Latest news with #GroupOneChampionsMile
South China Morning Post
01-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
The Hong Kong Racing Postscript: who's hot, who's not and the best of April
Trainer Frankie Lor and jockey Zac Purton enjoyed plenty of success in April. Photos: Kenneth Chan on Thursday, May 1, 2025 8:51 AM Zac Purton, Andrea Atzeni and John Size continue their hot form, while Matthew Poon and Pierre Ng fail to fire Champions Day threw up a big surprise as well as two expected results in the big features, while normal service resumed for the King of Hong Kong's jockey ranks in April. The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a month to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride. Who's hot? Zac Purton's comeback from injury hit top gear in April, with the seven-time champion Hong Kong jockey racking up 15 winners at a strong strike rate of 21.4 per cent. His best monthly return this term was 19 in October, but Purton looks set for a big finish to what has already been a phenomenal campaign. Andrea Atzeni's rise continued with another successful month, with the Sardinian jockey booting home 10 winners to hold a clear buffer in third in the championship standings. From a trainer's perspective, John Size was the most successful handler for another month as he continues his charge towards a record-extending 13th championship. The master trainer registered eight winners to share the April honours with Frankie Lor Fu-chuen, who surged from seventh to third in the championship standings. Reigning title winner Francis Lui Kin-wai and Caspar Fownes also had successful months with seven winners apiece. Who's not? He's had a terrific season to date, but Matthew Poon Ming-fai suffered a halt in momentum with a winless April. 'The Poon Train' will carry a winless streak of 69 rides into May – a drought he will no doubt be desperate to snap. Apprentice Britney Wong Po-ni also failed to register a victory in April, though she only had 19 rides while serving multiple suspensions. After leading the charge for the trainers' championship earlier this season, Pierre Ng Pang-chi has experienced a tougher time of late and currently sits eighth in the title standings after another lacklustre month. Last season's championship runner-up managed just one winner and carries a winless streak of 46 runners into May. Three other handlers also had just one victory in March – Douglas Whyte, who has a current winning drought of 44 runners, Michael Chang Chun-wai and Benno Yung Tin-pang. Win of the month It's no easy feat beating Voyage Bubble this season, but Red Lion managed to do just that when becoming the longest-priced winner in Group One Champions Mile history last Sunday. Sent off an 89-1 chance, John Size's unheralded galloper caused an almighty upset when he made all under Hugh Bowman to upstage Voyage Bubble by a short head. Bowman controlled the race from the front and Red Lion, who ran second to Beauty Eternal in the same race last year, shrugged off Hong Kong's star miler to land a career-best success. RED LION ROARS! 🦁 It's an 89/1 shocker in the FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin for @HugeBowman and John Size as Red Lion lands his first Group 1 over Voyage Bubble... #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025 It was a huge performance from a horse whose previous best run this season was a three-length third in the Group One Stewards' Cup (1,600m). Ride of the month Visiting jockey Damian Lane produced a perfect ride on Tastiera to lift the Japanese stayer to victory in last Sunday's Group One QE II Cup (2,000m). Lane sent Tastiera forward from gate 10 in the early stages to eventually land in the perfect spot one-out and one-back in fourth. He cruised up to Cap Ferrat early in the straight to take control and drew clear, comfortably accounting for fellow Japanese runner Prognosis. There were plenty of other rides worth honourable mentions from March – Dylan Mo Hin-tung's aboard Winning Wing, Bowman's weaving ride on Casa Rochester at Happy Valley and Purton's pearler from gate 10 on Chill Kaka on the dirt.
