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South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Pierre Ng eyes Group Three glory in bid to kick-start stable's late-season push
Pierre Ng (left) has four runners across Saturday's pair of Group Three features at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Battling a quiet second half of the season, Pierre Ng Pang-chi hopes to kick-start a winning run to end his campaign when he launches a strong assault on Saturday's Group Three features at Sha Tin. Runner-up to Francis Lui Kin-wai in last year's dramatic finale to the trainers' championship, Ng picked up where he left off to lead the race for the title through to January this term. However, the 41-year-old has managed just 10 winners since the Lunar New Year meeting and slipped to eighth in the premiership standings with 38 winners. 'It has been a bit quiet,' Ng admitted. 'Even last year, after the Chinese New Year it was quite quiet as well. That's something I have to think about during the off-season. I gave many horses a break during the middle of the season and then I've brought them back, so I'm looking forward to June. 'I won't have a title run or anything like that, but we'll just keep on going and rolling and then wait for next season.' Ng will aim to replicate last year's haul of three wins from the final four Group races of the Hong Kong season when he starts Johannes Brahms and Ka Ying Generation in the Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) and Mugen and Beauty Waves in the Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) on Saturday. Johannes Brahms could be Ng's strongest chance of the quartet, with the talented four-year-old lining up for the first time since his unlucky sixth to Cap Ferrat in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) in March. The Irish import also had excuses when a fast-finishing third to Rubylot in the Classic Cup (1,800m) and was an impressive Class Two winner over a mile in February. 'He's been running very well for us. We've given him three trials in between runs and we targeted this race before the Derby,' Ng said. Tough win, Johannes Brahms! 💪 Former Aidan O'Brien galloper grabs a second win in Hong Kong, taking the Class 2 Heung Yee Kuk Cup at Sha Tin, for @Atzenijockey and Pierre Ng... 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 16, 2025 'With a light weight [115lbs] over a mile and Andrea [Atzeni] on, hopefully it works out for us. He's trialled well and he's fit and well.' Johannes Brahms has drawn barrier five in the field of 11, which is headlined by last-start Group One Champions Mile winner Red Lion. The John Size-trained Red Lion has to overcome the burden of top weight of 135lbs. Ka Ying Generation will race for the first time since bleeding from both nostrils in December's Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m). Matthew Poon Ming-fai will take the ride on Saturday. Johannes Brahms and Ka Ying Generation will progress to the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) on June 22. Ng won the Lion Rock Trophy-Premier Plate double with Galaxy Patch last year. Mugen will use the Sha Tin Vase as a warm-up to his Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) title defence and Ng was buoyed by the sprinter's trial win at Conghua last week. 'He trialled really well the other day with Karis [Teetan on board]. He was very happy with him and said the horse is back in form,' Ng said of Mugen, who has shown indifferent form since his failed trip to Japan for last September's Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m). 'But Karis won't be riding him. He's riding Victor The Winner and Andrea is riding Mugen. With the light weight [115lbs] over 1,200m, I think he'll get prize money and hopefully he runs well. I know it's a bit sharp for him, but he's fresh enough and then we'll target the race we won with him last year.' Angus Chung Yik-lai will ride Beauty Waves, who has mostly raced at the top level behind superstar Ka Ying Rising since winning October's Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m). 'He's been a bit disappointing his last few runs, but he's been running against top horses and now drops back into Group Three, which he's won at before,' Ng said. 'We tried to switch him off his last couple of races but it didn't really work, so this race we'll just let him roll and with the light weight [115lbs], hopefully he's tough enough to stay on.'
