Latest news with #LoRider
South China Morning Post
21-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong Derby by the numbers: will we see a jockey win the coveted feature for the first time?
Four of the top five chances in overseas fixed-odds markets will be partnered by riders chasing their maiden success in the prestigious contest It's the feature everyone in Hong Kong racing wants to win and come Sunday afternoon, there's a very real chance a jockey will be experiencing BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) glory for the first time. While there are six jockeys riding in Sunday's Derby that already feature on the race's honour roll, four of the top five chances in overseas fixed-odds markets will be ridden by jockeys chasing a maiden success in the coveted contest. Part of the reason for this is the absence of the injured Zac Purton, but it speaks to the rise of Brenton Avdulla (Rubylot) and Luke Ferraris (My Wish) that they would have been aboard their mounts – the first and second favourites – whether or not the seven-time champion jockey was available. Whether the same can be said for Ben Thompson (Bundle Award) and Andrea Atzeni (Johannes Brahms) is debatable, but what isn't is the fact that pair are red-hot chances to experience Derby euphoria for the first time this weekend. Thompson is one of two jockeys riding in the Derby for the first time – the other, the recently arrived James Orman, will tackle Sha Tin's tricky 2,000m start under race conditions for the first time. At the other end of the scale, Joao Moreira (Packing Angel) and Hugh Bowman (Lo Rider) chase their third victories in the city's most prestigious race. If either is successful, they will draw level with Gerald Mosse and Douglas Whyte for wins but will still be one short of the most successful Derby rider in the professional era – four-time victor Tony Cruz. From a training perspective, Cruz (Californiatotality and Stunning Peach) and Caspar Fownes (Lo Rider) chase their third wins, while John Size (Bundle Award, Mickley and Beauty Alliance) hunts Derby win number four. Legendary Australian handler John Moore sits out in front with six successes. Lucky number nine? While wide gates can be far from ideal over the Sha Tin 2,000m with its short run to the first turn, the Derby has been one 10-furlong contest where double-figure draws have not been the end of the world. Since the Derby became a 2,000m race in the year 2000, three gallopers have won the race from the outside gate of 14, including Voyage Bubble in 2023, and Classic Mile winner My Wish will bid to become the fourth this weekend. 🏆BMW Hong Kong Derby 2023 2000m, 24.000.000 HKD, for 4yo 🇭🇰 Sha Tin Voyage Bubble (AUS) (4G Deep Field - Raheights, by Rahy) J :A. Badel T :P.-F. Yiu O :Sunshine and Moonlight Syndicate 🥈 Tuchel(Redwood) 🥉 Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner) — 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙍𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 (@WorldRacing1) March 19, 2023 Gates three and 10 have been the most prolific in the past 25 years, each producing four winners – a trend connections of Mickley and Markwin will hope continues on Sunday. Lo Rider (gate one) and Beauty Alliance (five) are the gallopers needing to create history to win – no horse has won the Derby from either of those alleys since 2000. Gate nine has also produced three winners since 2000 and it's a barrier that gives Thompson a good feeling. 'It's funny, on the way over I said to my wife Steph that I just want a number that feels lucky and my brother's born on the 9th, so hopefully that brings us some luck,' said Bundle Award's jockey. Can a Private Purchase stand up again? Once the domain of the Private Purchase (previously raced horse), the previously unraced galloper has very much come to the fore in the Derby in recent years. While 15 of this century's first 20 Derby winners began their careers elsewhere, the four winners from 2020 to 2023 – Golden Sixty, Sky Darci, Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble – were all unraced when they came to Hong Kong. Phenomenal win! 🤯 While we're reflecting on 2024, just how GOOD were Massive Sovereign and @zpurton in March's @BMW Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin... 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 31, 2024 Massive Sovereign ended that run last year, winning the Derby after beginning his career under the tutelage of Aidan O'Brien in Ireland. This year it is an even seven-seven split between horses who raced before coming to Hong Kong and those who didn't, although the top two in the market – Rubylot and My Wish – are Private Purchase Griffins (previously unraced horses).
