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South China Morning Post
07-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Matthew Chadwick ‘giving it his best' as Tony Cruz Award reaches the business end
Matthew Chadwick is hoping to make his move in the race for the Tony Cruz Award with a strong book of rides headlined by Bravehearts in the feature Class Two Begonia Handicap (1,800m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday. The 34-year-old will arrive to the Valley on the 34-winner mark for the campaign, just two behind leader Matthew Poon Ming-fai and one ahead of fellow hopeful Derek Leung Ka-chun in the race to be the season's leading local jockey. Chadwick is hunting down a second Tony Cruz Award and has picked up one of Poon's regular rides, Bravehearts, in what could be a cruel twist of fate for Poon. A three-time winner at Sha Tin this season, the Mark Newnham-trained six-year-old has been in consistent form since the most recent of those successes back in December. Here comes the favourite! 😤 Argentine Group 1 winner Bravehearts continues his rise with a third win in Hong Kong and first in Class 2 at Sha Tin under Matthew Poon for Mark Newnham... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 29, 2024 Last time out, Bravehearts came from a long way back to be narrowly denied in a tricky Class Three over 2,000m at Sha Tin and he will make just his second appearance at the city circuit on Wednesday. 'Matthew Poon is not on Bravehearts because he was meant to pick up another ride I think, but that didn't happen so it's frustrating for him,' said Chadwick. 'But it's a nice ride to pick up, he's not drawn very well, like many of my rides so I'll have to work it out from there. The pace looks to be even so I'll hope to get a smooth run into it and see what he can do late. 'He's been racing consistently so the switch in tracks should be fine. I haven't ridden him before so I'm just going to go in with hopes high and give him the best ride that I can.' 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. It is a busy evening for Chadwick with rides in eight of the nine races, including last-start winner Superb Capitalist in the Class Three Briar Handicap (1,000m). Superb Capitalist gets up late at Happy Valley. The Capitalist galloper won the Class Three St George's Challenge Cup (1,000m) on his most recent start, getting up in the shadows of the post in a race marred by the incident that saw Seasons Wit go amiss in the final 100m. That win off a rating of 74 was his first victory since May 2024, where he rattled off a pair of successes rated 75 and 86. The draw is not a plus point to his chances, but Chadwick is hopeful of a big run from the five-year-old. 'He had a soft draw last time and everything went his way - obviously the accident during the race was really unfortunate but the horse did what he had to do,' said Chadwick. 'He's got to carry more weight this time and the draw is a bit of a bump in the road, so I'll have to see where I slot in and take it from there.' Matthew Chadwick is within striking distance of the Tony Cruz Award. Chadwick claimed the Tony Cruz Award in the 2021-22 season and with just the three meetings left, this year's fight is almost certain to go down to the final meeting. And for Chadwick, luck is going to play a huge part in who eventually comes out on top. 'I think for all of us we just look to start the season strongly and then at this point of the season, we know where we stand and it becomes a bit more of a target and jumps up from the backs of our minds,' said Chadwick. 'We'll all give it our best shot I'm sure. I guess it will come down to the draws and the circumstances of the races for everyone.'
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Ellis Wong continues barnstorming finish to the season: ‘I love this horse'
Dancing Code and Ellis Wong (right) get up in the nick of time at Sha Tin. Photo: Kenneth Chan Apprentice jockey boots Dancing Code to victory for boss Caspar Fownes for Saturday night's Class Two Philip Chen Trophy (1,200m) at Sha Tin Apprentice jockey Ellis Wong Chi-wang continued his barnstorming finish to the season by booting Dancing Code to victory for his boss Caspar Fownes in Saturday night's Class Two Philip Chen Trophy (1,200m) at Sha Tin. Sent off the $3.55 favourite, the Aaron Kwok Fu-shing-owned Dancing Code came from forward of midfield to nail Harmony N Blessed and Lady's Choice near the line. 'I'm so happy to win for the boss again and this owner,' said Wong. 'Today, with a good barrier and the strong pace, he travelled really well for me and he tries really hard. He's a small horse but he's got a big heart. He's always fighting really hard. I love this horse.' Dancing Code darts late to grab the Class 2 Philip Chen Trophy at Sha Tin! 🏆 Owned by celebrity superstar Aaron Kwok, the 6YO speedster scoops a fourth win for Caspar Fownes and his apprentice @elliswong05... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 5, 2025 Wong moved to 25 winners for the season, while Derek Leung Ka-chun stayed in the hunt for the Tony Cruz Award for leading local jockey by snaring the Class Five Li Cup (1,600m) aboard Celtic Times – the jockey's 33rd success of the season and 250th victory on the Sha Tin turf. Leung trails Matthew Poon Ming-fai (36 winners) and Matthew Chadwick (34) in the race for the Tony Cruz Award. 'That's not bad,' said Leung of the mini-milestone. 'I'll do my best [to win]. I've got to catch 'The [Poon] Train' first.' Frankie Lor Fu-chuen also ticked a little box on Saturday, edging clear of David Hayes to be the most successful trainer on the dirt this season, with the win of Gimme Five in the Class Five Swaine Cup (1,200m) the handler's 10th on the surface for the term. Celtic Times dominates for Derek Leung, who rides his 250th winner on Sha Tin's turf course, while Manfred Man equals his career-best 44 wins in a season! 👏 #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 5, 2025 Gimme Five's win was the first leg of a double for Teetan, who also saluted aboard Ka Ying Resilience for Hayes in the Class Four Arculli Trophy (1,200m). Hayes also enjoyed a brace after snaring the Class Four Ip Jug (1,800m) with Fortune Boy, trimming John Size's lead in the trainers' premiership to seven with three meetings remaining. Hayes was pleased to see Ka Ying Resilience break through at start 11. 'We have been leading with the horse and he's looked a bit weak, so we thought we'd try and take a sit from a good barrier and hope that it would work and it really did,' said the trainer. 'I think next season we won't be leading all the time with him, especially when he draws an inside gate. I think there's a lot of upside in the horse next season. He's a good horse to follow next year.'