South China Morning Post
15-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Andrea Atzeni pumped to regain ride on Johannes Brahms for Hong Kong Derby
Andrea Atzeni is excited to reunite with Johannes Brahms in next week's BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) as he bids to land his biggest victory in Hong Kong. The Sardinian jockey booted home Pierre Ng Pang-chi's Johannes Brahms in a Class Two mile last month, but had to forego the ride on the import in the Classic Cup (1,800m) after committing to riding Noisy Boy. Johannes Brahms stamped his claims as a genuine Derby contender when he was held up at a crucial stage but still ran on powerfully for third behind Rubylot under Karis Teetan. 'Obviously I won on him before and it's nice to get back on him,' Atzeni said. Tough win, Johannes Brahms! 💪 Former Aidan O'Brien galloper grabs a second win in Hong Kong, taking the Class 2 Heung Yee Kuk Cup at Sha Tin, for @Atzenijockey and Pierre Ng... 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 16, 2025 'He could be the class horse in the race. It looks like it's very open at the moment and there's all these new horses coming in, but he's got the form in the book. 'I think the Classic Cup is the strongest form going into it and there wasn't much between the first three – Rubylot, My Wish and Johannes Brahms. They're all stepping up to 2,000m, which is a question mark for most of them, but it's a good ride to get.' A Naas winner and Group Two runner-up when trained by Aidan O'Brien, Johannes Brahms has notched two wins and three placings from his seven Hong Kong starts. Atzeni and Ng will chase Derby glory 12 months after almost pulling off an upset with Ka Ying Generation, who led until the final stages when a close third to Massive Sovereign. Atzeni has returned from a two-meeting suspension in top form, adding a double at Sha Tin on Saturday to a brace at Happy Valley on Wednesday. The 33-year-old booted home Manfred Man Ka-leung's Gold Master in the Class Four Association Of Hong Kong Racing Journalists Challenge Cup (1,800m) and John Size's Lifeline Express in the Class Three Angelonia Handicap (1,200m) on Saturday. 'Coming into today, I thought I had some nice rides, so leaving with two winners wasn't a surprise,' Atzeni said. 'I like Gold Master. He's a horse that's getting better with racing. I think stepping up to 1,800m really suited him and he's still a bit immature mentally and physically, so I think there's plenty more to come from him.' Gold Master clinched a double for Man after Super Strong Kid won the Class Four Chinese Hibiscus Handicap (1,000m) under Matthew Chadwick. Golf a gun on the rise Chris So Wai-yin's promising galloper Hong Lok Golf bounced back from his first defeat in style, leading all the way to beat the highly touted Sky Jewellery in Saturday's Class Three Cosmos Handicap (1,400m). After an unlucky second to Righteous Arion on his third start, Hong Lok Golf relished the rise from 1,200m and a positive ride from Harry Bentley to hold off the fast-finishing Sky Jewellery by a neck. 'He deserved to win,' So said after Hong Lok Golf notched his third victory at start four. Great battle! 💥 Two talents fight out the finish at Sha Tin and it's Hong Lok Golf who gets the better of Sky Jewellery... @HarryBentley_ #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 15, 2025 'Last time the 1,200m was just a bit short and he was unlucky. I think the step up to 1,400m was more suitable. 'I told Harry, 'when you look at the field, there's no speed there so don't get too far back and if you're in the first five, we'll be happy'. 'I think we'll maybe aim for Class Two. It seems like the second horse is also a good horse, so they should both be at least Class Two.' Warrior remains among world's best Hong Kong's three best active gallopers feature in the top six of the first edition of the 2025 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, with Romantic Warrior the headline act after his close second in the Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m). Romantic Warrior's brave defeat to Japanese dirt star Forever Young on his dirt debut earned him a rating of 127, putting him second in the rankings for races from January 1 to March 9. Watch the Top 5 horses in the first edition of the 2025 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings in action! — IFHA's Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (@worldsbesthorse) March 13, 2025 Forever Young, who rallied after being headed by Romantic Warrior to claim a stunning victory in the Saudi Cup, heads the rankings on a mark of 128. Ka Ying Rising, viewed by many as the world's best sprinter, shares third with American galloper White Abarrio on 124. The David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising continued his rise to superstardom with Group One wins in the Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) and Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) this year. Fresh from dominant Group One victories in the Stewards' Cup (1,600m) and Gold Cup (2,000m), Ricky Yi Poon-fai's stable star Voyage Bubble was sixth on a rating of 120. The next edition of the rankings will be published on April 10.