South China Morning Post
17-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Caspar Fownes backs son of Epsom Derby winner to make an impact: ‘he'll eat it up'
Lo Rider (right) runs second at Sha Tin last month. Photos: Kenneth Chan Lo Rider may have the second-lowest rating in the field but Caspar Fownes is confident his son of Epsom and Irish Derby winner Harzand can make an impact in this weekend's BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m). While the 78-rated Lo Rider is one of nine Derby runners yet to be tested over 10 furlongs, Fownes believes the 2,000m of the city's most prestigious race will be ideal for his four-year-old. 'He'll eat it up, no worries. It's going to be a nice race. I think this year's Derby is quite open,' Fownes said. 'There's no superstar and you'd have to think 30-40 per cent of the field are going to be suspect at 2,000m. Ultimate prize! 🏆 14 horses will take their only chance at securing once-in-a-lifetime glory in the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby… 👀#4YOSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 14, 2025 'He certainly deserves his spot in there and I believe he'll make his presence felt if the conditions suit, he gets a nice draw and has a good run.' A winner over a mile and 1,800m in Ireland pre-import when known as Sharinay, Lo Rider has yet to salute in five Hong Kong starts. But there's always been a belief among Hong Kong racing circles that he's capable of a big performance and Fownes hopes it all clicks when it matters most. 'I'm sure he'll beat at least half the field home and anything he does above that would be very nice,' he said. 'He's had excuses. One day he blew the start and didn't get a run and another day he over-raced a bit and still ran enormous. He's a nice horse whose future is all ahead of him.' A two-and-a-half-length fourth behind Bundle Award under Karis Teetan last start, Lo Rider will be ridden by Hugh Bowman this weekend. Bowman has twice ridden Lo Rider, managing only a fifth and a seventh earlier this year. Lo Rider shapes as Fownes' only Derby runner in 2025, with Sky Heart second reserve and Sky Trust fourth emergency despite having a higher rating than Beauty Alliance and Lo Rider. 'It's fair enough that he's on the reserve list. I agree with that,' Fownes said of Sky Trust, who could only manage 12th in the Classic Cup (1,800m). 'He's obviously better at 1,400m to a mile, in my opinion, but you give them their chance and hope that they're good enough to give the owners a chance to have a runner in the race.' Before chasing a third Derby win to go alongside those of Super Satin (2010) and Sky Darci (2021), Fownes will head to Happy Valley on Wednesday night hopeful of tasting success. The 57-year-old, who sits seventh in the premiership with 30 winners, saddles up Verbier, Perfect General, Super Contented, Super Sixty, M Unicorn and Sugar Sugar. 'I've got a couple of nice runners and Perfect General gets his chance from a nice gate, so fingers crossed,' said Fownes. Perfect General jumps from barrier four under Brenton Avdulla in the Class Four Craigengower Cricket Club Challenge Cup (1,200m).
South China Morning Post
14-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Lo Rider and Beauty Alliance sneak into Hong Kong Derby field as Mondial misses out
Swashbuckling Happy Valley winner Beauty Alliance and the improving Lo Rider have made the field for Sunday week's BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) at Sha Tin, earning selection ahead of higher-rated pair Mondial and Sky Trust. While Mondial sits on a mark of 80 and Sky Trust 79, the pair finished 11th and 12th, respectively, in the recent Classic Cup (1,800m) and officials opted to give the nod to those in better form. Beauty Alliance improved his rating to 77 thanks to his three-and-a-half-length midweek romp over 1,800m, while Lo Rider sits on a mark of 78 after performing well without winning in recent starts, including a fourth behind Bundle Award last week. Classic Mile 11th placegetter Markwin will re-enter the Classic Series after a last-start second behind Bundle Award improved his rating to 81. Beauty Alliance smashes them! 🤯 Big win from John Size's charge in the finale at Happy Valley to give his trainer and @AlexisBadel a double each on tonight's programme... @Beautystablehk #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 12, 2025 The field, which was announced by Jockey Club officials at Happy Valley on Friday morning, is headlined by Classic Cup winner Rubylot, Classic Mile hero My Wish and Johannes Brahms. 'At the end of the day, I think if Mondial made his way into the race, he would have improved on his Classic Cup run and run well, but he needed to show us a little bit more in his first-up run,' said Greg Carpenter, the Jockey Club's head of racing product. 'The case for Beauty Alliance was compelling after Wednesday night. He ran really well and beat a very good field with a lot of last-start winners in it, so there was depth and quality. 'Lo Rider lost his position before the turn and ran really well last start, almost snatching third. The other supporting argument behind Lo Rider was that he was narrowly beaten by Steps Ahead at his previous run and Steps Ahead came out and ran really well in the Classic Cup.' Also in the field are Stunning Peach, Bundle Award, Packing Angel, Mickley, Noisy Boy, Cap Ferrat, Steps Ahead and Californiatotality. Mondial, Sky Heart, Pray For Mir and Sky Trust are the four reserves, with the latter stepping out in this Saturday's Class Three Cosmos Handicap (1,400m). 'I would like to congratulate all the owners of the 14 horses selected to run in the BMW Hong Kong Derby next Sunday, which we celebrate as the Hong Kong race which offers once-in-a-lifetime glory,' said Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. 'BMW Hong Kong Derby Day is one of the great sporting events and attractions in the city for our Hong Kong racing fans and our racing fans from around the world, with the race being broadcast in 26 countries. 'The Derby has a rich history stretching back more than 150 years to 1873. To have a runner in the Derby field is an ambition for every horse owner, trainer and jockey in Hong Kong and is already a great achievement. To win the BMW Hong Kong Derby is the ultimate.'