South China Morning Post
04-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Patch Of Stars the headline act as Zac Purton eyes another successful Sha Tin Saturday
Jockey Zac Purton has another stellar book of rides at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Fresh off wrapping up his eighth jockeys' premiership, Zac Purton has the chance to put an exclamation mark on his season with another stacked book of rides including the rampant Patch Of Stars in the Class Three Chairmen's Day Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Saturday. The Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained three-year-old has gone from strength to strength in his past three runs, beginning his sequence with Purton on for the first time at Sha Tin back in April. He doubled up in Class Four company with a devastating performance two weeks later, bursting clear at the 300m pole before easing down soon after for a comfortable success. Up to Class Three company in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships Handicap (1,400m) on his most recent start, he once again won with any amount in hand, cruising to the front after a midfield trip to win on the bridle. Patch Of Stars is in a race of his own! 😲 That's an exciting win from Manfred Man's speedy son of All Too Hard as @zpurton posts a double at Sha Tin... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 14, 2025 There is no telling just how good this horse could be and Purton thinks he could be even better next campaign. 'He's lightly raced and has really come to hand in the last few months. I think he's been in a couple of races where the tempo has really suited him – his achillies heel is the fact he wants to get on with it,' said Purton. 'He's been in two races where the tempo has been good and he's relaxed really well, so he's managed to show his best. He's still learning his trade and hopefully he's learned to relax and chill a bit better than what he was doing earlier in his career. 'If he can get into a nice rhythm and help himself, he's going the right way and it will be nice to see what he can do next season as well.' 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. Purton also rides another bang-in-form horse in the shape of Masterofmyuniverse, who goes for a hat-trick in the Class Two Philip Chen Trophy (1,200m). The Havana Gold galloper has been a rapid riser for John Size, making his debut off a measly rating of 52 at Happy Valley last November. He has won four times at Sha Tin from nine career starts, most recently in a pair of Class Three races over the 1,200m distance. His last success in the Class Three Tai Wai Handicap (1,200m) was a gutsy effort, coming from a long way back and weaving between horses to nab Infinite Resolve in the final stride under an ice-cold Purton The four-year-old is up in grade from a tricky draw, but Purton remains hopeful of a big run with more progress a possibility. Masterofmyuniverse (inside) lashes home to win again at Sha Tin. 'He's just kept improving, as a lot of John Size's horses tend to do,' said Purton. 'He's up in grade now and is drawn a bit awkward, so it's going to be a bit more of a task for him. 'That said, he's going well and should acquit himself well. I'm not really sure how much is left in terms of improvement.' Meanwhile, Vincent Ho Chak-yiu has been passed fit to ride work and he returned to the saddle at Sha Tin on Friday morning. The 35-year-old has been absent from race riding since suffering a brain contusion and a brain bleed in a horror fall at Sha Tin in February. He is now focusing on training as he looks to return to the saddle competitively next season.
