Latest news with #JuneauPride
South China Morning Post
10-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Light Years Charm a class apart as Zac Purton smashes in another Sha Tin treble
Light Years Charm ran out a very impressive winner of the Class Three Lung Mun Handicap (1,400m) and rounded off another Sha Tin treble for champion jockey Zac Purton on Saturday. It was a second career win for David Eustace's promising galloper, who gave his $1.5 backers some heart-in-mouth moments on the way to an ultimately cosy head success. Purton settled the Rubick gelding in the rear of midfield and as they straightened up off the turn, he was cruising and desperately looking for racing room as the taps were turned on. As is customary, Purton took the daring route up the rails and spied a gap between the weakening Meowth and New Forest, surging to the front in a matter of strides to fend off the fast-finishing Juneau Pride. Check out this ride! 🙌 Timed to perfection, Rubick gelding Light Years Charm scores a sweet win with @zpurton for @EustaceRacing at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 10, 2025 It was a masterful bit of race riding when it mattered, though Purton did admit that luck played a small part in the finish. 'He doesn't make it easy for himself at the start. It didn't help that prior to the start, he was able to pop the gate open and reverse himself back out so he was thinking he was going to do the same thing again,' Purton said. 'So he was right on the back of the gates and flopped out. They didn't go fast which was a concern and I was in a bad spot, so I had no option but to ride for luck – and luckily the runs came. 'He won well and there's more to come because he cooks himself before the start. Next season, hopefully he's better.' Class 3 bound! The rising Flash Current is an impressive winner with champion jockey @zpurton for Jimmy Ting at Sha Tin... ⚡️#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 10, 2025 That might not be it for the lightly raced four-year-old this season, however, with Eustace aiming to get another run in before the campaign is out. 'He misses the start, which doesn't help, but he's got a huge engine and got an absolutely fantastic ride from Zac. It was a 10-out-of-10 effort from him,' said Eustace. 'There's a Class Two in four weeks which fits in very well so we'll go there – that might be his last run of the season but we'll have to see. It's going to be a step up in grade – is he good enough? We'll have to see.' Light Years Charm was the final leg of Purton's treble, with the Australian getting off the mark when Flash Current trotted to victory in the Class Four Tuen Mun Public Riding School Handicap (1,400m). Serious talent! 🤯 All Too Hard youngster Patch Of Stars cruises home for consecutive wins as @zpurton makes it an early double at Sha Tin... ✌️#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 10, 2025 After travelling sweetly in midfield, the pair came into the straight tanking and when Purton let his mount down, they surged to the front to beat Riding Together. Easy wins was the theme for Purton's Saturday, with his success on Patch Of Stars in the Class Four Lei Yue Mun Public School Handicap (1,400m) one of his easiest of the entire season. Settled in the box seat behind the leader, Purton switched out at the top of the straight and Patch Of Stars' response was immediate when ridden, flashing clear in a matter of strides in the style of a horse with much more to offer. 'He's only three, still learning and does a little bit wrong,' Purton said. 'He wants to grab the bit and get a bit aggressive in the run and in the straight, he was hanging in quite bad. 'I think there's a little bit more there and next season when he's a bit more mature, he'll start to show his best.'
South China Morning Post
15-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Unbeaten Crossborderpegasus highlights John Size's treble as he extends championship lead
Untapped three-year-old headlines master trainer's three-timer at Sha Tin on Saturday, adding to his premiership advantage over David Hayes A pair of progressive three-year-olds and a perennial placegetter helped deliver John Size a treble as the master trainer extended his championship lead again at Sha Tin on Saturday. Continuing his onslaught after bouncing back from a slow start to the season, Size moved to 42 wins – four clear of nearest rival David Hayes – after Crossborderpegasus, Lifeline Express and Juneau Pride saluted. Crossborderpegasus became the first leg of Size's three-timer when he maintained his unbeaten record at start two in the Class Four Azalea Handicap (1,200m) under Hugh Bowman. Sent off the $1.3 favourite after an impressive debut win last month, the Rich Enuff three-year-old again showed his inexperience when laying in over the concluding stages but he still proved half a length too slick for Lucky Symphony. Crossborderpegasus remains unbeaten! 👌@HugeBowman guides John Size's Rich Enuff speedster to a second straight win at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 15, 2025 'He's going well. He's certainly got a bit of ability and it's just a matter of developing that,' said 12-time champion trainer Size. 'If he can improve on that, it will be promising for his future.' Lifeline Express snapped a streak of six placings – including four seconds – since his last victory when he broke through in the Class Three Angelonia Handicap (1,200m). Ridden by Andrea Atzeni, the Shooting To Win gelding stormed home from the second half of the field to comfortably beat Geneva by a length and three-quarters, justifying $3 favouritism. Three-year-old Juneau Pride capped Size's treble when he made it back-to-back triumphs in the Class Three Cosmos Handicap (1,400m). 'I don't know how far he'll go but everything he does is workmanlike and he's been a very honest horse, right from the first day,' Size said. Despite rising eight pounds on his last-start win, Juneau Pride took advantage of a soft run in midfield from gate two and ran on solidly between runners in the straight. The Pride Of Dubai gelding accounted for Eighty Light Years by three-quarters of a length as the $1.75 first elect. John Size extends his championship lead! 🔥 The Australian Racing Hall of Famer scoops a treble as Juneau Pride impresses once again... @brentonavdulla #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 15, 2025 He boasts a strong record of three wins and four placings from seven starts and capped a Saturday double for in-form jockey Brenton Avdulla. The Australian rider was also successful aboard Pierre Ng Pang-chi's Soaring Bronco in the Class Five Dahlia Handicap (1,600m). Elsewhere on Saturday's card, Hayes bagged his 38th victory of the season when World Hero made all in the Class Five Snapdragon Handicap (1,200m) under Luke Ferraris. 'He's only three, so I'd expect him to have his better seasons next year and the year after,' Hayes said after World Hero scored his maiden win at start 10. 'It just seems like he's been here a long time as he came here as a two-year-old. Physically he'll get better as he matures. I've always thought he's a 1,400m [horse] and a miler.'