South China Morning Post
29-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Voyage Bubble to target Triple Crown after shock defeat: ‘we're aiming to run him'
Voyage Bubble (right) and Red Lion fight out the finish of Sunday's Group One Champions Mile. Photo: Kenneth Chan Voyage Bubble is 'likely' to stake his claim for Hong Kong Horse of the Year honours by attempting to become only the second galloper to sweep the Triple Crown in next month's Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m). An agonising second behind $90 chance Red Lion in Sunday's Group One Champions Mile, Voyage Bubble will look to join River Verdon as a Triple Crown winner after earlier victories in the Group One Stewards' Cup (1,600m) and Group One Gold Cup (2,000m). 'It was a real shame but he still ran well,' said trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai of Voyage Bubble's short-head defeat. 'He will most likely head to the 2,400m – we're aiming to run him.' Ka Ying Rising surely heads the Horse of the Year running after four Group One victories this season and Romantic Warrior must also be in the conversation after elite-level victories at home and abroad. RED LION ROARS! 🦁 It's an 89/1 shocker in the FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin for @HugeBowman and John Size as Red Lion lands his first Group 1 over Voyage Bubble... #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025 But a Champions & Chater Cup success would put the perennially underrated Voyage Bubble right in the frame, with victory drawing him level with Ka Ying Rising on four Group One triumphs in 2024-25. And Yiu may have another genuine Group One contender on his hands after Sunlight Power flashed home for third in the Champions Mile in his first appearance at the top level. 'Sunlight Power was a bit of surprise but he keeps performing every time,' said Yiu, confirming the five-year-old would next be seen in the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) on May 31. Catch the Express It worked for Cape Of Good Hope and connections of Helios Express must seriously be considering their options abroad for a horse who has placed behind Ka Ying Rising seven times this season. After a prolonged period of playing second fiddle to the great Silent Witness, Cape Of Good Hope was sent on the road, bagging Group One victories in Australia and the United Kingdom from 12 races overseas. Hugh Bowman labelled Helios Express' effort in Sunday's Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) 'his best run of the preparation' but he was still two and a half lengths adrift of Ka Ying Rising. David Hayes declared second placegetter Satono Reve 'probably the second-best sprinter in the world at the moment' and Helios Express was only a quarter of a length off the Japanese galloper. 'Helios, what a great horse he's been this year,' said Hayes. 'He just keeps putting his run up. I think he would be a multiple Group One winner if he was back home in Australia.' HE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚀 Ka Ying Rising makes it 12 straight wins, four Group 1s and a HK$5 million Speed Series bonus with victory in the 2025 Chairman's Sprint Prize... @zpurton #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025 While the HK$16.3 million Helios Express has bagged for connections this season is certainly not to be sneezed at, he's too good to finish his career without a Group One success on his CV. The challenge now is finding a race that Ka Ying Rising, and perhaps Satono Reve, aren't in. The Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) in Japan in September is one of the more obvious options, but the chances of Satono Reve being there would seem high, while the Group One Manikato Stakes (1,200m) in Melbourne around the same time could be a nice fit with Ka Ying Rising expected to be first up in October's The Everest. Or perhaps connections wait and target the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) in Dubai next March – a race in which Helios Express' trainer, John Size, has had runners in the past three years. Hayes pointed out on more than one occasion on Sunday that Ka Ying Rising is only a four-year-old and is just getting started. Hanging around in Hong Kong and hoping for the best seems a fruitless exercise for Helios Express.
South China Morning Post
21-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Young gun Luke Ferraris excited to test My Wish in strong Champions Mile
In the midst of a career-best season, young gun Luke Ferraris is excited to test four-year-old My Wish against quality opposition in Sunday's Group One Champions Mile at Sha Tin. The youngest jockey currently on Hong Kong's roster, 23-year-old Ferraris hopes to carry his momentum from an outstanding campaign into the city's second biggest meeting of the year. Ferraris' victory on Bright Inheritance at Sha Tin on Sunday boosted his haul of winners this term to 36, surpassing his previous best of 35 in 2022-23 with 24 meetings still to come. The South African will bid to upstage the likes of Hong Kong star Voyage Bubble and nine-time Australian Group One victor, Mr Brightside, when he rides My Wish in the Champions Mile. Classy as! 👏 My Wish staves off challengers to capture the first #4YOSeries leg - the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile - with @LukeFerraris for Mark Newnham... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 31, 2025 He also rides consistent sprinter Lucky With You in his latest clash with superstar Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m). A revelation this campaign with four wins and as many placings, the Mark Newnham-trained My Wish was the star of the recent four-year-old series with victory in the Classic Mile and seconds in the Classic Cup (1,800m) and Hong Kong Derby (2,000m). 'It's nice to have a horse like that to look forward to,' Ferraris said of the pint-sized My Wish. 'It's been an amazing journey so far, just with his progression from when he first came into the yard to where he is now. I don't think anyone in the stable would have believed you if you told them he'd be where he is today when he first stepped out on the track. It's been an amazing team effort – credit to Mark and his team.' My Wish drops back to 1,600m after a mesmerising Derby run, storming home from last after jumping from gate 14 to fall narrowly short of gunning down Cap Ferrat. The son of Flying Artie recorded the fastest final 400m over 2,000m at Sha Tin since sectional timing was introduced in 2008 when only beaten a short head. 'He reeled off an insanely quick time in the Derby,' Ferraris said. 'The barrier was just costly, but he seems to have come through it well. His work leading up to it has been good, his trial was nice and he came through that well. It's going to be a good test.' 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 Ferraris is hoping for a draw between one and six after My Wish has jumped from eight or wider in his past six starts. 'I think it will be interesting with the barriers – that's going to play a big part,' the rider said. 'My Wish has got gate speed but we don't want to burn too much energy early on. The mile's probably his comfort zone at the moment. It's obviously a really tough race, but I'll be hoping for a decent barrier.' Ferraris has built a successful partnership with Lucky With You in his three rides on Frankie Lor Fu-chuen's seven-year-old, guiding him to back-to-back Class One victories before a solid third to Ka Ying Rising in the Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) last start. 'Lucky With You is just a soldier. He'll be running into the money,' said Ferraris, who will ride on Champions Day for the first time since 2022. As for the rest of the season, Ferraris plans to take it one meeting at a time rather than setting any specific goals. 'You can set those goals but then get frustrated at yourself when things aren't going your way, so I'm just looking to get the best out of each horse at each meeting,' said Ferraris, who sits fifth in the jockeys' championship. 'I've been doing that this season and it seems to be working, so we'll just continue with it. I think if I can keep the momentum rolling through, it should work out quite nicely. 'The support's been a lot better and more consistent and it's been good to capitalise on that.'
