Latest news with #ColourfulKing
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
In-form sprinter Colourful King set to relish extra distance at Happy Valley
David Eustace believes the step up in distance could be the key to Colourful King's chances in the Class Two Wan Chai Gap Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The Blue Point gelding has stuck to the minimum 1,000m trip in four Hong Kong starts, building on a promising Sha Tin debut with a pair of city circuit wins. He quickened up smartly in a pair of Class Three races, winning the latter Hong Kong China Rugby Club Handicap by an impressive two lengths. After travelling well in midfield, Colourful King sprinted powerfully to mow down the long-time leader Youthful Spirits and was going away at the line. 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 That would suggest Wednesday's extra 200m would be ideal, despite Eustace have reservations about it previously. 'I think the distance will be fine – we probably wouldn't have said that a couple of starts back, but I thought his last run showed he would appreciate it and his trial was similar,' said Eustace. Colourful King will take on the likes of last-start winners Horsepower, Kaholo Angel, Stellar Express and Harmony N Blessed in a fiercely competitive feature contest to round off the card. The three-year-old won two 1,000m races pre-import and Eustace thinks the best is yet to come ahead of his fifth local start. 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. Colourful King wins a barrier trial at Sha Tin last month. 'He's relaxing better all the time and has a good draw [barrier four], but it's a tough race. He's trained on well so I'm hopeful,' Eustace said. Eustace has seven chances on the Valley programme, with his other big chance being Midori Fuji in the Class Four Shouson Hill Handicap (1,650m). He is yet to salute in eight local starts but has gone agonizingly close at the course and distance in his past two starts, losing out by a short head on both occasions. Eustace also has high hopes for Saturday's impressive Class Four Tin Sam Handicap (1,400m) winner Dazzling Fit, who doubled his career tally in style at Sha Tin. The son of Ribchester was settled in midfield by Luke Ferraris, sauntering into contention as the field turned into the home straight. It briefly looked as though the pair were running into traffic problems, but Ferraris angled out at the 400m and when he asked for maximum effort, the response was immediate with a sharp turn of foot carrying Dazzling Fit to the front 150m from home. While he still looks green, Dazzling Fit has plenty of scope for further improvement and Eustace believes he will be a horse to watch as a four-year-old – though he may not be done racing this season. 'It was good to see him do it again, he was carrying weight in a Class Four as a three-year so it was a good effort,' said Eustace. 'He put them away nicely and has pulled up great. I'm not honestly sure if he will run again this season – I'm leaning that way and he's come through that race as well as he could have done. 'I hope he's an exciting one for next season.' Eustace – who was Australia's leading trainer in partnership with Ciaron Maher in 2022-23 – has enjoyed a successful first season of training in Hong Kong with 29 winners.
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 and Glory Elite tough it out to win at Happy Valley. Photos: Kenneth Chan 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. Smart win, Glory Elite! Jimmy Ting's sprinter defies Colourful King in the Class 2 dash under Derek Leung... 🔥#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 30, 2025 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. '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. '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.' 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. 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
08-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
David Eustace backs Colourful King to ‘continue to improve'
An in-form David Eustace hopes Colourful King can continue his rise when the three-year-old contests the Class Three Hong Kong China Rugby Cup Handicap (1,000m) under Andrea Atzeni at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Eustace revelled in a first Hong Kong treble on Sunday and the 32-year-old is eyeing more momentum when he saddles four runners – Brave Witness, Colourful King, Jumbo Fortune and Charity Together – at the midweek meeting. Colourful King has raced twice in Hong Kong, winning his most recent effort by a nose over the reopposing Youthful Spirits. 'He did it by the barest of margins. It certainly looked like luck went our way that night and it's good to get the win obviously. He's a horse who I think will continue to improve,' said Eustace of Colourful King, who has drawn gate four. Colourful King nails Youthful Spirits! 😱@EustaceRacing's son of Blue Point, a two-time winner at Sandown in Australia, gets off the mark in Hong Kong with @Atzenijockey at Happy Valley...