Latest news with #PackingAngel
South China Morning Post
27-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Derby placegetter Packing Angel sidelined by knee injuries, while Ramadan heads to Australia
Packing Angel (right) finishes third behind Cap Ferrat in the Hong Kong Derby. Photos: Kenneth Chan Packing Angel won't race again until next season after pulling up from his third in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) with knee injuries, while fellow four-year-old Ramadan is set to continue his racing career in Australia. Trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai confirmed Packing Angel will undergo surgery on both knees after sustaining bone injuries. An impressive winner of three consecutive 1,400m races this term, the son of Shocking followed a solid fourth to Rubylot in the Classic Cup (1,800m) with a close third behind stablemate Cap Ferrat in last Sunday's Derby. 'He needs an operation. He might be out for three months,' Lui said. 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 'Sometimes you don't know with the ground and especially with a young horse.' Hong Kong's firm ground was also a consideration for trainer Mark Newnham and the Yulong Investments team when they pulled the pin on Ramadan's Hong Kong venture after two runs for the Australian handler and a long last in December's Group One Hong Kong Mile when under the care of James Ferguson. The colt arrived in the city with an impressive record in France, winning five of his 10 starts including a Group Two and pair of Group Threes at a mile. 'He'll go to Australia. We just thought he's best suited there,' Newnham said. 'His French form's on soft ground, so he'll like the softer ground in Australia. [Yulong's Zhang Yuesheng] is keen to replace him – we've already put in a replacement form.' Newnham prepared Yulong's first Hong Kong winner, Show Respect at Happy Valley in March last year, and he trains a small team for the global racing and breeding operation. Reach The Peak, a Caulfield winner from his three Australian starts, is Yulong's latest addition to Newnham's team after coming out of quarantine this week. Another of Newnham's overseas imports, Mid Winter Wind, will drop back to 1,200m for Sunday's Class Two Barker Handicap after a last-start fifth to Johannes Brahms over 1,600m. Surprise at odds of 41/1! 🤯 Well back in the field on the turn, South African Group 3 winner Mid Winter Wind scores on debut in Hong Kong for @LukeFerraris and Mark Newnham... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 31, 2025 The former South African galloper made a big impression on his Hong Kong debut when he stormed home to win by over six furlongs in January. 'He was pretty dynamic first up and then we had to have a shot to see if we could be a chance to join into the four-year-old series,' said Newnham. 'But at the mile he loomed up to win and couldn't quite finish them off and that's in line with his form in South Africa. 'I'm happy to keep him to sprinting. It looks a good race so it will be a decent test of where he's at, but he's in good condition.' The Australian handler also confirmed My Wish is on track to progress to the Group One Champions Mile on April 27 after his slashing second in the Derby. My Wish was only beaten a short head after producing the fastest final 400m over 2,000m at Sha Tin – 21.39 seconds – since sectional times were introduced in 2008. 'All going well, he'll have his chance in the Champions Mile. We'll just see how that goes in the next week or two,' Newnham said. Lui said Derby hero Cap Ferrat will progress to April 27's Group One QE II Cup (2,000m), which is expected to have a strong overseas flavour including French star Goliath and Japan's Liberty Island.
