Latest news with #Sha Tin
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
John Size secures 13th trainers' title as Bundle Award dramatically wins Sha Tin's feature
John Size won a 13th trainers' premiership at Sha Tin on Sunday thanks to a treble on the night spearheaded by Bundle Award's last-gasp win in the feature Class One Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy (1,600m). The 71-year-old entered the penultimate meeting of the season with a six-win lead over David Hayes but put the exclamation point on his season by sprinting into a nine-win lead to put the race beyond doubt. With Hayes having entries in only eight of the nine races at Happy Valley on Wednesday, it left Size with an insurmountable lead and saw him crowned champion. 'There's a lot of satisfaction in [winning] and probably something I'm very grateful to achieve,' Size said. 'It's a very strong and stiff competition and so therefore you have to rise up to it. 'As I've said before, I'm surprised that I've been so successful in Hong Kong. It's always been a test of if I can keep performing at that level and so far I've been able to over 24 years and, God willing, if my health is still OK, I can do it for a little bit longer.' Huuuuuuuuge finish! Bundle Award goes from last-to-first with @Atzenijockey to land the Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy for John Size... 🏆#SeasonFinale | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 13, 2025 Sprinting home was also exactly what Bundle Award did after settling last in the feature and having a mountain to climb turning into the straight, still last as the field hit the 200m pole. Andrea Atzeni was in no mood to be denied, however, and got everything required out of his mount to sprint past the entire field in a matter of strides for an emphatic success. Hayes' fleeting hopes of a comeback were dented in the first race of the day when Size's Sight Dreamer landed the Class Five Miraculous Handicap (1,400m), once again ridden by Atzeni. 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. The Almanzor galloper enjoyed the perfect trip just ahead of midfield and after charging to the lead at the 300m peg, he had plenty in reserve to fend off Fight Time in the closing stages. Size went two up on the evening when the aptly named Raging Rapids split horses to win the Class Four Medic Kingdom Handicap (1,400m) under Karis Teetan. Superb ride, @KarisTeetan! 👊 Raging Rapids scores a first win at Sha Tin as John Size extends his trainers' championship lead to eight... #SeasonFinale | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 13, 2025 Meanwhile, the race for the Tony Cruz Award was given some extra spice when Matthew Chadwick reduced Matthew Poon Ming-fai's lead to one thanks to Devas Twelve's triumph in the Class Four Pingwu Spark Handicap (1,400m). The Chris So Wai-yin-trained five-year-old travelled kindly in second throughout the journey and after overhauling long-time leader Glaciated, he had plenty in reserve to fend off Pejibaye late on. Derek Leung Ka-chun was also on the scoresheet thanks to Happy Universe's win in the Class Four Solar Hei Hei Handicap (1,600m), meaning he will enter Happy Valley on Wednesday just two behind Poon. It was another big night for champion jockey Zac Purton. Unsurprisingly, there was a four-timer on the card for Zac Purton too, with Circuit Mighty's gutsy win in the Class Five Mr Award Handicap (1,400m) putting trainer Manfred Man Ka-leung onto a career-best Hong Kong total. The victory secured Man a 45-win season, while Purton also struck aboard the Jamie Richards-trained Bulb General in the Class Four Victory Marvel Handicap (1,200m) and Jimmy Ting Koon-ho's Huge Wave in the Class Three Sight Winner Handicap (1,600m) – the second leg of a Ting double after Happy Universe's earlier win. His final win came in the last, with Beauty Bolt making it second time lucky with a late burst to win the Class Three All You Wish Handicap (1,400m) for trainer Tony Cruz.
South China Morning Post
12-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hot Antoine Hamelin finishes with a flourish: ‘I've become a better person for being here'
Jockey Antoine Hamelin admits to feeling sad whenever he thinks about his imminent Hong Kong departure, but it's certainly been nothing but smiles and celebrations on the racetrack as the Frenchman finishes his five-year stint in the city with a flourish. Victorious at three of the past four meetings, Hamelin will say farewell to Sha Tin this Sunday before signing off at Happy Valley next Wednesday. 'I'm feeling OK, not too bad, but when I think about it I'm very sad. When I met my friends for a farewell it was very sad, but it was good to see everyone before I go,' he said. 'It's always better to leave like this,' he added of his strong form, which has seen a quarter of his 12 winners this season come in the past two weeks. 'Some trainers have given me support before I go, which I really appreciate, and I've managed to get the horses who are in good form. Everything has gone quite smoothly recently, so I'm not complaining.' Hamelin has five chances to continue his hot run this weekend, headlined by last-start winner Rising From Ashes in the Class Three All You Wish Handicap (1,400m) and Beauty Missile in the Class Four Victory Marvel Handicap (1,200m). 'I really like Rising From Ashes, who won really well last time and is in good form. He looks good,' said Hamelin. 'The other horses there are a few question marks. Beauty Missile has gate 14, so it's not going to be easy, but I would really love to win with him before I go. He's in my heart and I always enjoy riding him. He's always trying really hard but it is hard to win with him.' Hamelin's overall Hong Kong win tally has risen to 111 in recent weeks and it's his scarcely believable five-timer at Sha Tin in January 2021 that is burnt into his memory. 'I have a lot of good memories and of course the highlight is five winners in a day. That was amazing, crazy. I still remember it like it was yesterday,' he said. 'I have a lot of good memories and not only from racing. I have met a lot of good people here. It's been nice to work with jockeys from everywhere on the planet. It's one of the best jockey rooms in the world. That's how you learn – with the best around you. 'I also learned a lot from the trainers. It's very different from my country. I think I've become a better person for being here for five years. I have learned a lot.' Hamelin is also confident he will return to France a better rider and he won't be wasting any time, eyeing the Deauville meeting in early August as a likely kick-off point. 'I won't be starting from zero but almost. There are new trainers and old trainers who have retired, but I'm not worried because my manager is waiting for me and we always did a great job together. I'm sure we'll do well,' he said. 'I'm better than when I left so some doors will open and I think it's going to be OK. The target will be to get back in the top 10 in France like I used to be, then I will be happy.'