South China Morning Post
27-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
The Hong Kong Racing Postscript: who's hot, who's not and the best of February
Brenton Avdulla had a month to remember in February with nine winners. Photos: Kenneth Chan Brenton Avdulla had a month to remember, while Michael Chang and several jockeys came up empty-handed With four jockeys including champion Zac Purton sidelined for varying periods after two separate falls on February 5, the landscape of Hong Kong racing changed dramatically for the rest of the month. While several overseas riders were called on to fill the void, one of the permanent jockeys on the roster shone in Purton's absence and others had more success than previous months. The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a month to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride. Who's hot? Known as 'The Gun', Brenton Avdulla fired on all cylinders in February. The Australian capitalised on several pickup rides from Purton to boot home nine winners from 54 rides at an impressive strike rate of 16.66 per cent. He is on the verge of soaring into the top four in the premiership. John Size caps a treble! 🔥 The Master trainer wins his third race this afternoon as Juneau Pride is all out for victory with @brentonavdulla at Sha Tin...#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025 Andrea Atzeni, Karis Teetan and Alexis Badel each rode six winners – a particularly important return for Badel, who had just nine to his name through the first five months of the season. From a training perspective, there was an even spread of winners across the ranks in February. John Size wasn't having a great month until his four-timer at Sha Tin last Sunday boosted his February haul to six winners. Continuing his stunning resurgence after a slow start to the season, the master handler hit the lead in the championship after his four-timer. David Hayes also had six victories and snatched the title lead back from Size at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, while Tony Cruz joined the Australian duo with six winners for the month. Who's not? While the absence of the injured jockeys created more opportunities for some, others continued to battle. Jerry Chau Chun-lok, Ellis Wong Chi-wang and Antoine Hamelin were among a group of riders to come up empty-handed for the month and they carry lengthy winning droughts into March. Michael Chang Chun-wai failed to visit the winners' enclosure from his 28 runners, while Danny Shum Chap-shing was about to join him with a winless month until Moments In Time ended his drought of 39 runners with victory at the Valley on Wednesday night. Win of month Voyage Bubble overcame plenty of challenges to record what was arguably the best victory of his career in last Sunday's Group One Gold Cup (2,000m). CLASS PREVAILS! 🙌 Aiming to become the second horse to win Hong Kong's #TripleCrown after River Verdon in 1993/94, Voyage Bubble captures the second leg - @Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup - with @mcacajamez at Sha Tin... 🏆@WorldPool | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025 Shuffled back to second last and stumbling when striking the heels of a rival near the 850m, Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's stable star looked in a world of trouble. Things only got worse when he was held up from the top of the straight until the 300m, but once James McDonald got him into the clear he exploded with a brilliant turn of foot to put the result beyond doubt in the blink of an eye. It was a special performance. Ride of month Keagan de Melo has been starved of opportunity this season, but the South African conjured something from virtually nothing with a terrific ride on Carryon Smiling at Sha Tin last Sunday. Taken back to near last from gate 11 in the early stages, Carryon Smiling settled on the inside rail and De Melo saved valuable ground before coming off the fence in the straight. Carryon Smiling kicked off a superb day of racing action at Sha Tin with a shock 83/1 victory in the opener under @kdemelo01! 👏#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025 De Melo angled the Chris So Wai-yin-trained gelding into the clear between rivals near the 250m and he responded with a strong finish, saluting at the huge odds of $84.70 – the second-roughest winner of the term so far. De Melo's ride on his other winner for the month, Charming Steed, was also a top effort. He sent the Caspar Fownes-trained gelding forward from gate 13 to lob in a perfect spot three back and one off the fence en route to a dominant win on the dirt.
