Latest news with #PackingHermod
New Paper
24-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
May 25 Hong Kong (Sha Tin) form analysis
Race 1 (1,200m) 1 Quick Money remains the one to beat after a strong debut second to The All Out, then going one better with a soft win second-up. The rise to 1,200m now looks ideal. 8 Babieca has performed well in both starts to date, finishing third on debut to The All Out before running a close second to Quick Money. He is still racing greenly, so there is plenty of improvement to come. Zac Purton to ride. 4 Light Years Glory debuts from the inside draw and looks well prepared off several pass-mark trials - he can give a good showing. 10 Hyannis Star was well beaten into fourth on debut, 6¾ lengths off The All Out, but has trialled well since and can take a step forward second-up. Race 2 (1,200m) 7 Invincible Ibis is a newcomer who has trialled well enough ahead of his debut to suggest he is in with a chance. Drawn ideally in barrier 2 while key rivals have drawn wide. 10 Goldentronicmighty shed his maiden tag in style last start with an easy two-length course-and-distance win. With the low draw in what looks a moderate race, he can go back-to-back. 3 Call Me Gorgeous has his shot at Class 4 and can make his mark despite barrier 11. His first run in the grade was a passable fourth and he can build on that. 2 Awesome Treasure resumes off a freshen-up and drops in a grade where he boasts a strong record. He should race prominently and give a solid sight under the seven-pound apprentice claim. Race 3 (1,200m) 10 Loveisintheair finally gets to the bigger track at Sha Tin where his chances of breaking through for a first win are boosted. 9 Honest Witness is now third-up, and both his fourth-place finishes have been sound. He has since trialled impressively, winning his heat, and maps to race on speed where he gets every chance. 1 Giddy Up returned to Class 4 two starts ago with a close-up second and was sent out favourite last time where he ran sixth. He is drawn ideally in barrier 3 to settle closer and bounce back at a better price. 6 Copartner Fleet debuts from a horror draw in barrier 12, but his trials have been sharp with Purton aboard. He is one to watch for a promising effort that will pave the way to better things. Race 4 (1,400m) 1 Packing Hermod is hard to oppose even at the top of Class 2 with a heavy impost. The five-time winner from nine starts was last seen bouncing back in a big way with blinkers on for the first time. 2 Young Champion was less than a length off Packing Hermod two starts ago. He was only moderate last time when taken back early from a wide draw, but this looks a good race for him. 6 Dancing Code was forced to settle further back than usual, but hit the line strongly into sixth, beaten just 1½ lengths in an on-pace dominated race. He has yet to win in Class 2 but is worth another shot. 7 Mickley has a local record of one win and zero placings from 10 starts, but he enters off an encouraging fast-finishing fourth behind Hong Lok Golf. Keep safe. Race 5 (1,400m) 3 Super Love drew wide in his first 1,400m test last start, was taken back to find cover, and found the line well into sixth. He can settle closer in the run from barrier 3. 1 Meowth drops back into Class 4 where he is one-from-one. Jockey upgrade to Hugh Bowman and an inside gate help his cause. 6 Ka Ying Glory pulled up a roarer on debut when well beaten as an odds-on favourite, but his trials since have been excellent. 4 Monarch County can settle much closer from barrier 4 after being taken back too far last start, where he finished strongly into third. That effort followed his maiden win at his prior run, and he still looks to have more to offer. Race 6 (1,600m) 6 Mister Dapper was given an ill-judged ride last start when asked to lead, so his fifth-place finish was better than it reads. He draws well in barrier 4 and, with a more measured steer, can bounce back. 7 Wrote A New Page is a progressive three-year-old who put the writing on the wall last start with a strong second at his first attempt over this course and distance. He looks ready to break through. 5 Fortune Boy notched his first win at start six last time, defeating Wrote A New Page, and as another three-year-old still on the rise, he should have more to offer and is worth following up. 11 Special Hedge should roll forward from barrier 10. Since his second win five starts ago, he has remained in form with three placings all over this course and trip. Race 7 (1,400m) 3 Shamus Storm is set to get one of the runs of the race from barrier 2. That bodes well for his chances to finally score a maiden win after going close in all four starts. 4 Max Que enters this race off back-to-back runner-up finishes, and his latest second to Dazzling Fit reads well, especially given he suffered interference in the straight. He shapes as one of several strong hopes in the field. 1 Spirit Of Peace has shown plenty of ability in six starts, but was set an impossible task last time from barrier 12 where he was never really in contention. Better than that. 10 Galvanic is nearing peak fitness after two fair efforts this prep. He draws ideally in barrier 1, and having placed twice from six starts over this course and trip, he is a genuine contender at a price. Race 8 (2,400m) THE STANDARD CHARTERED CHAMPIONS & CHATER CUP (G1) 1 Voyage Bubble will bid to become just the second Hong Kong Triple Crown winner after wins in the Stewards' Cup and Hong Kong Gold Cup. He has stamina to prove at this trip, and gets the nod of approval from his good gate. 2 Dubai Honour is a two-time Group 1 winner over 2,400m, most recently taking out the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill. He is proven at Sha Tin, having finished second in the Hong Kong Vase last December. Rain will help. 4 Ensued is capable of running a cheeky race. He was close-up in fourth in the Vase and looks well suited stepping back up to this trip. 10 Bundle Award was brilliant when winning the Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup last start, but that race was run more like a sprint in a small field. Race 9 (1,000m) 10 Justifying was disappointing last start after creating a big impression on debut with a sizzling all-the-way win. There were not any clear excuses on the day aside from perhaps immaturity and the sharp rise in the handicap second-up. He may be ridden cold this time to help him finish off better. 