#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 19, 2025 'He's the type of horse who is a still a bit nervy and a bit unsure of himself, so I think he can gradually improve with the more racing he has. It was great to get the win and hopefully he can keep progressing. 'It does look like they'll go fairly quick and he has a nice gate to stalk and be strong late. The encouraging thing for me as well is that he looks like he'll get 1,200m, especially around the Valley when asked to. It does just give us options.' Eustace has 23 wins through his first season training in Hong Kong. His treble last weekend came via Regency Happy Star, Good Luck Babe and Sea Sapphire. 'You obviously don't go expecting that by any means but I thought we had a strong hand and the horses were racing well. Hoping to get one, maybe two but to get three was a great thrill. It shows the horses are in good form and the staff are working hard and well,' Eustace said. Comeback trail continues! 💛💙 Chasing a possible HK$22 million G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m) start, Lucky Sweynesse rolled comfortably through his morning barrier trial at Sha Tin today... 📍 Sha Tin, 27 Apr | #FWDChampionsDay — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 8, 2025 Meanwhile, Matthew Poon Ming-fai worked two key FWD Champions Day hopes in barrier trials on Tuesday morning ahead of the HK$74 million Sha Tin showcase on April 27. Stepping out in the first heat ahead of a possible Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) return, Lucky Sweynesse broke smoothly from the wide draw before picking up between runners to win in 57.95 seconds over 1,000m on turf at Sha Tin. 'I think with every trial he is getting better and better. Now he is almost ready to race – if he pulls up well, then he is almost ready to race,' Poon said. Ahead of his clash with Australian star Mr Brightside in the Group One Champions Mile, Voyage Bubble impressed Poon as he crossed the line first over a mile on turf. 'He jumped super, he knows what to do – he travelled nicely and relaxed. I just asked him a little bit and he quickens. How good is that?' Poon said.
South China Morning Post
07-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Andrea Atzeni keen to keep the ball rolling with ‘nice book of rides' at Happy Valley
Sardinian jockey will look to add to his 38 winners for the campaign on Wednesday night He's one of the form jockeys among the Hong Kong riding ranks and Andrea Atzeni will head to Happy Valley on Wednesday night armed with a book of rides he hopes can help him continue his momentum. Third in the jockeys premiership after 12 wins in the past month, Atzeni will look to add to his 38 victories this season with seven rides at the midweek meeting. 'The last few weeks have gone fairly well and hopefully we can keep kicking until the end of the season,' said Atzeni. 'I've got some nice rides on Wednesday. I could have done with better draws with a couple of them but I feel like I'm going into Wednesday night with a nice book of rides.' Colourful King nails Youthful Spirits! 😱@EustaceRacing's son of Blue Point, a two-time winner at Sandown in Australia, gets off the mark in Hong Kong with @Atzenijockey at Happy Valley...#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 19, 2025 One of Atzeni's mounts who has drawn well is last-start winner Colourful King, who jumps from gate four in the Class Three Hong Kong China Rugby Cup (1,000m). Trained by David Eustace, who is fresh off a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday, Colourful King broke his Hong Kong maiden at start two when sticking his nose in front over this course and distance last month. 'He only just got up the last day and we beat Youthful Spirits, who goes in front. He is in the race again so at least we know for sure the speed is going to be on,' said Atzeni. 'He's an improving horse and a horse we've always liked, so hopefully there's more to come from him.' Atzeni retains the ride aboard the John Size-trained Golden Rise for the Class Three Ho Man Tin Handicap (1,200m) after partnering the five-year-old into third in his Class Three debut last start. 'He was a little bit unlucky the last day. I was on the fence but I went one off trying to keep my options open, but it was probably the wrong thing to do,' said Atzeni of Golden Rise, who carries 120 pounds on Wednesday night. 'If I had stayed on the fence he probably would have nearly won it. With that weight he should be competitive in Class Three. He wasn't beaten far last start and he showed that he can be competitive in the grade.' Also among Atzeni's book are last-start winner Same To You, who rises in grade for the third section of the Class Four King's Park Handicap (1,200m), and Club Ace in the second section of the King's Park Handicap. 'Same To You is a nice ride to get. He's a course and distance winner and although he's got a tricky draw, he won quite nicely the last day so hopefully up in class with a light weight shouldn't be an issue,' said Atzeni of Mark Newnham's charge, who carries 120 pounds from gate 12. 'Club Ace is solid. He was a little bit disappointing last start but on his previous starts he wouldn't be without a chance.'
