Latest news with #MaWanHandicap
South China Morning Post
19-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Beauty Destiny continues remarkable transformation with dominant Valley win
Known for failing to settle and swishing his tail early in his career, the Frankie Lor-trained gelding bags his fourth win this term at city circuit by Jay Rooney on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 11:09 PM Andrea Atzeni gives Beauty Destiny a pat as he soars to victory at Happy Valley. Photos: Kenneth Chan Beauty Destiny continued his stunning transformation from a hard-charging, tail-swishing horse to an emerging sprinter with a fourth win from his past five starts at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Despite flashing big potential in his early trials, Beauty Destiny used to be his own worst enemy on race day when racing greenly and too keenly. But this season is a different story, with the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained gelding finally delivering the goods after learning to settle in his races. The son of Star Turn started his rich vein of form with back-to-back Class Four triumphs in November, before handling the leap to Class Three with a close second to Aurora Lady and a narrow win last month. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 19, 2025 On Wednesday night, he overcame top weight of 135 pounds to score a decisive victory in the first section of the Class Three Ma Wan Handicap (1,200m) under Andrea Atzeni. 'When he started racing, he trialled good and the jockeys said he was a really good horse,' Lor said. 'But in his races, he would jump fast and go forward and couldn't finish. 'He put his head up and swished his tail. Now he sits back, relaxes and settles and he's like a totally different horse. I think he's learning and the jockeys say every race he's improving and improving.' After settling midfield on the inside rail, Beauty Destiny again unleashed a powerful turn of foot to soar to the lead approaching the 100m and shoot clear. He scored by a length and a quarter from King Of Fighters, with Aurio close behind in third. Lor and Atzeni are confident the Star Turn five-year-old can continue his hot form when he steps up to Class Two level on his next start. 'It's never easy to carry top weight in these Class Threes and I thought it was a very competitive race,' Atzeni said. 'He was impressive again and Frankie keeps on improving him. In his early days, even when he was trialling, he always looked like a proper horse – he's really turned the corner now.' Beauty Destiny capped a double for Atzeni after he earlier booted home Me Tsui Yu-sak's Thesis in the Class Four Rotary Centenary Challenge Cup (1,650m). The former British galloper ended Tsui's winning drought of 67 runners, with his last success on December 4. Elsewhere, Avdulla joined Atzeni with a double after booting home the Mark Newnham-trained Same To You and Tony Cruz's Gustosismo. 'I had a competitive book and thought most of them could run well. I ended up with two winners, a second and two thirds, so it was a good night,' Avdulla said. 'It's been a good month and a half. Getting the right opportunities obviously helps.' Newnham and Cruz shared training honours with doubles – the former striking in the first two races with Same To You and Tactical Command. After ending a mini-drought with his first win at the city circuit since Boxing Day, Newnham said: 'That gets a bit frustrating, but we've had a lot of horses that won early in the season and they went up in the ratings.' 'Now they've sort of found their level. Same To You won on the first day of the season and then he's got back to a rating where he can win again. Tactical Command's been dying to win a race, he just needed the right circumstances.' Cruz and jockey Ben Thompson teamed up with Fallon to win the Class Three Consensus Cup (1,800m), before the handler denied Newnham a treble when Gustosismo held off Spicy Gold. Meanwhile, star French galloper Goliath is bound for the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin in April after part-owner John Stewart announced the Champions Day plans on Wednesday night. The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Goliath beat a world-class field to claim the Group One King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot last July.
