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South China Morning Post
15 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Scratching gives Son Pak Fu chance to chase eighth Valley 1,200m success in loaded Class Two
Happy Valley will see Class Two action for the first time in three weeks on Wednesday night and a course-and-distance specialist entered the fray on Tuesday to make the Wan Chai Gap Handicap (1,200m) all the more interesting. With last-start Valley 1,000m winner Glory Elite scratched because of a tendon injury, Son Pak Fu was brought off the bench and given the chance to add to his seven career victories – all over 1,200m at the city circuit. Son Pak Fu's latest success came in a Class One over the Valley 1,200m in February, while he was fifth in the most recent six-furlong Class Two at the city circuit on March 19. The Tony Cruz-trained six-year-old carried 135 pounds in that fifth-placed finish and will again lump a big weight of 134 pounds, although the gelding should be given every chance to run on under Matthew Chadwick in a race that shapes to have plenty of pace. Last-start course-and-distance winner Harmony N Blessed will be one of the gallopers on pace as he looks to add to his fighting recent success, while Tomodachi Kokoroe – whose four Hong Kong wins have come over the Valley 1,200m – looks another with the potential to push forward. Son Pak Fu dives late to claim Copartner Prance! Tony Cruz's charge gets the Class 1 win under a supreme @mattLchadwixk ride at Happy Valley... 💥#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 26, 2025 But in a race littered with gallopers who come into their own over the city circuit's six furlongs – Aurora Lady, Gustosisimo, Wonder Kit, Kaholo Angel and Brave Star are also multiple winners at the track and trip – it is a couple of young gallopers stepping into unfamiliar territory who could prove hardest to beat. Trainer David Eustace is confident Colourful King will enjoy the step up in trip after impressing over the Valley 1,000m with two wins and a second, while Horsepower is rising in distance and grade after an eye-catching last-start success. 'This time we need to try 1,200m (because) at the moment there are no more 1,000m races at Happy Valley,' trainer Frankie Lor Fu-chuen said of Horsepower. 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. 'I've trialled him once over 1,200m [and] he trialled good. I think he needs to relax in the early stages and then he can finish strongly. '[Zac Purton] said he was more relaxed now in the 1,200m trial. That's why I think he will handle 1,200m now.' In other news, the Jockey Club has granted Brenton Avdulla a 'leave of absence from Hong Kong for personal reasons,' meaning the Australian rider will miss the Valley meeting on June 11.
South China Morning Post
2 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
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Derek Leung snares treble as Hugh Bowman and Ellis Wong also star at Happy Valley
It was trebles and doubles galore at the city circuit on Wednesday night Derek Leung Ka-chun was in the winners again at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, with his first treble since November headlined by Gracious Express' last-gasp win in the Class Three Seine Handicap (1,200m). The 36-year-old had been winless for 27 rides prior to Voyage Boss' debut win at Sha Tin on Sunday and he did not have to wait long to continue that winning feeling. Settled in midfield, Gracious Express' backers would have been forgiven for throwing away their betting slips turning into the home straight, with Leung all action and going nowhere fast. Once switched into the clear in the straight, however, Leung managed to galvanise his mount and the pair motored home to overhaul Chateauneuf in the final 50m. Derek Leung rides a treble! 🔥 Churchill gelding Gracious Express steamrolls rivals to win the finale at Happy Valley for Ricky Yiu... #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 28, 2025 'It's great to get a treble, everything went smoothly tonight,' said Leung. Prestige Good's easy win in the Class Four Sauternes's Cup (1,650m) was another highlight on a brilliant night for Leung. Drawn well in barrier three, Prestige Good was bounced out into the lead by Leung and the pair never looked likely to relinquish it. Turning into the home straight, they spurted away and won by a very comfortable two and a quarter lengths, much to the delight of Leung. Prestige Good bursts clear to land the Sauternes Cup at Happy Valley as Derek Leung posts a double! 🏆#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 28, 2025 'Prestige Good is a nice horse with a nice action – he's also a big thinker so we gave him a good warm up behind the gates to make sure he jumped nice and to wake him up,' said Leung. 'Today, he showed his ability.' Winning trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai, fresh off Voyage Bubble's Triple Crown success at Sha Tin on Sunday, was also full of praise for Prestige Good, who was winning for the first time at the seventh attempt. 'He's kept improving, especially the past couple of runs. He's showing his real ability,' said Yiu. 'I would think with a light weight in Class Three he might still be able to do it, especially towards the end of the season.' Great horse! 🙌 Evergreen 9YO Wood On Fire collects an eighth win at Happy Valley in his 84th start in Hong Kong under Derek Leung for Michael Chang... #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 28, 2025 Leung's first winner on the card came aboard Wood On Fire in the first section of the Class Five Dordogne Handicap (1,200m), with the pair fighting on gamely from the front to deny $3 favourite So Awesome by a neck. Elsewhere, Ellis Wong Chi-wang also enjoyed another Happy Valley double that was kicked off by Bits Superstar's gritty win in the first section of the Class Four Ciron Handicap (1,200m). Breaking from barrier 11, Wong managed to get across and sit on the shoulder of the leader O'Liner before taking over as the field turned into the straight. There was a wall of challengers behind, but Bits Superstar held firm and denied them by a short head. Bits Superstar is tough in the finish! Three wins in May for our apprentice @elliswong05 as Pierre Ng's charge gets off the mark... 