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Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
US Open chief wants to dirty players' brains with fearsome length and ludicrously deep rough at Oakmont
The likes of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are about to find out the legendary course will create chaos at the 125th US Open US Open boss John Bodenhamer has warned the game's elite he wants Oakmont to dirty their brains. The chief officer at the USGA is clear the infamous Pennsylvania lay-out is going to offer another brutal test for the superstars at the 125th Championship. Top stars are already fearing the miserable experiences ahead with fearsome length, five-inch rough and over 170 bunkers ready to cause chaos at the 10th staging of the event at Oakmont, a course created in the early 1900s by Henry Fownes with constant modernisations and updates the latest from ace architect Gil Hanse. Bodenhamer intends superstars such as Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy tested in all aspects as he said: 'We want to get every club in their bag dirty, all 15 of them, 14 in their bag and the one between their ears. We're looking forward to it. 'We believe that we can showcase all of America's greatest venues. And I think that's part of our strategy. It's right at the beginning of our strategy, the first pillar. We go to America's greatest venues and I think we can showcase all of those great venues across our country. But here, I think everybody's in store for a good old-fashioned US Open. 'We believe there are just certain places in our game where you stand on the first tee and you look out over the landscape and it is just meant to play the US Open. Oakmont is that place. And it was really built for the US Open. The culture of this club is toughness. It goes back to the very beginning, the Founds family. But it's more than that. 'I think it's great architecture. You think about this place and this was the only layout that Henry Fownes, the Fownes family, set forth with. Their only golf course. And it's the same routing, the same holes. The eighth hole moved a little because of the construction of the turnpike. But it's the same golf course. 'I think it's a great testament. The timelessness of Oakmont. It's just stood that test of time. It opened as a 6,408-yard par 80. It's a little longer than that. The club prides itself on being America's greatest test of golf and it's a quintessential US Open venue.' Speaking on the Golf Channel to the tweaks made for 2025, he added: 'It's really an interesting sort of restoration, restorative project. Gil took really key aspects of what the Fownes design was from the very first day, 1903 into the 40s. And when you think about it, what's been restored here, it will be the first US Open golf course really played as the Fownes intended it to be played since the 1940s. We think that's really cool. And I think really when you look at what Gil's done, the expansion of the putting greens, it's always about the putting greens at Oakmont. They're legendary. 'There are stories, players complaining about the speeds and the hole locations and it's always been that way. 'But I think the other thing with Oakmont here now are the bunkers. Along with the putting green expansions, the bunkers are magnificent, both in the fairway and around the putting greens. I think thankfully for the players' sake, they're not furrowed anymore, but they're still pretty darn tough.'
South China Morning Post
17-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Caspar Fownes backs son of Epsom Derby winner to make an impact: ‘he'll eat it up'
Lo Rider (right) runs second at Sha Tin last month. Photos: Kenneth Chan Lo Rider may have the second-lowest rating in the field but Caspar Fownes is confident his son of Epsom and Irish Derby winner Harzand can make an impact in this weekend's BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m). While the 78-rated Lo Rider is one of nine Derby runners yet to be tested over 10 furlongs, Fownes believes the 2,000m of the city's most prestigious race will be ideal for his four-year-old. 'He'll eat it up, no worries. It's going to be a nice race. I think this year's Derby is quite open,' Fownes said. 'There's no superstar and you'd have to think 30-40 per cent of the field are going to be suspect at 2,000m. Ultimate prize! 🏆 14 horses will take their only chance at securing once-in-a-lifetime glory in the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby… 👀#4YOSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 14, 2025 'He certainly deserves his spot in there and I believe he'll make his presence felt if the conditions suit, he gets a nice draw and has a good run.' A winner over a mile and 1,800m in Ireland pre-import when known as Sharinay, Lo Rider has yet to salute in five Hong Kong starts. But there's always been a belief among Hong Kong racing circles that he's capable of a big performance and Fownes hopes it all clicks when it matters most. 'I'm sure he'll beat at least half the field home and anything he does above that would be very nice,' he said. 'He's had excuses. One day he blew the start and didn't get a run and another day he over-raced a bit and still ran enormous. He's a nice horse whose future is all ahead of him.' A two-and-a-half-length fourth behind Bundle Award under Karis Teetan last start, Lo Rider will be ridden by Hugh Bowman this weekend. Bowman has twice ridden Lo Rider, managing only a fifth and a seventh earlier this year. Lo Rider shapes as Fownes' only Derby runner in 2025, with Sky Heart second reserve and Sky Trust fourth emergency despite having a higher rating than Beauty Alliance and Lo Rider. 'It's fair enough that he's on the reserve list. I agree with that,' Fownes said of Sky Trust, who could only manage 12th in the Classic Cup (1,800m). 'He's obviously better at 1,400m to a mile, in my opinion, but you give them their chance and hope that they're good enough to give the owners a chance to have a runner in the race.' Before chasing a third Derby win to go alongside those of Super Satin (2010) and Sky Darci (2021), Fownes will head to Happy Valley on Wednesday night hopeful of tasting success. The 57-year-old, who sits seventh in the premiership with 30 winners, saddles up Verbier, Perfect General, Super Contented, Super Sixty, M Unicorn and Sugar Sugar. 'I've got a couple of nice runners and Perfect General gets his chance from a nice gate, so fingers crossed,' said Fownes. Perfect General jumps from barrier four under Brenton Avdulla in the Class Four Craigengower Cricket Club Challenge Cup (1,200m).
