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South China Morning Post
24-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
David Hayes may make Champions Mile a family affair with beaten Hong Kong Derby favourite Rubylot
David Hayes may set beaten BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) favourite Rubylot for a showdown with Mr Brightside, who is trained by his sons Ben, Will and JD, in next month's Group One Champions Mile at Sha Tin. Sent off a warm $2.9 favourite for Sunday's feature, Rubylot travelled one off the rail just forward of midfield before hitting the line solidly enough for fifth under Brenton Avdulla, a length and three-quarters behind the victorious Cap Ferrat. 'It was an OK run,' said Hayes. 'He had Noisy Boy lay on him the whole way. He bumped into him several times and he just didn't get into his normal, relaxed rhythm. 'Avdulla surprised me by saying that he thought if he didn't get that he would have gone very close.' HISTORY AT SHA TIN! 👏👏@CWilliamsJockey wins the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby aboard Cap Ferrat for trainer Francis Lui over a fast-closing My Wish... #4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025 Rubylot holds entries for the Champions Mile and the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) on April 27's Champions Day, with Hayes mulling his options for his Classic Cup (1,800m) victor. Nine-time Group One winner Mr Brightside, who is expected to fly to Hong Kong on April 14, and leading local miler Voyage Bubble will await Rubylot should Hayes opt to run him at 1,600m. 'I think we'll head towards Champions Day. I'll just see how he is in the next week. I'll study what the races are going to come up like – whether I go the mile or the 2,000m is up in the air,' said Hayes, who is itching to see Mr Brightside finally make it to Hong Kong after a couple of false starts. 'Mr Brightside is booked and it'll be great to have him up here. It looks a nice race for him.' Hayes looks to have a mortgage on the third Champions Day feature, the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m), with gun sprinter Ka Ying Rising. Perfect tune-up for Ka Ying Rising! 😏 The world's best sprinter is first across the line this morning at Sha Tin in his trial ahead of the likes of Sword Point, Helios Express and co. 🔥@zpurton | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 21, 2025 Widely considered the best sprinter in the world, Ka Ying Rising tuned up for this Sunday's Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) with a trial victory last Friday. 'His trial was really good – he went around untested,' Hayes said of his three-time Group One winner. 'He will do some work Wednesday and all is looking good.' Zac Purton was aboard Ka Ying Rising for last week's trial and will return from injury to partner the four-year-old in this weekend's Sprint Cup, before turning his attention to feature success in Australia after picking up the ride aboard the Chris Waller-trained Moira for the Group One Doncaster Mile at Randwick in Sydney on April 5. While Purton will miss Wednesday night's all-dirt fixture at Sha Tin, Hayes will saddle up seven runners and he likes the chances of Solid Shalaa, who races for the first time since April last year in the Class Four Kestrel Handicap (1,200m). 'I think Solid Shalaa should go pretty close first up. He looks ready to win,' said Hayes. 'He's been off the scene a long time but he seems to have come back very well. 'He hurt his leg coming back from a tendon tear, but he's trialled very well.'
South China Morning Post
23-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Craig Williams hails exciting Hong Kong Derby win on Cap Ferrat ‘a great thrill'
He's won some of the biggest races around the world but since getting his first taste of the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) 24 years ago, Craig Williams has desperately wanted to win the city's most coveted feature. On his 11th attempt, the star Australian jockey achieved that feat in a thrilling finish, lifting $26.7 chance Cap Ferrat to a remarkable maiden victory at Sha Tin on Sunday. 'It's great riding all around the world. Hong Kong is a place where I was very fortunate to get a contract and it made me the rider and the person I am today,' Williams said. 'It's lovely that I can come here with really nice horses [and] good friends that I have known for so many years in the crowd. HISTORY AT SHA TIN! 👏👏@CWilliamsJockey wins the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby aboard Cap Ferrat for trainer Francis Lui over a fast-closing My Wish... #4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025 'The winning feeling doesn't get any sweeter, to win one of the greatest races here in Hong Kong. [Trainer] Francis Lui [Kin-wai] was a very big supporter of mine going way back 20 years ago, it's very special.' Williams maintained the faith in Cap Ferrat and Lui despite the son of Snitzel falling short of expectations in the lead up to the Derby. The prolific Group One-winning jockey answered the call-up from Lui to ride Cap Ferrat in the Classic Cup (1,800m), but a wide draw in barrier 10 forced him to work hard in the early stages and took a toll late when he ran ninth behind Rubylot. 'Francis rang me, he was at the Sydney yearling sales and I was on the Gold Coast and he said 'would you like to come ride Cap Ferrat?',' Williams said. 'I rode him when he was in Australia and I liked the horse. He had good 10-furlong form, he had two runs in Hong Kong – one was really good and one not so good – and I said 'I'd love to come over and ride him for you'. 'I rode him a few weeks ago and said 'if you get him right Francis, we know he's got the right form and the capability', but it was up to Francis and his stable. 'When he walked into the yard, the way he performed and he won, that's why Francis is such a great trainer. Full credit's got to go to Francis Lui, his team and obviously the horse. It gives me a great thrill.' Williams had Cap Ferrat perfectly placed from gate two, trailing pacesetter Lo Rider before taking a run on the inside rail to hit the front at the 150m. He scrambled in by a short head from My Wish, capping a double for Williams after he booted home John Size's Endeared in the Class Three Ambitious Dragon Handicap (1,400m). This season marked Williams' return to Hong Kong to ride for the first time since 2019. The now 47-year-old rode in the city full-time in 2003-04 and 2004-05, booting home 32 and 35 wins respectively. His biggest Hong Kong victory was on Dunaden in the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) in 2011.