💪#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 28, 2025 And there was further joy for the young rider when Sky Vino saluted in the second section of the Class Four Garonne Handicap (1,650m). Sat midfield for much of the journey, Wong swung his mount into the middle of the track off the turn and the writing was soon on the wall, with the Vino Rosso galloper soon clear when asked to extend. Hugh Bowman was another rider to hit a double when Jumbo Legend thundered home to win the Class Three Rhine Handicap (1,650m). Jumbo Legend loops the field! Caspar Fownes' galloper launches from the clouds for a sixth Happy Valley win to cap a @HugeBowman double... ✌️#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 28, 2025 The last horse to turn in, victory looked unlikely for the Hinchinbrook galloper until the final 150m, where he charged into overdrive down the middle of the track and overhauled a wall of horses to win going away. It was the second leg of the Bowman double, with Young Arrow also leaving it late to win the proceeding second section of the Ciron Handicap. Settled three wide for much of the back straight, Bowman swept up off the turn and Young Arrow battled on bravely to get the better of a protracted duel with My Day My Way in the final strides.
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
26-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Voyage Bubble stakes Horse of the Year claim with HK$61 million season
While Voyage Bubble's brilliant surge to a fifth Group One success and a Triple Crown clean sweep rightly demanded much of the attention at Sha Tin on Sunday, the champion galloper also quietly ticked another box on the weekend by becoming just the fourth Hong Kong-trained horse to amass HK$100 million in prize money. More than HK$61 million of his HK$107,472,475 career earnings have come in a superb 2024-25 campaign that has featured four elite-level victories and a HK$10 million Triple Crown bonus for his troubles. It'll go down as one of the better campaigns ever seen from a Hong Kong galloper but amazingly, may not be enough to secure him Horse of the Year honours at the end of the term. While Romantic Warrior has been immense again this season, it does look a race in two between Ka Ying Rising and Voyage Bubble. 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 Many still have Ka Ying Rising as the front runner after an undefeated eight-run campaign lined with four Group One successes and multiple track-record-breaking efforts. Those in Voyage Bubble's corner can make a compelling case for Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's galloper, however. He has bagged more prize money than Ka Ying Rising this season, has been far more versatile than the sprinter by winning at the top level over 1,600m, 2000m and 2,400m and he just became Hong Kong's second ever Triple Crown winner, and first in 31 years. Amid the euphoria that followed Voyage Bubble's three-and-a-half-length Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) demolition job on Sunday, jockey James McDonald briefly cast his thoughts back to Voyage Bubble's agonising defeat at the hands of Red Lion in last month's Group One Champions Mile. 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. 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 After prevailing by a short head, $90 shot Red Lion had to survive a protest from the connections of $1.6 favourite Voyage Bubble before securing the prize. 'I still can't believe he got beat last time, to be fair,' said McDonald on Sunday. If that short-head margin does cost Voyage Bubble Horse of the Year honours, there is little doubt he can count himself just about as unlucky as any galloper who has missed out on the gong. McDonald the main man While Voyage Bubble couldn't quite snare five Group One wins this campaign, McDonald certainly could as he continued his extraordinary fly-in, fly-out feature-race spree in Hong Kong. Thanks to Romantic Warrior's Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) success and Voyage Bubble's four top-line wins, McDonald led the way in 2024-25 by winning five of the 12 elite-level contests of the campaign. Zac Purton was the other jockey to bag multiple Group One wins, saluting three times aboard Ka Ying Rising, while the Australia-based McDonald has now plundered 12 Group One successes in Hong Kong in the past two and a half years. Group Threes look red hot While the Group Ones are behind us for another season, there are still four Group features to come in 2024-25, starting with this Saturday's Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) and Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m). Won last season by Ka Ying Rising, this year's Sha Tin Vase is headlined by four-time Group One winner Lucky Sweynesse and the ever-consistent Helios Express. Ka Ying Rising has Group 1 targets next season! 😏 The gifted 3YO secures the G3 Sha Tin Vase in style with @KarisTeetan for David Hayes... #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 2, 2024 Rounding out the 11 entries are Lucky With You, Victor The Winner, Patch Of Theta, Magic Control, Invincible Sage, Mugen, Copartner Prance, Beauty Waves and Lady's Choice. The Lion Rock Trophy has also attracted 11 entries and a string of Group One performers, with Red Lion and Beauty Eternal joined by Chancheng Glory, Beauty Joy, Happy Together, Sunlight Power, Divano, Encountered, Johannes Brahms, Ka Ying Generation and Pray For Mir.
