Latest news with #Happy Valley
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
John Size secures 13th trainers' title as Bundle Award dramatically wins Sha Tin's feature
John Size won a 13th trainers' premiership at Sha Tin on Sunday thanks to a treble on the night spearheaded by Bundle Award's last-gasp win in the feature Class One Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy (1,600m). The 71-year-old entered the penultimate meeting of the season with a six-win lead over David Hayes but put the exclamation point on his season by sprinting into a nine-win lead to put the race beyond doubt. With Hayes having entries in only eight of the nine races at Happy Valley on Wednesday, it left Size with an insurmountable lead and saw him crowned champion. 'There's a lot of satisfaction in [winning] and probably something I'm very grateful to achieve,' Size said. 'It's a very strong and stiff competition and so therefore you have to rise up to it. 'As I've said before, I'm surprised that I've been so successful in Hong Kong. It's always been a test of if I can keep performing at that level and so far I've been able to over 24 years and, God willing, if my health is still OK, I can do it for a little bit longer.' Huuuuuuuuge finish! Bundle Award goes from last-to-first with @Atzenijockey to land the Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy for John Size... 🏆#SeasonFinale | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 13, 2025 Sprinting home was also exactly what Bundle Award did after settling last in the feature and having a mountain to climb turning into the straight, still last as the field hit the 200m pole. Andrea Atzeni was in no mood to be denied, however, and got everything required out of his mount to sprint past the entire field in a matter of strides for an emphatic success. Hayes' fleeting hopes of a comeback were dented in the first race of the day when Size's Sight Dreamer landed the Class Five Miraculous Handicap (1,400m), once again ridden by Atzeni. 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 Almanzor galloper enjoyed the perfect trip just ahead of midfield and after charging to the lead at the 300m peg, he had plenty in reserve to fend off Fight Time in the closing stages. Size went two up on the evening when the aptly named Raging Rapids split horses to win the Class Four Medic Kingdom Handicap (1,400m) under Karis Teetan. Superb ride, @KarisTeetan! 👊 Raging Rapids scores a first win at Sha Tin as John Size extends his trainers' championship lead to eight... #SeasonFinale | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 13, 2025 Meanwhile, the race for the Tony Cruz Award was given some extra spice when Matthew Chadwick reduced Matthew Poon Ming-fai's lead to one thanks to Devas Twelve's triumph in the Class Four Pingwu Spark Handicap (1,400m). The Chris So Wai-yin-trained five-year-old travelled kindly in second throughout the journey and after overhauling long-time leader Glaciated, he had plenty in reserve to fend off Pejibaye late on. Derek Leung Ka-chun was also on the scoresheet thanks to Happy Universe's win in the Class Four Solar Hei Hei Handicap (1,600m), meaning he will enter Happy Valley on Wednesday just two behind Poon. It was another big night for champion jockey Zac Purton. Unsurprisingly, there was a four-timer on the card for Zac Purton too, with Circuit Mighty's gutsy win in the Class Five Mr Award Handicap (1,400m) putting trainer Manfred Man Ka-leung onto a career-best Hong Kong total. The victory secured Man a 45-win season, while Purton also struck aboard the Jamie Richards-trained Bulb General in the Class Four Victory Marvel Handicap (1,200m) and Jimmy Ting Koon-ho's Huge Wave in the Class Three Sight Winner Handicap (1,600m) – the second leg of a Ting double after Happy Universe's earlier win. His final win came in the last, with Beauty Bolt making it second time lucky with a late burst to win the Class Three All You Wish Handicap (1,400m) for trainer Tony Cruz.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hot Antoine Hamelin finishes with a flourish: ‘I've become a better person for being here'
Jockey Antoine Hamelin admits to feeling sad whenever he thinks about his imminent Hong Kong departure, but it's certainly been nothing but smiles and celebrations on the racetrack as the Frenchman finishes his five-year stint in the city with a flourish. Victorious at three of the past four meetings, Hamelin will say farewell to Sha Tin this Sunday before signing off at Happy Valley next Wednesday. 'I'm feeling OK, not too bad, but when I think about it I'm very sad. When I met my friends for a farewell it was very sad, but it was good to see everyone before I go,' he said. 'It's always better to leave like this,' he added of his strong form, which has seen a quarter of his 12 winners this season come in the past two weeks. 