Washington Post
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
A supporting player gets a star turn as Chiarina celebrates the clarinet
Pardon my language, but Oscars schmoscars. On Sunday evening, a full house at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill was perfectly content to decline the viewing parties in favor of 'A Clarinet Celebration,' a fastidiously lovely three-piece affair thrown by the trusty programmers of the Chiarina Chamber Players. Often typecast into supporting roles, the clarinet took the spotlight for this program assembling Béla Bartók's 'Contrasts,' Johannes Brahms's 'Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114,' and a centerpiece world premiere (and Chiarina commission) from composer Reinaldo Moya.
South China Morning Post
25-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Karis Teetan picks up Classic Cup ride on Johannes Brahms as Pierre Ng eyes Happy Valley success
Jockey Karis Teetan and trainer Pierre Ng will combine in Sunday's Classic Cup with Johannes Brahms. Photos: Kenneth Chan Karis Teetan has picked up the ride on Johannes Brahms in Sunday's Classic Cup (1,800m) and trainer Pierre Ng Pang-chi hopes to start a big week with a last-gasp DBS x Manulife Million Challenge triumph at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Fresh from his Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) victory on Ka Ying Rising on Sunday, Teetan will team up with Johannes Brahms for the first time when Ng's import bids to repeat his impressive last-start win over 1,600m at Sha Tin. Andrea Atzeni guided the former Aidan O'Brien-trained gelding to victory on February 15, but Ng was forced to search for a new rider with the Sardinian jockey committed to riding Dennis Yip Chor-hong's Noisy Boy in the Classic Cup. 'Before the last run, it was hard to book a jockey for him but luckily we've got Karis on him. Hopefully we get a better draw and he can run well,' Ng said. Tough win, Johannes Brahms! 💪 Former Aidan O'Brien galloper grabs a second win in Hong Kong, taking the Class 2 Heung Yee Kuk Cup at Sha Tin, for @Atzenijockey and Pierre Ng... 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 16, 2025 Johannes Brahms bounced back from his well-beaten last of 14 when caught wide in the Classic Mile to beat Speed Dragon in the Class Two Heung Yee Kuk Cup. A Naas maiden winner and Group Two runner-up pre-import, the son of Siyouni also won on his third Hong Kong start in December when ridden by James McDonald. Before turning his attention to the second leg of the four-year-old series, Ng has high hopes for I Can and Aurora Lady figuring in the Million Challenge finale at the Valley. Soleil Fighter, the series leader on 50 points, can clinch the HK$1 million bonus for connections if he salutes in the Class Three Tsui Man Handicap (1,650m), but Ng's duo can strike if the David Hayes-trained gelding doesn't win. I Can is tied for second on 42 points with Gustosismo, who isn't racing on Wednesday night. Ng's three-time Valley winner will clash with Soleil Fighter in the Tsui Man Handicap. Running from September to February for Class Three horses and above, the Million Challenge is decided on a format of 15 points for a win, six for second, four for third and three for fourth. 'He's very consistent. He's always very close,' Ng said of I Can. 'He just needs the race run at a suitable pace and he'll run well.' It's the 'Zac Purton Show' at Happy Valley! 📺 The superstar jockey makes it SIX WINS on the card tonight as Aurora Lady denies a fast-closing Beauty Destiny with consecutive victories... 🔥 @zpurton | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 26, 2024 Atzeni will ride I Can and Aurora Lady (36 points), who will bid to improve on his fifth-place standing in the Million Challenge when he contests the Class Three Sing Woo Handicap (1,200m). Also a three-time Valley winner, Aurora Lady returns to the city circuit after having plenty of excuses when ninth to Green N White in the Class Two Chinese New Year Cup (1,400m) at the Lunar New Year meeting. 'It was just a race that didn't suit him and he pulled hard,' Ng said of Aurora Lady, who also pulled up with an epiglottic entrapment and lame in the left front leg the next day. 'He's back to normal now and we're running him at his best distance. He's won three times this season at this track and distance, so I think he will be performing.' The Valley meeting also features two Class One contests, with Ng's Group Three winner Taj Dragon set for the first of them, the Blue Pool Handicap (1,200m). 'He was a bit unlucky last start, he didn't get a clear run,' Ng said of Taj Dragon's fifth behind Lucky With You at Sha Tin. 'He still finished off well even though he was carrying top weight. He definitely has the class for Class One. He's up against some good Happy Valley horses, but hopefully he can go well.'