South China Morning Post
17-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Good times keep rolling for James Orman as he lands first Hong Kong Derby ride
Plenty has gone right for James Orman during his first month in Hong Kong and the 27-year-old will look to continue that momentum when he jumps aboard the Tony Cruz-trained Californiatotality in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) at Sha Tin this Sunday. Victorious with two of the first six rides of his initial six-week contract, Orman has already had his stay extended until the end of the season and now he will take part in Hong Kong's most coveted contest for the first time. 'It's great news,' said the Australian. 'I'm just excited to have a Derby ride, for one, and it's great to have one that looks like he can be a good chance in the race if he can get circumstances to suit. 'It looks like anything could win the race and I'm riding for a gun trainer, too, so I can't wait.' While Californiatotality won't demand the attention of some of the bigger names in the build-up to this weekend, two of his three wins this season have been over 1,800m and he will be sent out by a Hong Kong legend with two Derby wins on his training CV. 'He looks like he should run the distance, so that's a positive, and it looks a fairly open race,' said Orman. For Orman, a three-time champion jockey in Queensland, earning a Derby mount is just the next step in continuing to entrench himself in the city's riding ranks. 'I'm really happy. I've just got to keep building the relationships with everyone and keep trying to ride good races every time,' said the jockey, who has five rides at Happy Valley on Wednesday night including the smart Aurora Lady in the evening's Class Two. Cruz will take a two-pronged attack into Sunday's Derby, confirming Karis Teetan will replace James McDonald aboard his other runner, Stunning Peach. 'I'm very happy with both of them, they're going well. They'll get the 2,000m, which is a positive,' he said. 'The 2,000m is definitely more appropriate for Stunning Peach.' Like Orman, Cruz looks a winning chance in the Class Two Sports Handicap (1,200m) at the midweek meeting, saddling up Son Pak Fu, Superb Capitalist and Gustosisimo. 'Son Pak Fu is pretty good at Happy Valley. He does have top weight to carry but he's still the better horse of my three, I reckon,' said Cruz. 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 In other Derby jockey news, William Buick will jet into ride Markwin for Cody Mo Wai-kit, joining Joao Moreira (Packing Angel), Ryan Moore (Mickley), Christophe Soumillon (Noisy Boy) and Craig Williams (Cap Ferrat) in descending on Sha Tin for the HK$26 million showcase. Looking further ahead, the Jockey Club has received 23 entries for the two Group Two contests on March 30. The Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) is likely to have a full field, with big names Beauty Eternal and Galaxy Patch joined by the likes of Beauty Joy, Chancheng Glory, Five G Patch, Mugen, Straight Arron and Sunlight Power among 15 nominations. Connections of only seven gallopers have shown a willingness to tackle Ka Ying Rising in the Sprint Cup (1,200m), with Beauty Waves, Copartner Prance, California Spangle, Gorgeous Win, Helios Express, Lucky With You and Magic Control setting their sights on the world's best sprinter.
South China Morning Post
10-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Classic Cup top 10: My Wish and Packing Angel lead early rankings
Classic Mile victor and Francis Lui's exciting galloper headline the Post's ratings for the second leg of the four-year-old series by Jay Rooney on Monday, February 10, 2025 11:47 AM My Wish (right) wins the Classic Mile under Luke Ferraris. Photos: Kenneth Chan After My Wish claimed the Classic Mile with a tough victory, attention now turns to the second leg of the four-year-old series, the Classic Cup on March 2. The step up to 1,800m will suit some but others will be challenged by the trip in what is traditionally the key lead-up race to the city's most coveted feature, the HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 23. The Post has ranked the top 10 contenders for the Classic Cup. 1. My Wish Mark Newnham's pint-sized gelding slipped slightly under the radar heading into the Classic Mile but stamped his claims as a force to be reckoned with. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 3, 2025 Newnham made a great point post-race – when My Wish has hit the front in his races this season, he has not been headed. He might be a son of a sprinting sire in Flying Artie, but there is some staying blood on his dam side and his ability to race on the speed and keep finding in the straight will again give him a big advantage over several key rivals. 2. Packing Angel While he will face a rise in class and distance, Packing Angel will no doubt be an exciting addition to the four-year-old series after three straight wins. Francis Lui Kin-wai's promising galloper was a dominant Class Three winner over 1,400m on Classic Mile day, despite missing two days of work with a hoof abscess in the lead-up, and he was to be Zac Purton's ride before he was injured. As a son of Melbourne Cup (3,200m) winner Shocking, he should handle further ground. 