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South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
David Hayes hopes draw is no barrier to success with Chateauneuf at Happy Valley
Chateauneuf and Luke Ferraris win at Happy Valley on May 7. Photos: Kenneth Chan David Hayes has high hopes for Chateauneuf making barrier 11 look insignificant when he lines up in the Class Three Seine Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The Fastnet Rock gelding snapped a losing run of nine races when he blazed home to win the Class Three Parislongchamp Handicap (1,200m) three weeks ago. From the inside draw, Luke Ferraris pinged him out into the box seat along the rail and angled out his mount as the field turned into the home straight. When asked, Chateauneuf engaged the afterburners and scorched clear by just over two lengths. The handicapper had his say with a nine-pound rise and drawing barrier 11 is not ideal either, but Hayes is hoping another smash break could help his four-year-old overcome his car-park draw. Chateauneuf spanks 'em! 🔥 Easy win in the finale for David Hayes' galloper and @LukeFerraris at Happy Valley tonight... #HappyWednesdayu | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 7, 2025 'He got a beautiful run from the inside gate last time, but now he's got a wide gate and topweight,' said Hayes. 'His trackwork suggests he's held his form and his last couple of starts he's been a fast beginner, so if Luke jumps well he'll angle him outside the leader. 'The time before when he went to the front, his instructions were actually to go back to last, but he jumped so fast that he improvised and it was the right decision. 'If he shows that gate speed again, the 11 gate might not be as bad as it first looked. Though I'd be more concerned about the barrier than the weight he's carrying. 'The way he's been training lately, he's been training like he's an 80-rated horse.' 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. UNBELIEVABLE! 🤯 31 years since River Verdon won the #TripleCrown for the first time, Hong Kong has a second winner of the series in Voyage Bubble, who makes light work of his Champions & Chater Cup rivals... 🏆🏆🏆@WorldPool | @mcacajamez | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 25, 2025 Hayes was given a big reason to smile on the weekend when Rubylot ran a mighty race to finish second to Voyage Bubble in the Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m). Settled towards the rear of the field, Rubylot skimmed the paint throughout under Hugh Bowman and lashed home in the final 200m to pick up the second-place cheque. Any stamina doubts were quickly cast off and has left Hayes with plenty of options for next season, though he will be mindful who Rubylot goes up against. 'We don't count Voyage Bubble as a local – he's an international horse – and of the locals who ran in the QE II, we were confident he could beat them all,' said Hayes. 'It was a great effort to run second to a true champion. 'We'll go where Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble ain't next season! We'll put him away now for a well-deserved rest and he'll be raring to go for the new season.' Ka Ying Rising thumps his rivals on Champions Day under Zac Purton. And Hayes also gave a positive update on superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising, who was last seen extending his winning sequence to 12 in a dominant Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) performance on Champions Day at Sha Tin. 'Ka Ying Rising has been holidaying and going out in the paddock every day. He's starts trotting next week, ready to peak in October,' said Hayes. Hayes remains in contention for the trainers' title with just 14 meetings to go before the curtain comes down, sitting five winners behind John Size.
South China Morning Post
30-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Matthew Poon bags biggest win of his career in stunning upset on Straight Arron
A brilliant rails-hugging ride helped Matthew Poon Ming-fai land the biggest win of his career when the popular jockey lifted Straight Arron to an upset victory in Sunday's Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m). Sent out a $34.5 chance, the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Straight Arron ran on from second last to narrowly beat a luckless Galaxy Patch in a thrilling finish. 'That's why I am so excited after the line because this is my first Group Two, so I have got to thank the trainer Ricky and the owner [Karen Lo Ki-yan] for giving me their good support,' said Poon, who won a handful of Group Threes in the city before Sunday's stunning result. 'It's so great I can win on him. Before the race, I already had a feeling I can get something today, so really lucky and excited.' Matthew Poon wins his first Group 2! Straight Arron returns to form in the Chairman's Trophy at Sha Tin for Ricky Yiu... 👏#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 30, 2025 Poon, a champion apprentice in South Australia before joining the Hong Kong ranks in 2017, expressed confidence to Yiu pre-race but the veteran handler was completely surprised by Straight Arron's first victory for the stable. A two-time winner in Australia for Chris Waller, the Fastnet Rock gelding started his Hong Kong career with David Hayes before notching four wins – including the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) and Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) – for Caspar Fownes. 'It was an unbelievable result – a big surprise,' said Yiu, who took over training Straight Arron at the end of last season. 'We were walking with the horse and [Poon] said to me 'I wouldn't be surprised if he finished in the first three. I said 'it would be a big surprise, especially over the trip'.' In a messy race which saw the lead change hands three times in the first 800m, Straight Arron was out the back but out of trouble while Galaxy Patch was seemingly poised to strike in midfield on the rail. It became a horror show for Galaxy Patch, with the $2.1 favourite held up badly and having to check off Red Lion's heels when Zac Purton went searching for a run in the straight. Purton switched back towards the inside and Galaxy Patch made a late bid, but Straight Arron had the momentum from an unimpeded run to prevail by a head. Moments In Time was beaten half a length in third. 'The first half of the race didn't really suit him at the tail and over the mile, I thought it will be a touch sharp for him,' Yiu said. 'He still managed to run through on the rail with the jockey, 'Poon Train', and he had a good finish.' Straight Arron continued a dream run for Lo, who celebrated Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) success in another upset with Cap Ferrat a week earlier. Yiu said the six-year-old was more likely to join star stablemate Voyage Bubble in the Group One Champions Mile on April 27, rather than tackle the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) the same day. Straight Arron also capped a double for the Poon and Yiu combination after they won the opening race on Sunday's card, the Class Four Severn Handicap (2,000m), with Mighty Strength. Yiu moved to third on the championship standings with 35 wins this term.