'Some trainers have given me support before I go, which I really appreciate, and I've managed to get the horses who are in good form. Everything has gone quite smoothly recently, so I'm not complaining.' Hamelin has five chances to continue his hot run this weekend, headlined by last-start winner Rising From Ashes in the Class Three All You Wish Handicap (1,400m) and Beauty Missile in the Class Four Victory Marvel Handicap (1,200m). 'I really like Rising From Ashes, who won really well last time and is in good form. He looks good,' said Hamelin. 'The other horses there are a few question marks. Beauty Missile has gate 14, so it's not going to be easy, but I would really love to win with him before I go. He's in my heart and I always enjoy riding him. He's always trying really hard but it is hard to win with him.' Hamelin's overall Hong Kong win tally has risen to 111 in recent weeks and it's his scarcely believable five-timer at Sha Tin in January 2021 that is burnt into his memory. 'I have a lot of good memories and of course the highlight is five winners in a day. That was amazing, crazy. I still remember it like it was yesterday,' he said. 'I have a lot of good memories and not only from racing. I have met a lot of good people here. It's been nice to work with jockeys from everywhere on the planet. It's one of the best jockey rooms in the world. That's how you learn – with the best around you. 'I also learned a lot from the trainers. It's very different from my country. I think I've become a better person for being here for five years. I have learned a lot.' Hamelin is also confident he will return to France a better rider and he won't be wasting any time, eyeing the Deauville meeting in early August as a likely kick-off point. 'I won't be starting from zero but almost. There are new trainers and old trainers who have retired, but I'm not worried because my manager is waiting for me and we always did a great job together. I'm sure we'll do well,' he said. 'I'm better than when I left so some doors will open and I think it's going to be OK. The target will be to get back in the top 10 in France like I used to be, then I will be happy.'
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Content Benno Yung signs off: ‘I was able to make something that is worth more than money'
Benno Yung Tin-pang hopes the win of Endued last Saturday wasn't the last of his 12-season training career, but if it was he'll head off into retirement more than content with what he's achieved. With only two meetings to go before he signs off after reaching the Jockey Club's compulsory retirement age of 66, Yung has 360 winners to his name but it's something else he's most proud of. 'I'm quite happy with how I did. Business-wise, I might not have been the most successful, but on the other hand I was able to make something that is worth more than money – it's the friendships and the respect of people,' said Yung, who earned an affectionate moniker for the patience and care he showed his horses. 'Then there's the nickname – they nicknamed me Doctor Yung for how I treat the horses. That's really impressive to me.' It hasn't been a smooth final season or so for Yung, with the softly spoken handler battling acute myeloid leukaemia. He's happy to report, however, that he's feeling 'great' as he prepares to saddle up his last Sha Tin runners on Sunday and his final Happy Valley team next Wednesday. 'My health is good – so far, so good. My chemo treatment is finished so I'm just undergoing treatment to maintain and control things,' he said. 'Now I have to look for something to go on with – a new chapter. I'm not sure exactly what I'll do yet – there's no solid plan yet. 'I'll have a short break and see what's happening. I'll wait and see if there is a job in racing suitable for me.' Yung heads to Sha Tin this weekend with eight runners as he looks to add to his 20 victories so far this season, with last-start winner Fun Together aptly lining up in a race named after the best horse Yung has trained – Pingwu Spark. Fun Together will carry top weight of 135lb under Jerry Chau Chun-lok, but the six-year-old has scored barrier four for the Class Four Pingwu Spark Handicap (1,400m). Tourbillon Prince has also drawn nicely in one for the Class Three Sight Winner Handicap (1,600m), while Elegant Life has barrier four for the Class Four Big Profit Handicap (1,200m). 'I hope so and think so,' said Yung when asked how confident he was of tasting that winning feeling again before retirement. 'There's quite a few who are chances and thankfully some of them have got a good draw.' On Yung's CV are a career-best Hong Kong haul of 39 winners in season 2021-22, while Pingwu Spark placed at Group level on his way to a peak rating of 119. It's very much business as usual for Yung this week as his career ticks down, but he knows things could be different when that last runner crosses the line at the season finale. 'I'm feeling a bit relieved at the moment. I'm not really emotional now but maybe by next week I will feel something,' he said.