3. Mickley The British import once again had excuses in the Classic Mile, but his eye-catching performance puts him right in the mix for the next two legs of the Classic Series. Despite being unbalanced as a result of heavy contact from Markwin in the straight, the John Size-trained gelding stormed home in the second-fastest final 400m of the race to finish fifth. 4. Divano Lui's talented galloper dispelled any queries he would run a strong mile emphatically, almost pinching the Classic Mile with a barnstorming run from last. He was the only horse to break 22 seconds for the final 400m when beaten a neck. If he can back that up rising to 1,800m, he can figure prominently again. 5. Rubylot The David Hayes-trained gelding was snagged back to near last from gate 10 and made his run down the outside when sixth, running the third-fastest final 400m of the Classic Mile. With his pedigree indicating the rise to 1,800m will be ideal, he is certainly capable of improving on that performance. 6. Noisy Boy Another likely addition from outside the Classic Mile, Dennis Yip Chor-hong's import will chase a third straight win after saluting over 2,200m and 2,000m. The drop back to 1,800m might not be ideal, but the former Australian Group Two runner-up looks on track to run a big race en route to the Derby. 7. Cap Ferrat Nothing went right for the Australian import in the Classic Mile, fading to finish 12th after travelling wide without cover for most of the race. He was narrowly beaten on his Hong Kong debut behind Mickley and will get better over more ground, with his pre-import record highlighted by a second in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2,000m). 8. Mid Winter Wind The South African import created a big impression on his Hong Kong debut for Newnham, rocketing home to score over 1,200m at Sha Tin. While it would be a quick rise to make it to the Classic Cup and Derby, he was tested up to 2,000m pre-import and shapes as a contender with X-factor. Newnham plans to step him up to a mile on Sunday. 9. Californiatotality Tony Cruz's tough on-speed galloper looks a stayer in the making and is fresh from a strong 1,800m win on Sunday. It was the son of Zoustar's second success at the trip and Cruz is bullish about his prospects over the 2,000m of the Derby. 10. Packing Hermod Sent off the $2.8 favourite in the Classic Mile, Lui's quality galloper had every chance but fell short when beaten half a length in third. While the step up to 1,800m is a query and Purton has jumped off, he is still more than capable and shouldn't be written off.
South China Morning Post
09-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Purton to miss Ka Ying Rising ride: ‘it's heartbreaking'
Hong Kong's seven-time champion jockey could be sidelined for as long as a month after Sunday's horror three-horse fall by Sam Agars on Monday, February 10, 2025 6:22 AM Zac Purton wins the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) aboard Ka Ying Rising last month. Photos: Kenneth Chan Zac Purton will miss Ka Ying Rising's run in the Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) on February 23 after breaking his left big toe in Sunday's horror three-horse pile up at Sha Tin. Sent flying into the Sha Tin turf after Legend St Paul's broke down and skittled his mount, Silvery Breeze, in Sunday's ninth event, Purton will undergo surgery on his toe on Monday morning. The seven-time champion jockey has been told he is facing at least four weeks out of the saddle. 'It's heartbreaking. I'll miss Ka Ying, I'll miss Galaxy Patch [in the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m)], I'll miss Packing Angel [in the Classic Cup (1,800m)]. Hopefully I can get back for the Derby,' said Purton. 'The toe is broken and it needs to be realigned. They're trying to work out whether they're going to put in screws and a plate, or pin it. 'I've also damaged ligaments in the same ankle and the ankle is obviously very swollen. I haven't really had a chance to put any weight on it yet, so we'll see how that goes. 'It's obviously disappointing but it couldn't have been worse than what it was.' Purton had been in white-hot form before the tumble, racking up 20 winners in January and four already in February, including two earlier on Sunday's card. He has been in the saddle for all 10 of Ka Ying Rising's wins, including a run of nine in a row featuring two Group One successes. Purton is joined by Angus Chung Yik-lai, Keith Yeung Ming-lun and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu on the injury list after an incident-marred day at Sha Tin, with more information on that trio's condition expected later on Monday. Ho may have suffered fractures to his neck and shoulder region when falling from Oldtown race six, while Chung has bruising to his face and upper body after coming off Legend St Paul's and Yeung is nursing a bruised upper thigh after his mount, Lupo Solitario, was also caught up in the race nine carnage.
