (1,400m) after running in the first two legs of the Classic Series. Packing Hermod equals the 1400m Sha Tin track record with a slick 1m 19.92s! Joao Moreira does the riding for Francis Lui at Sha Tin... 🚀@cavaleiro83 | #4YOSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025 Sent off a $2.05 favourite, Packing Hermod closed strongly from a midfield position to defeat Young Champion by three-quarters of a length and stay perfect in two runs under Moreira. On a day featuring quick times across the card, Packing Hermod stopped the clock in 1:19.92 to equal Encouraging's 1,400m Sha Tin track record. Moreira was one of three big-name jockeys to jet into Hong Kong and bag a brace, with Craig Williams successful aboard Cap Ferrat in the Derby and Endeared, while Ryan Moore saluted aboard Super Express and Invincible Shield. The victory of debutant Super Express in the Class Four Luger Handicap (1,400m) was the first of a double for John Size, who also delivered with Endeared. Fownes and Hamelin break through Trainer Caspar Fownes and French jockey Antoine Hamelin teamed up for their first winner at their 35th attempt as Sky Deep broke his maiden at start six in the Class Four Sky Darci Handicap (1,400m). After consecutive seconds, including last start under Hamelin when he lost his way in the straight and hit the running rail, Sky Deep fended off Harold Win late to grab an overdue success. Three wins from his last nine rides! 🙌 An in-form @AntoineHamelin gets Sky Deep home in the Sky Darci Handicap - a contest named in honour of the 2021 @BMW Hong Kong Derby hero, who also raced for the Kwan family... 💛💚#4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025 'You've got to give people a chance. It's hard in Hong Kong, but he's done nothing wrong on this horse,' Fownes said of Hamelin, who has ridden three winners from his last nine rides to move to five victories for the season. 'The horse is quite immature and has his own mind a little bit. We're trying to teach him the right way. 'It's good for Antoine. It's his first winner for me and I think this horse has a chance to win again. 'I think next season this horse will be a different horse. He'll really understand what his job is and he could be quite nice.'
