Latest news with #MatthewChadwick
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Scratching gives Son Pak Fu chance to chase eighth Valley 1,200m success in loaded Class Two
Happy Valley will see Class Two action for the first time in three weeks on Wednesday night and a course-and-distance specialist entered the fray on Tuesday to make the Wan Chai Gap Handicap (1,200m) all the more interesting. With last-start Valley 1,000m winner Glory Elite scratched because of a tendon injury, Son Pak Fu was brought off the bench and given the chance to add to his seven career victories – all over 1,200m at the city circuit. Son Pak Fu's latest success came in a Class One over the Valley 1,200m in February, while he was fifth in the most recent six-furlong Class Two at the city circuit on March 19. The Tony Cruz-trained six-year-old carried 135 pounds in that fifth-placed finish and will again lump a big weight of 134 pounds, although the gelding should be given every chance to run on under Matthew Chadwick in a race that shapes to have plenty of pace. Last-start course-and-distance winner Harmony N Blessed will be one of the gallopers on pace as he looks to add to his fighting recent success, while Tomodachi Kokoroe – whose four Hong Kong wins have come over the Valley 1,200m – looks another with the potential to push forward. Son Pak Fu dives late to claim Copartner Prance! Tony Cruz's charge gets the Class 1 win under a supreme @mattLchadwixk ride at Happy Valley... 💥#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 26, 2025 But in a race littered with gallopers who come into their own over the city circuit's six furlongs – Aurora Lady, Gustosisimo, Wonder Kit, Kaholo Angel and Brave Star are also multiple winners at the track and trip – it is a couple of young gallopers stepping into unfamiliar territory who could prove hardest to beat. Trainer David Eustace is confident Colourful King will enjoy the step up in trip after impressing over the Valley 1,000m with two wins and a second, while Horsepower is rising in distance and grade after an eye-catching last-start success. 'This time we need to try 1,200m (because) at the moment there are no more 1,000m races at Happy Valley,' trainer Frankie Lor Fu-chuen said of Horsepower. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. 'I've trialled him once over 1,200m [and] he trialled good. I think he needs to relax in the early stages and then he can finish strongly. '[Zac Purton] said he was more relaxed now in the 1,200m trial. That's why I think he will handle 1,200m now.' In other news, the Jockey Club has granted Brenton Avdulla a 'leave of absence from Hong Kong for personal reasons,' meaning the Australian rider will miss the Valley meeting on June 11.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Pray For Mir leads them a merry dance to win Lion Rock Trophy for delighted Cody Mo
Matthew Chadwick and Pray For Mir (left) grit it out to win at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Cody Mo Wai-kit continued his impressive season with his biggest career success at Sha Tin on Saturday, with Pray For Mir toughing it out from the front to win the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m). It was a well-executed game plan by jockey Matthew Chadwick, who pointed the Justify galloper straight to the lead from barrier eight ahead of the stalking pair of Red Lion and Chancheng Glory. Chadwick was still travelling best of all as the field turned in, but he was immediately confronted by Chancheng Glory, who levelled up and looked set to go on by at the 200m pole. But Pray For Mir refused to be denied and was roused by Chadwick to go on again, edging clear late for gritty half-length success. They can't get past Pray For Mir! 💪 Cody Mo celebrates a first Group race win as his Justify 4YO leads throughout with @mattLchadwixk to capture the G3 Lion Rock Trophy at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 31, 2025 On ratings it was an unlikely triumph, with the pair 17lb out of the handicap, but it was ultimately attitude that won the day – and Mo his first Group race. 'This is one of my targets for the season, now a dream has come true. I'm so happy – thanks to all my staff and the owners for their support,' he said. 'This horse is a very honest horse, you can see he has so many seconds and only loses by a little bit. 'Today Chadwick controlled the pace very well and the horse carried a light weight. At the end of the season, all the horses were maybe a bit tired and I kept him a bit fresh. '[Matthew and I] have very good communication. This season I have been really supporting local jockeys and I'm happy together we could win a Group Three.' Mo called his first season of training last campaign 'acceptable' after a haul of 20 winners, but the 47-year-old is already on the 38-winner mark for this campaign. The win was a meaningful one for Chadwick, who has had a long association with Mo dating back to their time working together in Tony Cruz's stable. The 34-year-old moves onto 31 winners for the season and home-grown talent was quick to return Mo's praise. 'He's always been very honest, he just gets beat, unfortunately. The weight really helped today,' said Chadwick. 'He was left alone and he relaxed really well and when [Chancheng Glory] put it to him, he just kept fighting and his quality just shone through. '[Cody and I] go way back when we were both training in Tony's stable and we've come through the ranks together and it's great to be part of this with him.' It was a race where it ultimately paid to be close to the speed, with the front two always in those positions in the run. Beauty Eternal enjoyed a midfield trip and stuck on well to finish third, while Sunlight Power was the only horse to make ground from the rear to finish fourth. The bitter disappointment of the race was undoubtedly the $3.7 favourite Johannes Brahms, who did not travel into the straight with his usual zest and he checked out quickly at the 200m pole to finish seventh. That was one position behind the top weight Red Lion, who was unable to follow up his Group One Champions Mile win from Champions Day, finishing sixth after lumping 135lb.