4 Celestial Hero has trialled up well on several occasions leading into his Hong Kong debut. He brings with him solid Australian form, clearly has some ability, and looks a horse to follow - though winning straight up is never easy. 13 Alsonso has been threatening to break through with back-to-back second-place finishes at this course and distance at the top of Class 4. Now back into Class 3 with a light weight, he looks well placed. 2 Stellar Express has his second run back in Class 3 and returns to this course and distance where his record is strong, after a solid third to Seasons Wit over the minimum trip at Happy Valley last time. Race 10 (2,000m) 8 Gold Master can vie for the run of the race from his low draw, which can prove vital in this highly competitive field. Last start, he jumped from barrier 10 and was solid holding second throughout, missing by only a nose. 1 Bravehearts will find this much easier than his last assignment and gets Purton in the saddle for the first time, which is a notable switch. Third-up now and not beaten far in either run this prep, he is well placed over this trip with strong course and distance stats. 6 Winning Wing broke through impressively two starts ago on his fifth local run after a string of luckless efforts, and held form well last time rising to 2,000m, finishing strongly into third. 7 Liveandletlive does not draw ideally, but he may still find the front with relative ease like last time when defeating both Gold Master and Winning Wing, and he must be considered again. Race 11 (1,400m) 11 Super Express is a talented three-year-old with a future. He now steps into Class 3, which presents more depth, but his trial win between runs suggests he is in fine fettle for the challenge. 7 South Star is another promising three-year-old on the rise, chasing a hat-trick of wins after an ultra-impressive performance on his first attempt in Class 3 last start - he is right in the mix again. 8 Top Dragon rebounded from a luckless run to win his maiden impressively last time. Looks set to continue progressing. 5 Silvery Breeze found the line strongly into fourth first-up after settling too far back. He will strip much fitter now, but barrier 14 may again force him to be ridden for luck. He has the closing speed to feature if things go his way.
South China Morning Post
22-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Joao Moreira jumps aboard Francis Lui's Packing Angel in search of third Hong Kong Derby win
Brazilian jockey looks to follow up successes atop Rapper Dragon and Sky Darci in city's most prestigious race Three jockeys have enjoyed a pair of BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) successes in the past decade, but its Brazilian superstar Joao Moreira who looks best placed to chase a third victory in the hallowed contest at Sha Tin on Sunday. While Zac Purton is in the final stages of his return from injury and Hugh Bowman rides outsider Lo Rider, Moreira joins forces with one of the more-fancied chances in the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained Packing Angel. A close fourth behind Rubylot in the Classic Cup (1,800m) after three straight wins at 1,400m, Packing Angel – a son of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking – looks well equipped to run the 2,000m of the Derby and Moreira should be able to find a prominent position with cover from gate six. 'I hope in his last run he learned a little bit more and Joao also knows him [now],' said Lui of Packing Angel, who was ridden by Moreira for the first time in the Classic Cup. 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 'He's a good horse. He only had six runs before the Classic Cup and he just went straight from 1,400m to 1,800m, which is a little bit much for a young horse.' While Moreira enjoyed Derby success in 2017 with Rapper Dragon and 2021 with Sky Darci, Lui will chase a second win in five years after snaring the 2020 edition of the race with the great Golden Sixty. 'It's the owner's dream for their four-year-old horses. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance and it's a very special race. Hopefully, I can win it again this year,' Lui said. While Packing Angel is Lui's leading chance in a race where the David Hayes-trained Rubylot is expected to lead the market, the veteran handler will also be represented by Cap Ferrat and Steps Ahead. Cap Ferrat will be ridden by Craig Williams and Lyle Hewitson pilots Steps Ahead for the 66-year-old. '[Cap Ferrat has] drawn barrier two, which is a good draw. The connections expected it, they're happy. I think he has a chance,' said Lui of his son of Snitzel, who finished ninth from gate 10 in the Classic Cup. 'He had a bad draw and he had to use him a little bit more in front last time. It's much easier to relax him from gate two. Hopefully, we can find a good position. '[Steps Ahead is] an honest horse and he's in good form. He always tries hard and you never know.' Moreira, who jets into Hong Kong for the third time this season, will be busy on the Derby undercard, jumping aboard The Heir, Packing Hermod, Island Breezes, Parterre, Everyone's Star, Master Trillion and Pakistan Legacy. After piloting Packing Hermod to victory on international day in December, he fittingly partners Lui's four-year-old in Sunday's Class Two Rapper Dragon Handicap (1,400m).
