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South China Morning Post
31-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
The Hong Kong Racing Postscript: who's hot, who's not and the best of March
Jockey Andrea Atzeni celebrates his win on Lifeline Express with trainer John Size and connections. Photos: Kenneth Chan Another Hong Kong Derby was run and won, several jockeys continued to capitalise on Zac Purton's absence and a master trainer's surge at the top of the championship continued in what was a busy March. 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? Andrea Atzeni was the big riser in the jockeys' championship in March, booting home 10 winners from 51 rides at a superb strike rate of 19.6 per cent to charge into third in the standings. The Italian rider missed two meetings early in the month through suspension but returned with doubles at three consecutive meetings, before adding another brace on the dirt last week on his 34th birthday. Birthday double! ✌️ Celebrating his 34th birthday, @Atzenijockey moves to 35 wins this term with a brace tonight at Sha Tin as John Size's Must Go claims a fourth dirt course victory... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 26, 2025 Hugh Bowman maintained his healthy break from the pack in second place in the championship, adding nine winners from 64 rides at a 14 per cent strike rate. From a trainer's perspective, John Size reigned supreme once again with an incredible 13 winners from 74 starters at a strike rate of 17.5 per cent. The 12-time champion Hong Kong handler started March one win behind title leader David Hayes, but now leads his fellow Australian by six. Ricky Yiu Poon-fai was next best with seven wins, including Sunday's Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) with Straight Arron, to leap from fifth to third in the championship standings. Owner Karen Lo Ki-yan also deserves a mention here – on back-to-back Sundays to end March, she won the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) with Cap Ferrat and the Chairman's Trophy with Straight Arron. Who's not March was no kinder than the previous month to Jerry Chau Chun-lok, who is carrying a winless streak of 71 rides after failing to hit the board again. The young jockey had to settle for second six times in March, suggesting a drought-breaking success is not far away. Karis Teetan ended his own big drought of 50 winless rides when he broke through on Ace Power at the Valley, but that was his only success of the month. The Mauritian can count himself unlucky to not have notched more wins after racking up an astonishing 23 placings for the month. In contrast to Size and Yiu's successful months, veteran handler Tony Cruz battled with just one victory – California Star on the dirt last week. Cruz had plenty of placings, including seven seconds, so he wasn't far off a better return. Michael Chang Chi-wang also managed just one win in March. Win of the month The first race of March produced arguably the best debut winner of the season so far, with Justifying backing up his sizzling trial form to romp home down the straight. After jumping quickly from barrier four to cross to the outside rail in front, the Caspar Fownes-trained gelding surged clear once Luke Ferraris asked him for an effort en route to a brilliant victory by three and three-quarter lengths. Smashed 'em! 🔥 Justify gelding Justifying wins comfortably on debut at Sha Tin with @LukeFerraris and Caspar Fownes... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 2, 2025 The son of Justify's win was just as impressive on the clock, running more than a second inside standard time when clocking 55.67 seconds over the 1,000m. It has also proven to be a handy form race, with runner-up Super Strong Kid and third-placed Jumbo Treasure notching strong triumphs at their subsequent starts. Ride of the month Angus Chung Yik-lai deserves a lot of credit for California Star's miraculous triumph last week. The reigning Tony Cruz Award winner took the $20 shot back to last and he was unbalanced when the maiden galloper laid into the inside rail near the 750m. That's incredible, California Star! 😳 Tony Cruz's galloper makes an almighty run from last position on the fence with @angusylchung to grab a first win at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 26, 2025 Chung saved ground along the rail early in the straight before coming off the inside to make his way through the field. He then had to switch back towards the inside to spear California Star through a tight gap between two rivals passing the 100m, finding room to launch a late run to score by half a length. Bowman's winning mid-race move on M Unicorn at the Valley and James McDonald's pearler aboard Fast Network at the start of the month were also outstanding rides.
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.'
