Latest news with #HongKongDerby
New Paper
19-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Atzeni bidding for first HK G1 atop Bundle Award
HONG KONG Andrea Atzeni has clinched the HK$13 million (S$2.16 million) Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) ride on Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2,400m) winner Bundle Award. On May 25, Atzeni will chase his first Hong Kong Group 1 trophy on Bundle Award, who became the first runner from this season's Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) to win a Group 3 race in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup at Sha Tin on May 4 under Zac Purton. With seven-time champion jockey Purton likely to partner Ensued in the Champions & Chater Cup, Atzeni took the opportunity to familiarise himself with the Shamus Award four-year-old in a 1,200m dirt trial at Sha Tin on May 16. Pitted against fellow Champions & Chater Cup contenders - four-time Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble and 2025 Hong Kong Derby winner Cap Ferrat - Bundle Award was not pressured and finished seventh behind Cap Ferrat in 1min 11.44sec. "It's a good ride to get," said Atzeni. "He's a horse that stays the trip and he's young. He's done nothing wrong so far and it's a really good ride. "He's won over the mile and a half the last time. I know they didn't go really quick and it turned into a bit of a sprint. "But in these mile and a half races, they never go a gallop here anyway, so it could set up very similarly and he's a horse who has quite a bit of speed. "He stays but he's got quite a bit of pace. So, if it turns into a bit of a sprint like it did the last time, it will suit him." The 2025 Champions & Chater Cup features British globetrotter Dubai Honour, Cap Ferrat, Ensued, Five G Patch, La City Blanche, Moments In Time, Noisy Boy, Rubylot, Sword Point, Winning Dragon and Voyage Bubble. The latter is chasing a HK$10 million bonus as he attempts to sweep the Triple Crown series. Ensued finished fifth in the second batch of trials on May 16, behind the John Size-trained stablemate Super Express, who clocked 1min 11.01sec. Already a winner of the Group 1 Stewards' Cup (1,600m) and the Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m), Voyage Bubble is bidding to join River Verdon (1993/94) to win all three legs of the Triple Crown series. "Voyage Bubble has got to step up in trip, which is obviously a question mark. But, with the class that he has, he probably doesn't need to stay to win it," said Atzeni. "Dubai Honour gets this trip very well and last time behind Via Sistina (in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2,000m at Randwick), although he had a bit of a tough trip, he never gave up and kept going all the way to the line. He's a very smart horse." Fresh from his 100th victory in Hong Kong after the Ricky Yiu-trained debutant Blazing Wukong ($25) won the Class 4 The Hilltop In The Valley Handicap (1,200m) on May 18, the Italian hoop now has 49 wins this season. He sits third on the Hong Kong jockeys' championship behind Purton (110) and Hugh Bowman (61). Matthew Poon leads the race for this season's Tony Cruz Award as leading homegrown jockey with 34 wins, seven clear of 2021/22 winner Matthew Chadwick and injured Vincent Ho (both on 27). Poon, 31, has been a revelation this campaign as he sweeps towards bettering his personal-best haul of 37 wins in a season, set in 2020/21. "Everybody will get a chance if they work hard. You just never give up, no matter how long it takes. You just have to be positive and you never know when the chance comes," said Poon. "You have to be ready and well prepared, wait for the opportunity to come and try to take it." Meanwhile, the heat is also on in the 2024/25 Hong Kong trainers' championship. David Hayes' treble at Sha Tin on May 18 saw the Australian move to within six wins of compatriot and 12-time champion John Size, with 16 meetings left in the season. Hayes dominated with the performances of Oriental Smoke ($15), Solid Shalaa ($38) and World Hero ($36) to reach 50 wins for the campaign, raising hopes of a third Hong Kong trainers' championship having earlier trailed Size by 11 wins. "John is hard to catch, being six ahead, but if he has a quiet couple of weeks and I have a good couple of weeks, it could get close," said Hayes. "There's a glimmer of hope. I've got a lot of young horses that are going to start running that are trialling well, but basically I have to keep going and John has to stop winning. "Every time John trains a winner, it's hard, but it's worth giving it a go." Hayes won the Hong Kong trainers' title in 1997/98 & 1998/99 and his three-timer on May 18 took his career tally in the city to 657. Oriental Smoke was the first to strike for Purton in the Class 4 Members' Care@HKJC Handicap (1,800m) before Solid Shalaa's scored in the Class 3 The Members Cup Handicap (1200m). Near the tail end at the home turn, Solid Shalaa closed in brilliantly under Ellis Wong to snatch victory late. World Hero was the third leg of Hayes' treble, dictating from the front under Alexis Badel to land the Class 4 Sha Tin Clubhouse Handicap (1,400m). HKJC