South China Morning Post
26-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Frankie Lor fancies Horsepower down in trip and weight in Class One sprint
Horsepower steams home under Zac Purton to score at the Valley in April. Photos: Kenneth Chan Frankie Lor Fu-chuen is confident Horsepower will relish a return to 1,000m and a light weight when the talented sprinter tackles Saturday's Class One Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup at Sha Tin. A three-time winner from five starts in his first Hong Kong season, the former Australian galloper drops back to the minimum trip after failing on his first attempt at 1,200m last start. Champion jockey Zac Purton told stewards that Horsepower raced too keenly in the early and middle stages and refused to settle when ninth to Kaholo Angel at Happy Valley. While Lor hasn't given up on the Harry Angel gelding running a strong six furlongs in the future, he has high hopes that the return to the course and distance of his victory in February will work the oracle. 'I asked Zac to just jump and relax. They were going quick early and he asked the horse to go with them and then he pulled,' Lor said of Horsepower's recent defeat. Horsepower has an engine! 🤯 Owned by HKJC Chairman Michael Lee and his family, Horsepower rockets clear in the straight at Happy Valley for a third win at his fourth start... @zpurton #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 23, 2025 'Maybe later on we can try 1,200m at Sha Tin – they might go quicker there. This time, he goes back to 1,000m at Sha Tin and Zac can ride him 2lb over [his allotted weight of 118lb]. 'I think he'll be OK and his form's OK. Hopefully we can have a good result for his last run of the season.' A winner at his final two Australian starts when known as Fire Follower, Horsepower made a spectacular start to his Hong Kong career when he stormed home to win first up at the Valley in October. 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. The four-year-old was then scratched at the barriers for another Valley race when he was found to be lame. Lor gave him a short break and he returned to triumph down the Sha Tin straight in February. He has drawn barrier three in Saturday's eight-runner contest, which is headlined by Cody Mo Wai-kit's straight-track specialist Magic Control and John Size's quality sprinter Wunderbar, who is fresh from bouncing back to winning form last start. Hugh Bowman boots Wunderbar home last start. Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m) winner Beauty Waves will make his stable debut for Tony Cruz after transferring from Pierre Ng Pang-chi's yard, while Aurora Lady, Full Credit, Red Elegance and Stellar Express round out the field. Mark Newnham admits he is guarded about Full Credit's first run since undergoing throat surgery in March to correct a breathing problem. 'You don't find out until you put them under race pressure,' Newnham said of the four-time winner, who comfortably won a dirt trial last week. 'He's been a really consistent horse at each of the tracks, including the all-weather, but Saturday will be a test for him.' With regular rider Lyle Hewitson sidelined with wrist and ankle injuries sustained in a Valley fall on Wednesday night, Full Credit will be ridden by Matthew Chadwick on Saturday. Jockey Andrea Atzeni and trainer Mark Newnham with Mojave Desert after his recent dirt victory. Newnham has more confidence in his two-pronged attack on Saturday's Class Three Shek Sheung River Handicap (1,650m), with Mojave Desert and New Forest both chasing back-to-back victories on the dirt. 'Mojave Desert looks like he'll run out 1,650m. He's just got to be ridden quietly,' Newnham said. 'The other horse will be up front, so we've got two irons in the fire there with two different racing styles. Hopefully it works out and they run one-two.' Mojave Desert has drawn barrier one with Derek Leung Ka-chun on board, while Harry Bentley replaces Hewitson on New Forest, who jumps from barrier seven.
South China Morning Post
23-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Seasons Wit out to double up but draw woes plague Jamie Richards at Happy Valley
Jamie Richards has copped the two extremes of the barrier draw for Wednesday night's Happy Valley fixture but he was relieved to see Seasons Wit come out unscathed with the inside gate for the Class Three St George's Challenge Cup (1,000m). His speedster has relished the drop back to the minimum distance in his past two starts after plying his trade over further for most of this campaign. All four of his wins have come over Wednesday's course and distance and he returned to form with a bang when second from a wide gate two starts ago. He followed that up with a first win since October 2023 when charging home in the Class Three Choi Wan Handicap (1,000m) last month and he has gone up 7lb in the ratings as a result. Seasons Wit is a winner again! @LyleHewitson guides the @JamieRichards3-trained 5YO gelding to a fourth course and distance triumph... 💥#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 14, 2025 Rated in the high 90s at one stage last season, Richards is hopeful his five-year-old can continue doing damage despite his rating going up to 74. 'Barrier one is obviously very helpful. I haven't had much luck for any of my other runners so it's nice for him to get a good gate at least,' said Richards. 'The field looks a bit stronger and there's obviously a few more of them in there, but he's trained on really well from his last start and I'm really looking forward to him. 'I've tried running him over the 1,400m and 1,200m distances this season but he's suited a return to the 1,000m trip, so fingers crossed for a big run.' 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. Treble up at Sha Tin! 🔥@zpurton moves to 1,803 wins, 10 shy of the 1,813 all-time record in Hong Kong, with a three-timer as Storming Dragon is strong in victory... @JamieRichards3 #LuckyStart | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 1, 2025 Unfortunately for Richards, most of his runners on the card drew short straws in terms of the draw, including his perennially unlucky Storming Dragon. He goes in the card-ending Class Three Selkirk Handicap (1,200m) and will need to overcome the car park draw in stall 12 if he is to defy an unlucky sequence. The Star Turn galloper has finished in the top four in four of his past five runs – including a pair of placings in his past two starts – despite drawing barrier eight for three of those. Most recently, he finished second to the heavily-punted Storm Rider in the Class Three Stanley Gap Handicap (1,200m), where he was the only horse to make any sort of ground from the rear of the pack. Jamie Richards hopes Storming Dragon can overcome a woeful draw. Richards is desperate for a change of luck with his dual winner, but is still hopeful of a big run regardless of his barrier misfortune. 'The poor horse just can't draw a gate, but when you go to the Valley you take the chance that you're either going to draw well or not,' said Richards. 'He's going well enough to still be competitive despite stall 12, but it doesn't make life any easier.' A four-time champion trainer in his native New Zealand, Richards sits on the 21-winner mark for the campaign in his third Hong Kong season.