South China Morning Post
09-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hugh Bowman lands Happy Valley treble and brings up career-best Hong Kong tally
The 44-year-old salutes aboard Notthesillyone, Shinkansen and Jumbo Legend to move to 71 winners for the season Hugh Bowman surged past his best Hong Kong haul and onto the 71-winner mark with a Happy Valley treble on Wednesday evening, but he won't be resting on his laurels for too long in the off-season. The 44-year-old struck in the first two races on the card, but by far his best win came in the feature Class Two Begonia Handicap (1,800m) aboard the fast-finishing Jumbo Legend for Caspar Fownes. Victory for the six-year-old never looked likely in the run, with Bowman having to sit and suffer in last before unleashing a devastating turn of foot to go past them all in the final 150m. Bowman's night to remember got up and running in the first race, landing the Class Five Hawthorne Handicap (1,000m) on the Mark Newnham-trained Notthesillyone. Jumbo Legend finishes like a train! Last-to-first in the Class 2 feature at Happy Valley as @HugeBowman scoops a three-timer... 👌#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 9, 2025 Bowman enjoyed the perfect trip, stalking the leader on the rails for the entire journey and when the two in front of him left a gap at the 200m pole, he parted the Red Sea and won out in a protracted duel with $2.8 favourite Ace Talent. Bowman doubled up just 30 minutes later in the Class Five Magnolia Handicap (1,650m) when Shinkansen led all the way for trainer Douglas Whyte. The pair cruised to the front into the first bend and Bowman had all his rivals at it as they turned into the straight. Foremost Teddy, backed into $3.7 favourite, emerged from the pack as the only danger, but he ran out of runway and arrived a short head too late. 🗣️ "Fighting like a caged tiger!" 🐯@DJWhyteTrainer's Shinkansen pulls out of all of the stops as @HugeBowman caps a race-to-race double and his 70th winner this season... 👌 #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 9, 2025 'It helped not being injured. I spent a lot of time injured and being suspended last season, so time in the saddle might be the key but I've had a good season, a good support base and I think I've had a good consistent year,' said Bowman. 'I feel like I can do better but I'm satisfied with how we've gone this season and I would like to build on it next year.' Although Bowman will enjoy a little bit of time off, he will not be on the sidelines for long as he is heading to the United Kingdom to team up with Karis Teetan at the Shergar Cup at Ascot on August 9. 'I was invited to ride in [the Shergar Cup], so plans are being made around that. That will keep me honest,' Bowman said. Meanwhile, Whyte continued his strong end to the campaign when Ace Power caused a $46 boilover in the first section of the Class Four Garden Handicap (1,200m). Second last for the entire journey, his jockey Luke Ferraris switched him wide into the straight and the writing was quickly on the wall, with the pair flying home to win by three-quarters of a length. 'He had a wide draw tonight and it probably played into his favour. The race unfolded well with the speed and he got into the race at the right time,' said Whyte. 'He can produce those sorts of efforts – when he gets held up he gives up, so he got going at the right time and had a smooth run. 'I highlighted three months ago that I'd have a good back end to the season – the horses were highly rated and some had a break. They've all come back into form now and are racing well.' Elsewhere, David Hayes kept his fleeting trainers' premiership hopes alive when Red Majesty won his 10th race over course and distance in the Class Four Green Handicap (1,650m). 'Francis [Lui Kin-wai] came from nowhere last year and won it. We're just at the stage now where we need John [Size] to not train winners and I need to keep training them. It's a long shot – possible but unlikely,' Hayes said after moving to within six victories of Size.
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
SCMP Best Bets: Fortress a fabulous chance for punters at the Valley
Sam Agars PRESTIGE GOOD - R5 (1) Seems to like the Valley mile and can break through here Jay Rooney FLYING FORTRESS - R7 (5) In top form and just needs an ounce of luck from the draw to go close Trackwork Spy TACTICAL COMMAND - R6 (3) Can take advantage of an overdue good barrier and return to winning form Phillip Woo SPICY GOLD - R9 (3) Boasts sterling Happy Valley form and can win another here 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. Shannon (Vincent Wong) PRESTIGE GOOD - R5 (1) Has been knocking on the door and can produce a win tonight Racing Post Online FLYING FORTRESS - R7 (5) Not beaten far over C&D last start and should go close again Tom Wood FLYING FORTRESS - R7 (5) Very consistent and looks another genuine winning hope tonight