South China Morning Post
16-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Johannes Brahms back on track for HK Derby after barnstorming Class Two win
Pierre Ng's Irish import rebounds from Classic Mile disappointment to firm as top chance in final two legs of four-year-old series by Jay Rooney on Sunday, February 16, 2025 7:04 PM Johannes Brahms gets up on the inside of Speed Dragon to win at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Johannes Brahms bounced back from his Classic Mile flop to get his Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hopes back on track with victory in Sunday's Class Two Heung Yee Kuk Cup (1,600m) at Sha Tin. A disappointing last of 14 behind My Wish in the Classic Mile on January 31, the Irish import reestablished himself as a top contender for the final two legs of the four-year-old series – the Classic Cup (1,800m) on March 2 and BMW Hong Kong Derby on March 23. The Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained gelding justified strong support when brown-lamped from $19 to $8.15 late in betting on Sunday, storming home from back in the field to salute under Andrea Atzeni. A Naas winner on debut and Group Two and Listed runner-up for Aidan O'Brien pre-import, Johannes Brahms added Sunday's success to his Class Three triumph under James McDonald in December. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 16, 2025 'He did have an unlucky run last time – he got pushed wide by [Markwin] and didn't really get his chance to finish off,' Ng said of the Classic Mile defeat when ridden for the first time by Frenchman Mickael Barzalona. 'Andrea did mention to just ride him like a good horse, leave him alone and he'll have a very strong finish. This time we really wanted to test him, get him higher in rating and prove he's a capable Class Two horse.' Ridden patiently by Atzeni, Johannes Brahms was taken back to 11th from a wide draw in barrier 10 before launching his run down the outside in the straight. As the $4 favourite Mid Winter Wind charged to the lead at the 150m, Johannes Brahms kept coming to hit the front 50m out and hold off the fast-finishing Speed Dragon to prevail by a short head. Speed Dragon proved his last-start Happy Valley victory was no fluke as he returns to the form that had him in Classic Series contention 12 months ago. Sunlight Power, the $4.4 second favourite, stayed on well to be beaten three-quarters of a length in third. South African import Mid Winter Wind couldn't back up his phenomenal Hong Kong debut win when finishing fifth, leaving his chances of progressing to the Classic Cup and Derby up in the air. Atzeni was thrilled to deliver the goods on his second race ride on Johannes Brahms. 'He's obviously got very good European form and if you could ignore his last run when he had excuses in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, he was entitled to be one of the top horses in the race today,' Atzeni said. 'We didn't have a good draw today and we had to take him back and ride him to finish with a mind of running 1,800m or maybe further in the future. 'At the moment, there are a lot of horses with question marks at the distance. I think this horse, if you ride him quiet, there's a good chance he could get it. He's a good horse and it was no surprise today.' With Atzeni committed to riding Dennis Yip Chor-hong's Noisy Boy in the Classic Cup, Ng will again be searching for a new rider for Johannes Brahms. The 41-year-old handler isn't keen to chase overseas options again, but his hand could be forced with most jockeys in the Hong Kong ranks already committed to rides in the feature. Johannes Brahms handed Atzeni a running double after the Sardinian booted home Steps Ahead in the Class Three Marigold Handicap (1,800m).
