Latest news with #DennisYip
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Dennis Yip at the double as David Hayes cuts title lead down to five
Lean Master gets on top under Harry Bentley for a cosy win. Photo: Kenneth Chan Dennis Yip Chor-hong had his biggest day at the races since Boxing Day when Lean Master headlined a race-to-race double in the Class Four Sports Club Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup (1,000m) at Happy Valley. The 57-year-old posted a treble at the city circuit a day after Christmas and got his Wednesday night off to a great start when Lean Master thundered home. The Havana Grey galloper enjoyed a midfield trip and in a race where the leaders fell away late on, he got rolling off the top of the home straight and was well on top at the 100m pole to win going away. The victory broke a 16-race losing sequence for jockey Harry Bentley and Yip was full of praise for his tenacious Havana Grey galloper. British import Lean Master toughs out a third win in Hong Kong as he stretches clear in the Sports Club Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup at Happy Valley! 🏆 @HarryBentley_ #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 21, 2025 'It was a nice win and he's a nice horse, but this race the rating is 43 to 54, so it's not strong,' said Yip. 'But I think my horse is very honest at the 1,000m and 1,200m at Happy Valley because the shorter straight is better for him.' Things got better for Yip just 35 minutes later when Thriving Brothers lived up to his name in the Class Four Cochrane Handicap (1,200m). The four-year-old was given a perfect ride by Matthew Chadwick, sitting in the box seat behind the leaders before being angled for a run off the top of the home straight. Long-time leader Candlelight Dinner kept on stoically under Hugh Bowman but Thriving Brothers was galvanised in the final 100m and got up in the nick of time to collect the prize. 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. Irish-bred Thriving Brothers (ex McVay 🇮🇪) launches late for a first Hong Kong win with @mattLchadwixk to secure a Dennis Yip double at Happy Valley! ✌️#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 21, 2025 Meanwhile, trainer David Hayes cut the gap down to five in the trainers' title race when Harmony N Blessed saluted by the narrowest of margins in the Class Three Wyndham Handicap (1,200m). The eight-year-old stalked O'Liner throughout the journey and just as he overtook that rival, $1.6 favourite King Miles surged past them both to take what looked to be the winning lead at the 200m pole. That was not the case, however, as the game Harmony N Blessed refused to lie down and fought back to the lead in the final strides to win by just a nose. Hayes was full of praise for his wonderful servant, who will likely retire in the coming months. Harmony N Blessed just catches the favourite King Miles on the line! 😱@LukeFerraris rides for David Hayes, who moves to within five wins of championship leader John Size... #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 21, 2025 'He's a wonderful horse. It looked like [King Miles] had him cold but he really lifted and fought back strongly. It was a very good ride by Luke [Ferraris],' Hayes said. 'He's quite an old horse. He's won nearly HK$15 million and he was one of the original horses that came when I arrived [in 2020-21] and it's lovely to still have him racing well. 'I would say he would probably retire towards the end of the season but we have to try again at the Valley, don't we?'
South China Morning Post
08-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Dennis Yip backs Fast Network to overcome big weight and hot field in Class Two sprint
Veteran handler rates his exciting sprinter a strong chance despite lumping 135lbs against strong opposition on Saturday Dennis Yip Chor-hong is confident Fast Network can continue his hot form in Saturday's Class Two Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin as a potential tilt at the Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) looms for the exciting sprinter. A stunning four-length winner of the Class Two Barker Handicap (1,200m) last start, Fast Network headlines what is one of the best Class Two sprint fields assembled in Hong Kong in recent times. The Wrote four-year-old will lump top weight of 135lbs against the likes of the returning Wunderbar, five-time winner Bottomuptogether, the in-form Invincible Shield, Gorgeous Win and Gustosisimo. While Yip highlighted Francis Lui Kin-wai's Invincible Shield as a big threat chasing a fourth straight win, the veteran handler is pleased with Fast Network's progress since his demolition job on March 30. 'I checked the entries and Francis Lui's horse looks quite good, but I think my horse has very good form,' Yip said. Last out and first home! 👌 Exciting sprinter Fast Network crushes his rivals as 1.4 favourite with @HugeBowman for Dennis Yip at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 30, 2025 'He enjoys it up at Conghua – he's very happy. He keeps improving.' Since finishing a strong fourth to My Wish in January's Classic Mile, Fast Network has relished dropping back in distance with a pair of impressive victories. He stormed home from last under star Kiwi jockey James McDonald to score in a Class Three 1,200m before his breathtaking display last start under Hugh Bowman, who retains the ride for Saturday's race. Despite jumping only fairly and settling at the rear of the seven-horse field, Fast Network unleashed an explosive turn of foot to comfortably account for Bottomuptogether, who boosted the form by winning his next start on the dirt. While Fast Network rises five pounds on that success, Yip is adamant he won't have an issue shouldering the big weight while he has the advantage of barrier one in the field of 12. 'He won with weight last time and two starts ago with James McDonald, he won with top weight [of 135lbs],' Yip said. Bottomuptogether only meets Fast Network two pounds better from their previous encounter, with Frankie Lor Fu-chuen's classy sprinter rising to a mark of 100 off the back of a dominant last-start triumph. Wunderbar's return will command plenty of attention given he holds the title as the only horse to have beaten the world's best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising. John Size's quality galloper hasn't risen to the same heights as Ka Ying Rising since beating him in back-to-back races in January last year, but he did continue his winning ways with victories in his first two starts of the current season. Size opted to give the four-year-old a break after his last-start defeat in January and he has impressed in four Conghua trials ahead of Saturday's race. Champion jockey Zac Purton, who has been a regular rider of several top contenders in the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap, has opted to ride Bottomuptogether. That decision paved the way for fellow Australian Brenton Avdulla to take the reins of Wunderbar for the first time. Another key booking is Lyle Hewitson on Invincible Shield, who has been booted home by visiting riders Tom Marquand, Ryan Moore and Craig Williams in his past three starts. Saturday's Class Two sprint looms as a likely curtain-raiser for the Sha Tin Vase on May 31, particularly for Fast Network who boasts a rating of 103. However, Yip won't confirm future plans for the talented galloper until after Saturday. 'We'll see how he goes and check how he pulls up first,' Yip said.