South China Morning Post
30-01-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hayes sets sights on third Classic Mile with Rubylot: ‘he's classy and honest'
Australian handler expects Packing Hermod to be hard to beat but fancies his charge's chances in opening leg of four-year-old series by Jay Rooney on Thursday, January 30, 2025 1:14 PM Brenton Avdulla boots home Rubylot (left), who is one of the leading contenders for Friday's Classic Mile. Photos: Kenneth Chan David Hayes is optimistic Rubylot has what it takes to challenge nominal favourite Packing Hermod and prove hard to beat in Friday's Classic Mile at Sha Tin. Chasing his third triumph in the first leg of the four-year-old series, Hayes is confident Rubylot will continue his sparkling form after notching two wins and a second from four starts this campaign. The classy son of Rubick stamped his Classic Mile credentials with a strong win against several of Friday's rivals in the Class Two Racing Club Cup (1,400m) last start. One of those was Francis Lui Kin-wai's Packing Hermod, who lost no admirers when rocketing home from last to finish an eye-catching fourth. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 12, 2025 Rubylot and Packing Hermod share the top rating of 93 in this year's field, making it the first time since 2013 that the coveted race has not featured a contender with a triple-figure rating. 'I think Packing Hermod is probably the horse to beat, but Rubylot is joint top-rated, an in-form horse and crying out for a mile,' said Hayes, who bids to add to his Classic Mile successes with Resfa (1999) and Charming City (2001). 'I think he's coming through the best form and he's run well in the Class Two races, so I'm looking forward to running him against some Class Three horses at set weights. 'His record says he's classy and honest and hopefully we see that on Friday.' A winner at five of 16 starts, Rubylot must overcome a seven-pound swing in the weights in favour of Packing Hermod from their last clash. Brenton Avdulla, who partners Rubylot again on Friday, capitalised on an inside run from gate two to beat Young Champion by half a length in the Racing Club Cup, while Packing Hermod was forced to make his run from last after jumping from barrier 12. On Friday, Rubylot has drawn further out in barrier 10, while Packing Hermod figures to get an ideal run from six. Packing Hermod, who has built an imposing record of four wins and a second from six starts, can give Zac Purton a breakthrough triumph in one of the only Hong Kong features to have eluded him. From 15 attempts, the champion jockey has had to settle for second on Garlic Boy (2013) and Helene Feeling (2024) while also finishing third on Dibayani (2014), Beauty Generation (2017) and Packing Treadmill (2023). Purton has a perfect record from three rides on the gelding, who is also a son of Rubick. The Australian sire is better known as a producer of sprinters, but the dam's side of both Rubylot and Packing Hermod suggests the mile won't pose a problem. 'I just think he could be a really nice middle-distance horse,' Hayes said of Rubylot. 'Further than a mile will be no problem as well. He's a lovely, relaxed horse and his racing pattern is good.' The Lui-trained Divano, the next highest-rated runner in the field of 14 on a mark of 86, is one runner who looms as a query at 1,600m and he will need a sublime Blake Shinn ride to overcome barrier 14. Johannes Brahms will have claims after also finishing powerfully from back in the field in the Racing Club Cup to run third. Pierre Ng Pang-chi's import won impressively on his third Hong Kong start under James McDonald in December and Frenchman Mickael Barzalona is booked to ride him on Friday.