South China Morning Post
17-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Adrian Bott eyes dream international debut with Royal Patronage in Champions Mile
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have set Royal Patronage for the Champions Mile. Photo: HKJC Australian handler prepares to break new ground with first overseas runner in Hong Kong on Sunday week He's conquered some of Australia's biggest races in partnership with an icon of the sport, but Adrian Bott is excited to break new ground when he has his first overseas runner at Sha Tin next week. Royal Patronage will mark the 37-year-old's first international venture and his co-trainer Gai Waterhouse's first Hong Kong starter in 18 years when he tackles the Group One Champions Mile. After joining Waterhouse in a training partnership in 2016, Bott has celebrated 27 Group One successes including the Golden Slipper, Thousand Guineas and VRC Oaks. Waterhouse is known as Australia's first lady of racing, having broken down barriers for women in the sport and earning legend status in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame for her historic feats as a trainer. Her last runner in Hong Kong was Grand Armee, who ran 11th in the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) in 2005. Royal Patronage WINS the G1 Canterbury Stakes in a really tough win! 🏆@GaiWaterhouse1 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025 'I'm looking forward to it,' an excited Bott said. 'We've always been keen to travel a horse internationally whenever we have the right horse and the right opportunity. It's all fallen into place with Royal Patronage. Hopefully it's worth the trip.' Royal Patronage arrives in Hong Kong on Friday with top form, including a Group One triumph in the Canterbury Stakes (1,300m) at Randwick in March and a close second to Stefi Magnetica in the Group One Doncaster Mile last start. The son of Wootton Bassett started his career in Britain, notching three straight wins for trainer Mark Johnston in 2021 before adding a Keeneland victory to his record in America for the Graham Motion stable. He was bought by Waterhouse and Bott on behalf of a syndicate of owners for 260,000 guineas at Britain's Tatts Sale in 2023 and finished in the first four in seven of eight runs in Australia. 'We always held it open at the start of the prep when the early entries came through,' Bott said of the Champions Mile option. 'The Doncaster was his main aim and after that, he was three runs in and we thought 'where do we go?'. 'The Mile was always the option if he ran well in the Doncaster, which he did. The George Ryder Stakes [fourth] and the Doncaster runs gave us the confidence to say 'now's the right time'. 'He's a horse that's pretty well seasoned and travelled, he's still lightly raced this campaign and he's in form. 'His two victories first up at Randwick were on good tracks, so I think the conditions we're likely to see over there will certainly suit him.' Bott said another factor in setting Royal Patronage for the Champions Mile was his future prospects as a stallion. An international Group One victory or placing would be a major boost. Tim Clark, who spent three years in Hong Kong and racked up 59 winners, will continue his association with Royal Patronage in the HK$24 million feature. 'Tim's had a fair bit to do with the horse all the way through and he's had experience up there before, which is probably the biggest benefit,' Bott said. A winner at six of 23 starts, Royal Patronage takes on a star-studded field headlined by Hong Kong's top miler Voyage Bubble, nine-time Australian Group One winner Mr Brightside, Britain's Lake Forest and local Group One placegetter Galaxy Patch. Mr Brightside did some light work on the Sha Tin dirt on Thursday morning under the watchful eye of Hong Kong-based trainer David Hayes, the father of the gelding's trainers Ben, Will and JD. He has settled in well since arriving in the city on Tuesday morning.