South China Morning Post
08-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Caspar Fownes believes Hong Kong Derby hope Sky Heart can reach triple-figure rating
When Caspar Fownes makes a statement some may consider bold on one of his talented horses on the rise, it pays to listen more often than not. 'He's one that I believe has a chance to make it to triple figures and I don't normally get them wrong when I say something's going to hit a mark. If he's going to do that, he's still got over 20 points to go,' Fownes said. The galloper Fownes is referring to is Sky Heart, who can stake his claim on a late Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) berth when he tackles Sunday's Class Two Carpenter Handicap (1,800m) at Sha Tin. An impressive two-time winner in his first campaign last season, Sky Heart has bounced back from a fetlock injury in July and colic surgery in August to make a late bid for the city's most prestigious race. After a close fourth and a second on his first two starts this term, the Ardrossan gelding returned to the winners' list with a fighting performance over 1,600m on February 16. 'He's had a lot of problems, so I just hope everything is smooth from now on and he can show us what he really is capable of,' Fownes said. 'I'm looking forward to him stepping up in distance and up in class, but down in weight. The extra furlong looks good and it's going to be interesting.' Sky Heart drops 11 pounds to carry 115 on his first test at Class Two level, with lightweight jockey Lyle Hewitson booked to ride him for the first time. Rated 76, he is one of five four-year-olds in the Carpenter Handicap bidding to boost their rating to clinch a Derby start on March 23. Fownes boasts another of them in Lo Rider, who has had a luckless start to his Hong Kong career. The former Irish galloper has been held up for clear running at crucial stages, blew the start badly second up and was then hampered by a three-horse fall that left a trio of jockeys injured. He finally had a smooth passage last start but fell a neck short when second to Steps Ahead, who has since run a solid fifth in the Classic Cup (1,800m). 'I've got another horse in the race called Lo Rider and I hope this rain sticks around because then it'll be interesting to see how he can perform as well,' Fownes said of the galloper, who won on soft-to-heavy and yielding ground in Ireland. 'He ran enormous last start but I thought the track was pretty firm that day. He's probably a two-length better horse on a track with a bit of give. 'My two horses are going to get points because they are out of the handicap and one of them is going to carry two points overweight. We'll make sure we get the points.' Karis Teetan will ride Lo Rider, who is rated 75. Cambridge, Markwin and Bundle Award are the other Derby hopefuls in the Carpenter Handicap, which also features several older horses in strong form. Helene Feeling bids to carry his Happy Valley form to Sha Tin, having won the Group Three January Cup (1,800m) before a pair of placings at the city circuit. Encountered is a course and distance winner, Mr Ascendency won at the Valley two starts ago, C P Brave is a three-time course and distance winner and Winning Dragon comes off a second in the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m) and fourth in the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m).
South China Morning Post
12-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Fownes wishes injured Ho well on way to treble: ‘we love you buddy'
Trainer gets the chocolates with Daily Trophy, Charming Steed and Capital Delight at Sha Tin on Wednesday night by Sam Agars on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 11:21 PM Caspar Fownes enjoys his treble with son Ronan. Photo: Kenneth Chan Caspar Fownes sent his love to the injured Vincent Ho Chak-yiu while reeling off a treble at Sha Tin on Wednesday night. Fownes got the chocolates with Daily Trophy, Charming Steed and Capital Delight, with his former apprentice never far from his thoughts during the midweek all-weather meeting. 'Obviously Vincent was supposed to ride [Charming Steed]. Vincent if you're watching, we love you buddy. Get well soon,' said Fownes. Ho, who is in hospital recovering from the head injury and minor shoulder and neck fractures he suffered in a nasty fall at Sha Tin on Sunday, would have also been aboard Capital Delight, but it was Brenton Avdulla who speared the galloper to victory in the evening's feature – the Class Two Tin Chak Handicap (1,200m). — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 12, 2025 'He's been a very nice horse for the stable. He's won at Happy Valley and he's got a particular liking for the dirt,' Fownes said. 'He's quite versatile – 1,200m up to 1,650m – and it was nice to see him just win on the line. We were lucky but we're very happy.' After Daily Trophy snared the first section of the Class Four Kam Shan Handicap (1,200m) under Harry Bentley, Keagan de Melo made the most of his opportunity aboard Charming Steed in the Class Four Silvermine Bay Handicap (1,800m). 'I asked Keagan if he was available and I gave him a chance. He rode a beautiful race so hopefully he can get some more support and some more winners,' Fownes said of the South African jockey, who moved to six winners for the campaign. Ho was one of four jockeys injured on the weekend – Zac Purton, Angus Chung Yik-lai and Keith Yeung Ming-lun are also sidelined – and there was more chaos at Sha Tin on Wednesday night, with Britney Wong Po-ni and Alexis Badel hitting the deck in the opening strides of the Charming Steed race. Wong appeared to slide straight off the back of $16 chance Snowalot on jumping, while All Are Mine ($14) bounded on jumping then knuckled, sending Badel flying into the dirt. Both jockeys walked away unscathed and both horses were declared runners. David Hayes was the other trainer to enjoy multiple successes on the evening, saluting with Falcon Court and Precision Goal to move to 30 winners and the top of the trainers' premiership. 'I'm very happy with my team, my mafoos, my riding boys – they're doing a great job,' Hayes said. 'At the moment, we're winning with older horses. The Ferraris start running soon.' While the evening didn't end on a positive note for Fownes, with M Unicorn scratched after bursting through the gates, Dylan Mo Hin-tung was ecstatic after piloting Frankie Lor Fu-chuen's Never Peter Out to his third straight success.
