Latest news with #RegencyHappyStar
South China Morning Post
08-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
David Eustace backs Colourful King to ‘continue to improve'
An in-form David Eustace hopes Colourful King can continue his rise when the three-year-old contests the Class Three Hong Kong China Rugby Cup Handicap (1,000m) under Andrea Atzeni at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Eustace revelled in a first Hong Kong treble on Sunday and the 32-year-old is eyeing more momentum when he saddles four runners – Brave Witness, Colourful King, Jumbo Fortune and Charity Together – at the midweek meeting. Colourful King has raced twice in Hong Kong, winning his most recent effort by a nose over the reopposing Youthful Spirits. 'He did it by the barest of margins. It certainly looked like luck went our way that night and it's good to get the win obviously. He's a horse who I think will continue to improve,' said Eustace of Colourful King, who has drawn gate four. Colourful King nails Youthful Spirits! 😱@EustaceRacing's son of Blue Point, a two-time winner at Sandown in Australia, gets off the mark in Hong Kong with @Atzenijockey at Happy Valley...#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 19, 2025 'He's the type of horse who is a still a bit nervy and a bit unsure of himself, so I think he can gradually improve with the more racing he has. It was great to get the win and hopefully he can keep progressing. 'It does look like they'll go fairly quick and he has a nice gate to stalk and be strong late. The encouraging thing for me as well is that he looks like he'll get 1,200m, especially around the Valley when asked to. It does just give us options.' Eustace has 23 wins through his first season training in Hong Kong. His treble last weekend came via Regency Happy Star, Good Luck Babe and Sea Sapphire. 'You obviously don't go expecting that by any means but I thought we had a strong hand and the horses were racing well. Hoping to get one, maybe two but to get three was a great thrill. It shows the horses are in good form and the staff are working hard and well,' Eustace said. Comeback trail continues! 💛💙 Chasing a possible HK$22 million G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m) start, Lucky Sweynesse rolled comfortably through his morning barrier trial at Sha Tin today... 📍 Sha Tin, 27 Apr | #FWDChampionsDay — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 8, 2025 Meanwhile, Matthew Poon Ming-fai worked two key FWD Champions Day hopes in barrier trials on Tuesday morning ahead of the HK$74 million Sha Tin showcase on April 27. Stepping out in the first heat ahead of a possible Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) return, Lucky Sweynesse broke smoothly from the wide draw before picking up between runners to win in 57.95 seconds over 1,000m on turf at Sha Tin. 'I think with every trial he is getting better and better. Now he is almost ready to race – if he pulls up well, then he is almost ready to race,' Poon said. Ahead of his clash with Australian star Mr Brightside in the Group One Champions Mile, Voyage Bubble impressed Poon as he crossed the line first over a mile on turf. 'He jumped super, he knows what to do – he travelled nicely and relaxed. I just asked him a little bit and he quickens. How good is that?' Poon said.
South China Morning Post
06-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
David Eustace celebrates first Hong Kong treble at Sha Tin: ‘it's very exciting'
David Eustace celebrates the first treble of his Hong Kong career at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Regency Happy Star, Good Luck Babe and the brown-lamped Sea Sapphire deliver British handler a maiden three-timer in the city David Eustace's successful first season in Hong Kong reached a new high when the British handler scored his first treble in the city at Sha Tin on Sunday. Boasting several strong fancies among his team of eight, Eustace struck with Regency Happy Star and Good Luck Babe before one of his least-fancied runners pulled off a late plunge to cap the stable's three-timer. Sea Sapphire was brown-lamped late in betting in the Class Four The CUHK Alumni Cup (1,200m), firming from $28 to $13 before making all under Ben Thompson. A prolific Group One winner in Australia in partnership with Ciaron Maher, Eustace has made an instant impression in Hong Kong with 23 wins in his first campaign. 'It's very exciting,' Eustace said of his three-timer. 'I thought we were coming here with a strong team and probably our first three runners proved that, with two winners and a second [with Dazzling Fit]. '[Sea Sapphire] is a nice surprise. They've all raced well and consistently, so it's very pleasing.' Sent to the front from gate nine, Sea Sapphire kept finding to shrug off a determined challenge from the $3.2 favourite Akashvani. He scored by a neck as the first two home broke well clear of their rivals, with third-placed Lucky Archangel beaten just over three lengths. On his fourth run since switching from the Pierre Ng Pang-chi stable, Sea Sapphire bounced back from a disappointing last-start 12th at Happy Valley in January. 'To be honest, I thought he was coming into the race in good form,' Eustace said. 'His trial on the grass was very pleasing and a lot better than his trials on the dirt, where he doesn't really show his best. We had a setback earlier in the season just through health and his run prior to his last one actually had a lot of merit. 'Obviously I thought he would improve with the run, but the race set up really well and he got a beautiful ride by Ben. 'He's a horse who doesn't need too much training, he doesn't carry a huge amount of weight so it's just a case of keeping him fresh and well and healthy, which he is.' Thompson, who rode Sea Sapphire on his previous two starts before Sunday, wasn't shocked by the gelding's second career victory. 'It's no surprise for him to beat a handy field. Especially Akashvani, who was there with us the entire way,' the Australian said. '[Sea Sapphire] had 118 pounds, obviously for a very in-form stable, and he duly saluted.' Another stable transfer, Regency Happy Star, notched his third win from six starts for Eustace with a thrilling triumph in the Class Five Chung Chi Alumni Handicap (1,400m). Sent off the $2.5 favourite, Regency Happy Star had a cosy run on the leader's back from gate one for Alexis Badel and prevailed by a short head from Lucky Man. 'He's had a terrific season – he's just gaining confidence and relaxing very well now in his races,' Eustace said of the former Michael Chang Chi-wang and Tony Cruz-trained galloper. 'It's going to start to get a bit tougher, but hopefully we can have one more go in Class Five.' Good Luck Babe was the middle leg of Eustace's treble, leading all the way under Karis Teetan to beat Matsu Victor narrowly in the Class Four United Alumni Handicap (1,600m). Eustace wasn't far off winning four consecutive races on Sunday, with Dazzling Fit charging from near last to finish second to Top Throne in the second section of the Class Four New Asia Alumni Handicap (1,200m).