South China Morning Post
31-01-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Richards hopes smart debut winner can help stable ‘out of a bit of a rut'
Yee Cheong Glory hits the ground running at Sha Tin on Friday, justifying favouritism with an eye-catching victory by Sam Agars on Friday, January 31, 2025 7:25 PM Yee Cheong Glory makes a winning debut at Sha Tin on Friday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Jamie Richards hopes Yee Cheong Glory is the horse to help his stable out of a 'bit of a rut' after the dashing grey made light work of his opponents on debut at Sha Tin on Friday. Sent off $2.45 favourite for the second section of the Class Four Fat Choi Handicap (1,200m) after impressing at the trials, Yee Cheong Glory worked up to sit midfield the rail under Zac Purton before easing out into clear air upon straightening and storming to a two-and-a-quarter-length success. 'He just missed the start a little bit, but that might have been a blessing in disguise because they went along and he got into a nice rhythm. He came out at the right time and quickened up well. He's a nice horse,' said Richards of the son of Puissance De Lune, who won a 1,000m trial by seven lengths when named Father Lawrie in Australia. 'I'd say he's going to keep improving with a bit more time. I know he's bred to get over a bit of distance but at the moment he looks like he's got plenty of pace. 'He trialled well before he came and he's a nice horse. We're looking forward to the future with him.' Richards was a relieved man after his seventh winner of the campaign, with the trainer enduring six placings since his last victory on January 1. 'It's been a frustrating season, to say the least, but hopefully we can turn the corner now,' said the New Zealander. 'The horses are running well, we're just having too many placings and you're losing quite a few stable transfers, which is just Hong Kong. Hopefully this one can get us out of a bit of a rut.' — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 31, 2025 Yee Cheong Glory also delivered a welcome winner to Purton, who drew the ire of punters in the parade ring after falling short aboard a few favourites early on the card. Purton went onto complete a double in the finale, with the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained Packing Angel a comfortable winner. Packing Angel's Class Three Kut Cheong Handicap (1,400m) success was just the tonic for connections after Packing Hermod could only manage third as favourite in the Classic Mile. Hong Kong Derby hopeful Packing Angel's third victory on the bounce also completed a double for Lui after he earlier snared the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m) with Chancheng Glory. Yip strikes first in Year of the Snake Dennis Yip Chor-hong knew it was going to take a bit of luck for Ho Ho Star to break his maiden and the 57-year-old hopes the gelding's 'auspicious' victory in the first race of the Year of the Snake is a pointer to good things to come for the stable. Winless from his first 19 starts, Ho Ho Star had dropped to a mark of 28 before arresting his slide in the Class Five Kung Hei Handicap (1,200m). 'I'm happy. The first winner of the Chinese New Year is lucky, of course,' said Yip after his 16th winner of the season. 'It has been difficult to get a win out of this horse.' After positioning Ho Ho Star midfield the rail in a race run a tick inside standard early, jockey Matthew Chadwick rode for luck up the inside before driving his mount through a tight gap late in proceedings. 'It was a nice ride, the jockey did everything right,' said Yip, who was dressed resplendently in gold. 'He needs the fast pace and he needs help getting around the turn. 'We have tried with Zac, we have put on lots of good jockeys and we finally got lucky. This jockey did all the best things for the horse.' Thompson repays loyal Folks Ben Thompson ended a lengthy drought and rewarded the loyalty of the owner of New Future Folks, So Wing-keung, in the process at Sha Tin, with the 27-year-old booting Michael Chang Chun-wai's four-year-old to a second career win. Thompson went 59 rides without a victory before steering the well-backed New Future Folks to a front-running success in the Class Three Red Packet Handicap (1,600m). The Australian rider led at a sedate pace aboard the $18 shot before kicking clear in the final 200m to secure his first win since New Future Folks recorded his breakthrough success on December 15. The Class Three victory secured Thompson his fourth win for the season, three of which have been for owner So. While Thompson has not been able to gain much momentum in the 2024-25 campaign, So has been a loyal supporter of the young rider. He provided Thompson with three of his five rides on Friday in the form of Always My Folks, Forever Folks and New Future Folks.