South China Morning Post
22-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate ready to take the ‘lot' in Hong Kong Derby
Believed to be the first syndicate ever registered with the Jockey Club, the Hong Kong Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate has its sights on the pinnacle of ownership in the city in this Sunday's BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m). Fresh off victory in the Classic Cup (1,800m), the syndicate's finest-ever find, Rubylot, enters the Derby as favourite for trainer David Hayes and jockey Brenton Avdulla. 'We've been racing horses now for 40 years and this is by far the best we've ever had. I've been in the syndicate for 30 years myself and we've some good horses over the years, but this one is a bit special,' said Philip Nunn, the syndicate's treasurer and manager. 'We've had some good horses but a lot of it is luck. We're not big spenders but David Hayes has been very good for us. He sources our horses for us and he's reliable. Rubylot mows them down in the Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin! My Wish is brave in defeat as @brentonavdulla and David Hayes combine for victory... 🏆#4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 2, 2025 'I think that's the important thing – you have to have someone you can trust to get the right horses for you. We're really thankful to David for choosing Rubylot for us.' Currently featuring 12 members, the syndicate has had a string of horses over the years, most with 'lot' in their names. 'Anyone can join but we're generally Football Club members and Jockey Club members,' said Nunn. 'I think I'm right in saying we were the very first syndicate to be registered by the Jockey Club. 'We just have lots of fun. It's a good social group. We never expected to have a horse quite so good as Rubylot. 'In the old days you used to draw out a horse. You didn't buy your own horse, you entered into a ballot and then you drew out a number and you got that horse. 'The very first horse we ever had was called My Lot and he won several races. He was a really good horse, so we thought 'lot' was a good name for all our horses. 'We always try to link the 'lot' with the name of the sire or the dam. That's been our tradition over the years.' With six wins from 18 starts, including three victories this season, the group's dashing son of Rubick enters the Derby as the only galloper with a triple-figure rating on a mark of 100. A victory from Rubylot would mark a second Derby success for Hayes, who prevailed in 2003 with Elegant Fashion, and a first for Avdulla. 'He begins, switches off and he's got a change-up speed, so he's got three brilliant things going for him,' Avdulla said of Rubylot. 'It will be interesting to see how he handles the 2,000m. I think he will. 'He's a lovely moving horse and the way he finished in the Classic Cup should hold him in good stead for the 2,000m.' As Avdulla carefully positions Rubylot out of gate four from the tricky Sha Tin 2,000m start, those in the Hong Kong Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate will be watching intently from the box of Jockey Club steward Nicholas Hunsworth. 'He's one of the syndicate's main players so we'll be in his box, fortunately,' said Nunn, who did his bit for the cause by revealing barrier four at Thursday's draw – a gate Hayes described as perfect.