South China Morning Post
17-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Harry Bentley eyes Happy Valley bullseye before tackling Group Ones: ‘he's one I'm really looking forward to'
Harry Bentley returns to the applause of the Happy Valley crowd after a recent winner. Photo: Kenneth Chan He's got a couple of Group One rides to look forward to this weekend but it's a Class Three sprinter giving Harry Bentley cause for excitement ahead of Wednesday night's Happy Valley meeting. After consecutive fast-finishing thirds from double-figure draws, Young Arrow has scored gate two for the second section of the Class Three Ma Wan Handicap (1,200m). 'I really like Young Arrow. He's drawn well for the first time in a very long time, so that's going to help him,' said Bentley, who partners the Douglas Whyte-trained galloper for the fourth straight time. 'He's run massive races the last couple of times. He's knocking on the door and with a good draw he should be thereabouts. He's one I'm really looking forward to. Impressive as, Beauty Destiny! 🫡 Frankie Lor's chestnut collects a third win this term and first in Class 3 to continue his dazzling rise... @Atzenijockey #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 22, 2025 'He's the one that really stands out to me and would be my best chance,' added Bentley of the four-year-old, who will bid to break his Hong Kong maiden at start nine in the city. Bentley will also ride Quantum Patch among six rides at the Valley before jumping aboard Patch Of Theta for the same owners in this Sunday's Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m). 'Quantum Patch is carrying a light weight and he's run some good races, so he's definitely one to be considered,' said Bentley ahead of the Class Three Kap Shui Mun Handicap (1,650m). 'It's a tough race for Patch Of Theta, naturally taking on Ka Ying Rising is not going to be easy. G1 Stewards' Cup bound!? 👀 Patch Of Theta is enormously impressive under the light weight in the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup with @KarisTeetan for Francis Lui... 🏆#LuckyStart | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 1, 2025 'But he's a really nice horse and he seems a progressive type. I sat on him the other day in a trial and he gave me a lovely feel, so I'm chuffed to pick the ride up.' Bentley, who sits on 15 wins for the season including eight already in 2025, jumps aboard Winning Dragon for Tony Cruz in Sunday's other Group One, the Gold Cup (2,000m). 'I'm pleased with how the past few weeks have gone. I feel like I've just got a bit of momentum and I'm riding for some good stables, so that's good,' said the jockey. 'To pick up a couple of Group One rides is great. I'm pleased to be riding in them and hopefully we can be competitive. Strong effort! 💪 Chancheng Glory lifts tenaciously to win the Group 3 Centenary Vase under @HugeBowman for Francis Lui at Sha Tin... 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 31, 2025 'Winning Dragon was good last start [when second in the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m)]. 'He was carrying a light weight, so that helped, but he travelled into the race really well and just got seen off by a very gutsy horse in Chancheng Glory. You never know. It's a tough ask but you've got to give it a crack.' While he has become accustomed to being the lone English rider on the Hong Kong roster, Bentley will be one of four Britons donning the silks at Happy Valley on Wednesday night with Hollie Doyle, Tom Marquand and Richard Kingscote in town as injury cover. 'It's good to have them in town. I know Richard really well from back home and having ridden against him for many years,' Bentley said. 'He's a top lad so it will be nice to have him around. It makes a bit of a change having a few Brits in town. I've spoken to him. He's had a few questions about how the place works and what not, so hopefully I've steered him in the right direction.'
South China Morning Post
17-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Bentley eyes Valley bullseye before G1s: ‘he's one I'm really looking forward to'
British jockey confident Young Arrow is ready to win in Wednesday night's Class Three Ma Wan Handicap (1,200m) by Sam Agars on Monday, February 17, 2025 3:51 PM Harry Bentley returns to the applause of the Happy Valley crowd after a recent winner. Photo: Kenneth Chan He's got a couple of Group One rides to look forward to this weekend but it's a Class Three sprinter giving Harry Bentley cause for excitement ahead of Wednesday night's Happy Valley meeting. After consecutive fast-finishing thirds from double-figure draws, Young Arrow has scored gate two for the second section of the Class Three Ma Wan Handicap (1,200m). 'I really like Young Arrow. He's drawn well for the first time in a very long time, so that's going to help him,' said Bentley, who partners the Douglas Whyte-trained galloper for the fourth straight time. 'He's run massive races the last couple of times. He's knocking on the door and with a good draw he should be thereabouts. He's one I'm really looking forward to. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 22, 2025 'He's the one that really stands out to me and would be my best chance,' added Bentley of the four-year-old, who will bid to break his Hong Kong maiden at start nine in the city. Bentley will also ride Quantum Patch among six rides at the Valley before jumping aboard Patch Of Theta for the same owners in this Sunday's Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m). 'Quantum Patch is carrying a light weight and he's run some good races, so he's definitely one to be considered,' said Bentley ahead of the Class Three Kap Shui Mun Handicap (1,650m). 'It's a tough race for Patch Of Theta, naturally taking on Ka Ying Rising is not going to be easy. 'But he's a really nice horse and he seems a progressive type. I sat on him the other day in a trial and he gave me a lovely feel, so I'm chuffed to pick the ride up.' Bentley, who sits on 15 wins for the season including eight already in 2025, jumps aboard Winning Dragon for Tony Cruz in Sunday's other Group One, the Gold Cup (2,000m). 'I'm pleased with how the past few weeks have gone. I feel like I've just got a bit of momentum and I'm riding for some good stables, so that's good,' said the jockey. 'To pick up a couple of Group One rides is great. I'm pleased to be riding in them and hopefully we can be competitive. 'Winning Dragon was good last start [when second in the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m)]. 'He was carrying a light weight, so that helped, but he travelled into the race really well and just got seen off by a very gutsy horse in Chancheng Glory. You never know. It's a tough ask but you've got to give it a crack.' While he has become accustomed to being the lone English rider on the Hong Kong roster, Bentley will be one of four Britons donning the silks at Happy Valley on Wednesday night with Hollie Doyle, Tom Marquand and Richard Kingscote in town as injury cover. 'It's good to have them in town. I know Richard really well from back home and having ridden against him for many years,' Bentley said. 'He's a top lad so it will be nice to have him around. It makes a bit of a change having a few Brits in town. I've spoken to him. He's had a few questions about how the place works and what not, so hopefully I've steered him in the right direction.'