South China Morning Post
03-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Zac Purton uncertain how Bundle Award will handle distance test in Queen Mother Memorial Cup
Zac Purton will put his faith in master trainer John Size and Bundle Award's quality when the champion jockey chases a third success in the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Handicap (2,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. An impressive winner of three Australian races pre-import and two in Hong Kong, Bundle Award rises to 2,400m for the first time on the back of a solid seventh in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) and a last-start fourth over 1,800m. Purton, who has won the Queen Mother Memorial on Exultant (2018) and Dominant (2013), is uncertain how the son of Shamus Award will handle the distance test. 'It's an interesting one,' said the star Australian rider. Bundle Award punches his 2025 @BMW Hong Kong Derby ticket! 🔥@BenThompson2102 gets John Size's galloper home from the back of the field for a first Class 2 win at Sha Tin... #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 9, 2025 'He didn't appear to finish it off too strong in the Derby, but it was always going to be hard from where he was to get into the race. They went so slow and sprinted home, so sometimes that's hard to get a proper handle on a performance. 'He still ran home in quick time but every horse ran home in quick time. I think the question mark is there at the distance but it's a small field, he relaxes and he'll give himself a chance. We've just got to find out if he can run it.' After finishing two lengths behind shock winner Cap Ferrat in the Derby, Bundle Award was ridden by Purton for the first time when running on from near last to finish fourth behind Californiatotality in the Class Two Hong Kong Lions Cup (1,800m). 'It was good. He got the start wrong, the race wasn't run to suit and he kept finding the line,' Purton said. 'He sprinted quick from the 400m to the 200m and then seemed to flatten out the last bit, so maybe he does want further. We'll find out on Sunday.' Bundle Award can deliver Size his first victory in the HK$4.2 million feature since his breakthrough success with Dr Well in 2006. He jumps from barrier two in the field of six. Tony Cruz boasts half of the field in his bid for a sixth victory in the race, with last year's winner La City Blanche, Five G Patch and Winning Dragon his representatives. Mark Newnham's Bravehearts, a Group One winner over 2,400m in Argentina pre-import, and Derby runner Noisy Boy round out the field. Armed with a strong book of 10 rides on the 11-race card, Purton will also pilot Size's exciting galloper Crossborderpegasus for the first time in the Class Three Gascoigne Handicap (1,200m). The three-year-old won his first two starts before a close second to Aeris Nova when wide throughout last start. 'I did a lot of work on him before he raced, but I was obviously out injured so Hugh [Bowman] was able to get on him and he's done a really good job,' Purton said. 'He's got that tendency to hang in and he's drawn out wide [in barrier 10]. It's not going to be an easy task for him, but he's a quality horse that looks as if he's still on the way up. Hopefully we can get in the right spot and give him his chance.' Impressive win, Mickley! 👌 John Size scoops a four-timer at Sha Tin as the #4YOSeries prospect gets off the mark in Hong Kong under @HugeBowman... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 15, 2024 Mickley in the Class Two Hillwood Handicap (1,600m) is another of Purton's rides for Size, with the former British galloper stepping out for the first time since his eighth in the Derby. 'He showed a lot early then seemed to lose his way a little bit,' Purton said of Mickley, who won brilliantly over 1,600m at his second start in the city last December. 'He's had a bit of time between runs. I think it's just a matter of finding out what works for him again.' The All Out, Super Eagle, Better And Better, Shamus Storm, Amazing Run, Packing Turbine and The Boom Box are Purton's other rides on Sunday.