South China Morning Post
23-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
John Size takes lead in trainers' premiership with Sha Tin four-timer
John Size has surged to the top of the trainers' premiership with his first four-timer of 2025 at Sha Tin on Sunday. While he was forced to settle for placings in both of the afternoon's Group Ones, Size enjoyed victories with Sky Jewellery, Crossborderpegasus, Juneau Pride and Brilliant Express. The haul moved Size to 32 winners for the season and above David Hayes in the title race by virtue of having more seconds than his fellow Australian. It was Hugh Bowman in the saddle for the wins of Sky Jewellery and debut winner Crossborderpegasus, with the jockey atoning for his luckless last-start defeat on Sky Jewellery to celebrate his 200th Hong Kong win aboard the promising youngster. Super win, Sky Jewellery! 🚀 John Size's young gun secures a second victory to see @HugeBowman reach 200 career wins in Hong Kong... 🍾#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025 The Australian ace made amends after Sky Jewellery was fourth as the $1.5 favourite at Happy Valley, when he was badly held up for clear running from the 250m to 100m. Biding his time near the tail of the field, Sky Jewellery stormed home in the straight to run down South Star by a neck in the Class Four Citigold Private Client Handicap (1,400m). 'He was obviously unlucky last start and he's shown a lot of potential,' Bowman said of the three-year-old, who is already being touted as a 2026 Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) prospect. 'Up in distance today was fine but he had to overcome [barrier 13] and he did it in style.' Bowman didn't have to wait long for his 201st victory in the city, with three-year-old Crossborderpegasus prevailing in the very next race, the Class Four Citigold Handicap (1,200m). 'He did enough to get home and that's the main thing. It was good,' Size said after Crossborderpegasus backed up his impressive trial form to beat fellow debutant Ahren by three-quarters of a length. After Brenton Avdulla booted Juneau Pride home in the Class Three Citi Wealth Advisory Services Handicap (1,400m), Alexis Badel delivered the goods aboard Brilliant Express in the Class Three Citi Insurance Services Handicap (1,400m). 'He's starting to work it out and there seemed to be no competition for the front today, so it looked like they gifted it to him,' Size said after Brilliant Express led throughout to notch his second consecutive success. John Size caps a treble! 🔥 The Master trainer wins his third race this afternoon as Juneau Pride is all out for victory with @brentonavdulla at Sha Tin...#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025 'Still, he did it and he's run some time, so we'll go forward confidently.' Size confirmed Howdeepisyourlove will head to Dubai for the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) down the Meydan straight on April 5. 'They ran well,' Size said after stablemates Helios Express, Howdeepisyourlove, Beauty Eternal and Red Lion filled the four spots behind Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m). 'Those four horses seem to turn up all the time, but as is the case, we have dominant horses here in Hong Kong and they're expected to win and mostly they do. 'I think Howdeepisyourlove can go to Dubai. He looks OK for that.' Avdulla and Badel joined Bowman with doubles on the day, with Avdulla also snaring the Class Four Citi Ultima Handicap (1,600m) aboard Mister Dapper and Badel taking out the Class Three Citi Investment Services Handicap (1,200m) atop Triumphant More. Shinn works his Magic A patient ride by Australian jockey Blake Shinn helped Magic Control score his third victory down the Sha Tin straight in the Class Two Citi Private Bank Handicap (1,000m). Known for racing on the speed in his Hong Kong career so far, the Cody Mo Wai-kit-trained gelding settled second last under Shinn and launched a strong run down the centre of the track to easily account for James Tak by a length and a half. Smart sprinter, Magic Control! 🔥@blake_shinn's on the board early at Sha Tin as Cody Mo's speedster roars to a third win in Hong Kong ahead of a quality Class 2 field... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025 'That wasn't the plan to sit back but the speed was fast and he wanted to settle and with the weight [135 pounds], he needed all the favours and we had a good run and he displayed a great turn of foot,' Shinn said. A Group Three winner when known as Archo Nacho in Australia pre-import, Magic Control added to his strong 1,000m record at Sha Tin which also includes seconds in the Group Three National Day Cup and Group Three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy. Mo said the four-year-old would step back up to 1,200m in a Class One sprint on March 9, while the Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) on March 30 is another possible target. Blowout victory leaves So smiling Punters were reeling early at Sha Tin on Sunday as Carryon Smiling left his trainer Chris So Wai-yin grinning from ear to ear with a knockout victory at $84.7 in the second section of the Class Four Citi Wealth Handicap (1,400m). The second-roughest winner of the season, Carryon Smiling broke his maiden at start six after an uninspiring start to his career. Carryon Smiling kicked off a superb day of racing action at Sha Tin with a shock 83/1 victory in the opener under @kdemelo01! 👏#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025 'Well that was a big improvement,' said So after Carryon Smiling sliced through traffic from near the back of the field under Keagan de Melo. 'But for me, I thought he should run better. Two runs ago when he was sixth he was only beaten about three lengths and in his last trial you could see he was improving. 'Honestly, I think the horse needs further and he needs some equipment to help because Keagan said he is still very green.' It wasn't all doom and gloom for punters, with the following eight favourites winning on the 10-race card.