South China Morning Post
21-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Zac Purton ramps up injury return with trial win aboard Ka Ying Rising
City's top jockey is on track to ride at the Sha Tin meeting on March 30 Zac Purton ramped up his return from injury with a trial victory aboard Ka Ying Rising at Sha Tin on Friday morning. Sidelined since February 9 after fracturing his left big toe in a race fall, Purton is on track to partner the superstar sprinter in the Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) at Sha Tin on March 30. 'I wouldn't say I'm fully recovered, but I'm a long way down the track,' said Purton, who returned to riding trackwork on Thursday morning. 'I feel pretty good. I'm at the track riding work and riding trials because I feel like we can go again. 'I'm gearing up for a return next week unless I pick up a ride in the Derby.' Perfect tune-up for Ka Ying Rising! 😏 The world's best sprinter is first across the line this morning at Sha Tin in his trial ahead of the likes of Sword Point, Helios Express and co. 🔥@zpurton | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 21, 2025 Ka Ying Rising travelled sweetly in the 1,200m dirt trial, sitting outside leader Sword Point before coasting past him late. '[Ka Ying Rising] just did what we expect from him this morning – he just keeps improving all the time,' Purton said of the three-time Group One winner. 'He seems to do it easier all the time. His mental attitude towards it, he seems to be handling it better all the time. He enjoyed himself. I'm looking forward to the races ahead.' While Purton is all but certain to miss this Sunday's BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) meeting, he expects to have a full book next weekend, including Galaxy Patch in the Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m). One jockey who is riding in this weekend's Derby is Hugh Bowman, but not before he jets to Australia for Saturday's Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney. Bowman partners the Kris Lees-trained Rivellino in the Group One Golden Slipper (1,200m), while he also jumps aboard Celestial Legend for Hong Kong owner Boniface Ho Ka-kui in the Group One George Ryder Stakes (1,500m) and Mazu in the Group One The Galaxy (1,100m).
South China Morning Post
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Voyage Bubble shrugs off tough run to stay on track for Triple Crown with Gold Cup romp
Voyage Bubble overcame a challenging run to move one step closer to Triple Crown glory with an emphatic victory in Sunday's Group One Citi Gold Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin. Despite appearing to stumble when being shuffled back through the field in a slowly run race, Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's stable star once again proved his class to notch a fourth Group One success under James McDonald. Sent off the $1.35 favourite, Voyage Bubble worked into the clear at the 300m and put away his rivals quickly to win by three and three-quarter lengths. 'It wasn't smooth sailing but he's a great racehorse,' said McDonald. 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 'I'm lucky to have him as a partner because he got me out of a sticky situation. It was very muddling and he overcame many obstacles throughout that race to come away for a great victory.' McDonald claimed Group One glory less than 15 hours after the heartbreak of his close defeat on Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior, who ran a close second to Forever Young in the US$20 million Saudi Cup (1,800m). The Kiwi star flew out of Riyadh soon after the world's richest race and arrived in Hong Kong only a few hours before riding Voyage Bubble. Yiu was also relieved after son of Deep Field overcame a difficult run to bag his fourth elite-level success and third in a row. 'I suppose the tempo of the race was on the slow side. That's why my horse kept getting shuffled back from third position to fourth, then back to third last and second last and around the middle bend, it caused him to stumble,' Yiu said. 'At that particular moment, it nearly broke my heart. 'Once he accelerated, he's quite a big horse and he's got a huge stride, so they could not match him.' Voyage Bubble went one better than last year when he ran a brave second to Romantic Warrior, who was ridden to victory by McDonald, in the Gold Cup. The John Size-trained Ensued made late ground for second, a length and a quarter ahead of Chancheng Glory, who held on for third after setting a slow speed. With the first two legs of the Triple Crown in the bag, Voyage Bubble will bid to become only the second galloper to claim the series when he tackles the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) in May. River Verdon was the first and only winner of the Triple Crown in the 1993-94 season. 'That's another pain barrier he's got to go through. He's a great racehorse and we have seen it with the great horse last night how good these Hong Kong horses are – they're as tough as they come – and they fly the flag anywhere,' McDonald said. 'The 2,400m is definitely going to be a new challenge for him but he's up to it.' Yiu is yet to decide on Voyage Bubble's Champions Day target – the Group One Champions Mile or Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) on April 27 – before the final leg of the Triple Crown. 'I'm a bit optimistic to run him over 2,400m,' Yiu said of what will be Voyage Bubble's first test at the trip. 'Before James takes off tonight, we're going to have a little celebration party and I'm going to have a good chat with him to see where we go next. There's a mile or 2,000m in between the 2,400m. It wouldn't be much of a difference. 'I'm pretty optimistic – we'll take the challenge.'