South China Morning Post
01-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Noisy Boy out to enhance Hong Kong Derby form in big day for four-year-old crop at Sha Tin
Noisy Boy (outside) gets up for a Class Two success under Andrea Atzeni. Photos: Kenneth Chan More than a quarter of this year's Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) field line up this Sunday Noisy Boy is out to enhance March's Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) form and bounce back to his best in the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Dennis Yip Chor-hong's four-year-old failed to beat a rival in March's Derby, unable to follow up impressive wins in a Class Three over 2,200m and a 2,000m Class Two – both at Sha Tin. The form of his Class Two victory has been well advertised, cosily beating the likes of Winning Dragon, Stunning Peach, Packing Angel, Mickley and Bravehearts. Noisy Boy reopposes Winning Dragon and Bravehearts in the HK$4.2 million feature and will hope to show something like his best as he looks to become another four-year-old to show he can be a force next campaign. He will also take on Bundle Award, who was seventh in the Derby after making up plenty of late ground and will make plenty of appeal to punters with Zac Purton up for the first time. Completing the field are Winning Dragon's Tony Cruz-trained stablemates Five G Patch and La City Blanche as they prepare for the Group One Champions & Chater (2,400m) later this month. The Derby form was heavily scrutinised on last Sunday's Champions Day, with the winner Cap Ferrat running a big race when fifth in the Group One QE II Cup (2,200m) behind the likes of Japanese superstars Tastiera and Prognosis. Rubylot, who finished a running-on fifth in the Derby, also ran with huge amounts of credit to fill out sixth in the same race. 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 Perhaps the best performance from a Derby runner came from My Wish in the Group One Champions Mile, who ran on gamely to finish fourth behind Red Lion, Voyage Bubble and Sunlight Power. Mark Newnham's rising star will not be seen again this season but will be targeted at both December's Group One Hong Kong Mile in December and the Champions Mile once again. Mickley and Steps Ahead will also bid to step forward from their Derby runs this Sunday as they drop back in distance for the Class Two Hillwood Handicap (1,600m). Steps Ahead only had My Wish behind him in the run in the Derby and he did not have the best of passages when trying to burrow up the rail. Despite that, he only finished half a length behind Mickley and trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai will be hopeful those placings can be reversed. A winner at Royal Ascot when trained by Edward Bethell in the UK, Mickley had a good midfield trip in the Derby but lacked a finishing kick in a race that was run at a bit of a crawl. Trainer John Size has called up Purton for the ride and it could be another big day for the Aussie, who rides in 10 of the 11 races and also has the plum ride on Bundle Award in the feature. Currently on 102 winners for the season, he is a whopping 46 ahead of the second-placed Hugh Bowman in the standings.
South China Morning Post
29-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Mark Newnham ‘proud' of My Wish as he maps out ambitious Group One campaign next season
Mark Newnham is ready for an exciting next campaign with My Wish (pink cap). Photos: Kenneth Chan My Wish is off for a well-earned rest but his trainer Mark Newnham is confident he has a bona fide Group One horse on his hands for next season. His four-year-old started the season winning off a rating of just 54 but has soared to incredible heights since that 1,200m success at Sha Tin. His crowning glory came back in January, when he was given a peach of a ride by Luke Ferraris to win the Hong Kong Classic mile ahead of a stacked field. My Wish ran two mighty seconds in the next two legs of the four-year-old Classic Series, bumping into a charging Rubylot in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1,800m) before a desperately unlucky run in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m). 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 was forced to come from last and had to spin nearly eight-wide into the straight to make his challenge, thundering down the outside and recording the fastest final 400m sectional over 2,000m in Sha Tin history in the process. He confirmed his status as one to watch for next season when running a huge race behind Red Lion, Voyage Bubble and Sunlight Power in the Group One FWD Champions Mile and Newnham is looking ahead to some big targets. 'I thought he did us proud, like he did all season,' said Newnham. 'He's been very consistent horse right from the start of it. That'll do him this campaign, but he gives us every indication we can aim high next time around. 'He led all the way over 1,200m at the first meeting of the year, so he's done a really good job. Next season, hopefully we can aim for the [Hong Kong Mile] and then the Champions Mile again.' In the immediate future, Newnham is looking forward to the chances of Mission Strike, who has Zac Purton on for the first time in the Class Four Korea Racing Authority Trophy (1,800m). Mission Strike was always outpaced on debut at Sha Tin over 1,400m, but showed improved form over the 1,800m at Happy Valley, finishing third and a flashing-home second when given a mountain to climb from last off the turn. He took a small backwards step at Sha Tin last time, but Newnham is confident he has found the key to unlocking the best from his three-year-old. 'He was reluctant to come between horses and finish the race off last time,' said Newnham. 'He's going in the blinkers this time and his two runs over the 1,800m at Happy Valley before his last run at Sha Tin were good – I think it's a good race for him, especially back at Happy Valley. 'He seems to have reacted to the blinkers and hopefully it gives him a bit more confidence. He's only a young horse with limited experience, so it's understandable that he's still learning his craft. 'He's got enough talent to be winning races and he just needs a bit of help to get there. His slow starts have forced us into racing quieter early on. 'He drew well the other day and was closer – he didn't finish off the race like we hoped but I think that was more because of his reluctance to come between horses.'
News.com.au
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Hong Kong Derby ‘one of the most prestigious' in region
Now Playing Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive General Manager, Racing and Wagering James Ross has joined Racing Dreams to discuss the Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin Racecourse. 'The Hong Kong Derby really captures everyone in Hong Kong,' Mr Ross said. 'I would say ultimately, it's one of Hong Kong's most prestigious races.' In partnership with Hong Kong Jockey Club.
