13 hours ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Britney Wong doubles up again at Sha Tin as Cheval Valiant leads them a merry dance
Britney Wong Po-ni landed consecutive Sha Tin doubles headlined by Cheval Valiant's all-the-way win in the Class Four Lai On Handicap (1,000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The 26-year-old smashed out of the gates on the Charm Spirit galloper and never looked back, crossing over to the stands rail from gate nine and setting comfortable fractions on the front end.
When the pair were faced by a myriad of challengers in the final 200m, Wong galvanised her willing partner and gamely fended off $57 roughie Straight To Glory and $6.8 second favourite Lahore by a neck.
It was the second straight double for Wong and the fourth consecutive winning meeting for the 10lb apprentice, who was teaming up with the horse that provided her with her first Hong Kong win back in September.
Britney Wong grabs a double! ✌️
Cheval Valiant was the apprentice's first winner in Hong Kong last year and today she's back aboard @DJWhyteTrainer's galloper successfully at Sha Tin... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 8, 2025
'He was my first win and I know him very well,' said Wong of the Douglas Whyte-trained Cheval Valiant.
'Thank you to Mr Whyte for putting me back on because I had to chase this ride, actually, and I'm happy that everything has gone well today and I have had another win. I'm very happy.'
There was a huge sting in the tail post race, however, with Wong copping a three-day ban and HK$15,000 fine for careless riding in the early stages.
Earlier, Wong got the card off to the perfect start in combination with Manfred Man Ka-leung for the second consecutive Sha Tin meeting when Ruby Sailing was another gate-to-wire winner in the Class Five Chak On Handicap (1,200m).
Ruby Sailing is not for catching! 🔥
Apprentice Britney Wong drives the Starspangledbanner gelding to a first win for Manfred Man at Sha Tin... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 8, 2025
It was a maiden victory at the 20th attempt for the son of Starspangledbanner, who showed tremendous early speed to lead from gate eight and never looked in danger of being caught.
Wong got serious at the 400m pole and the pair surged into an unassailable lead, winning by one and a quarter lengths from fast-finishing $2.4 favourite King Oberon.
Elsewhere, French ace Antoine Hamelin notched another timely winner thanks to Sky Prophet's upset win at $19.2 in the Class Five Chung On Handicap (1,400m).
The Casper Fownes-trained four-year-old was made to work hard to get to the lead from barrier 13, but once there Hamelin controlled the fractions to a tee.
Sky Prophet won't quit! 💥
Tough first win for the Caspar Fownes trainee at Sha Tin with @AntoineHamelin as he narrowly denies a rampaging Only U in a thriller... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 8, 2025
The pair looked vulnerable to Lapras turning in, but after fending off that rival in a protracted duel, they had just enough to scramble home ahead of the desperately unlucky $1.8 favourite Only U, who lashed home and only missed by a head after a torrid passage.
'It's nice to get a winner today – it's hot, but it's less hot when you win,' said Hamelin.
'I think the horse was in good form and didn't deserve to be so long in the odds. I believed in him [and] I thought he was a chance, the only concern was the draw.
'But he had a good start, he led, he controlled the race and he held that to the line.'
Hamelin will depart Hong Kong and return to France at the end of this season, but he will be giving his all until the end of the season.
'I will just do my best to the end. It's hard to plan a target a month before I leave but I will just do my best and try to get as many winners as I can before I leave,' said the jockey.