South China Morning Post
12-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Title races go down to the wire as Derek Leung looks to strike a Tony Cruz Award blow
Derek Leung still has a chance to win the Tony Cruz Award. Photos: Kenneth Chan It is now or never for Derek Leung Ka-chun as he looks to Beauty Joy to be the catalyst to spark his fading Tony Cruz Award hopes back to life at Sha Tin on Sunday. The 36-year-old is in a three-way shoot-out for the local riders' premiership, with Matthew Poon Ming-fai leading the way on 36 and Matthew Chadwick sitting second on 34. Leung has two meetings to claw back three winners to draw level with Poon, with his Sunday book of eight rides looking the strongest of the trio. He rides Beauty Joy in the feature Class One Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy (1,600m), with the Tony Cruz-trained eight-year-old looking to back up a last-start win in the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m). The old boy, Beauty Joy! 🫡 Tony Cruz's 8YO wins the season's final Group race, the G3 Premier Plate, with @brentonavdulla at Sha Tin... @Beautystablehk #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 22, 2025 Ridden that day by Brenton Avdulla, he surged down the middle of the track and went from almost last to first, beating several reopposing horses including last year's winner Chancheng Glory. Leung also rides Rainbow Seven, who has finished in the top three in all of his racecourse starts, in the Class Four Victory Marvel Handicap (1,200m), and Smart Fat Cat, who has surged home in both his starts so far and is a leading chance in the Class Four Medic Kingdom Handicap (1,400m). Of his rivals, Poon's best chance comes in the form of debut winner Voyage Boss, who had excuses last start and is a big shout in the Class Four Medic Kingdom Handicap (1,400m), while Chadwick will be hoping a rejuvenated Devas Twelve can provide him with a winner in the Class Four Pingwu Spark Handicap (1,400m). John Size holds all the aces in the trainers' premiership race. 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. Heading into Sha Tin, John Size holds a likely insurmountable six-win lead over David Hayes in the trainers' premiership race, with both holding leading chances in many of Sunday's races. Size has a trio in the feature Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy thanks to Beauty Eternal, Bundle Award and Young Champion, though Mickley – who was second in the Class Two Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1,400m) – looks to be his best chance on the card down in grade for the Class Three Sight Winner Handicap (1,600m). Awesome Treasure, armed with Britney Wong Po-ni's 10lb claim, looks to be Hayes' best chance in the Class Four Big Profit Handicap (1,200m) from a good draw in stall five.
South China Morning Post
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Content Benno Yung signs off: ‘I was able to make something that is worth more than money'
Benno Yung Tin-pang hopes the win of Endued last Saturday wasn't the last of his 12-season training career, but if it was he'll head off into retirement more than content with what he's achieved. With only two meetings to go before he signs off after reaching the Jockey Club's compulsory retirement age of 66, Yung has 360 winners to his name but it's something else he's most proud of. 'I'm quite happy with how I did. Business-wise, I might not have been the most successful, but on the other hand I was able to make something that is worth more than money – it's the friendships and the respect of people,' said Yung, who earned an affectionate moniker for the patience and care he showed his horses. 'Then there's the nickname – they nicknamed me Doctor Yung for how I treat the horses. That's really impressive to me.' It hasn't been a smooth final season or so for Yung, with the softly spoken handler battling acute myeloid leukaemia. He's happy to report, however, that he's feeling 'great' as he prepares to saddle up his last Sha Tin runners on Sunday and his final Happy Valley team next Wednesday. 'My health is good – so far, so good. My chemo treatment is finished so I'm just undergoing treatment to maintain and control things,' he said. 'Now I have to look for something to go on with – a new chapter. I'm not sure exactly what I'll do yet – there's no solid plan yet. 'I'll have a short break and see what's happening. I'll wait and see if there is a job in racing suitable for me.' Yung heads to Sha Tin this weekend with eight runners as he looks to add to his 20 victories so far this season, with last-start winner Fun Together aptly lining up in a race named after the best horse Yung has trained – Pingwu Spark. Fun Together will carry top weight of 135lb under Jerry Chau Chun-lok, but the six-year-old has scored barrier four for the Class Four Pingwu Spark Handicap (1,400m). Tourbillon Prince has also drawn nicely in one for the Class Three Sight Winner Handicap (1,600m), while Elegant Life has barrier four for the Class Four Big Profit Handicap (1,200m). 'I hope so and think so,' said Yung when asked how confident he was of tasting that winning feeling again before retirement. 'There's quite a few who are chances and thankfully some of them have got a good draw.' On Yung's CV are a career-best Hong Kong haul of 39 winners in season 2021-22, while Pingwu Spark placed at Group level on his way to a peak rating of 119. It's very much business as usual for Yung this week as his career ticks down, but he knows things could be different when that last runner crosses the line at the season finale. 'I'm feeling a bit relieved at the moment. I'm not really emotional now but maybe by next week I will feel something,' he said.
South China Morning Post
24-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
SCMP Best Bets: Punters should be full of Moxie for Valley hat-trick seeker
Sam Agars MY DAY MY WAY - R2 (5) Can finally break through at the seventh attempt from an improved draw Jay Rooney MY DAY MY WAY - R2 (5) Has gone close from wide draws at his past two starts and can break through Trackwork Spy LAHORE - R6 (3) Running well at Sha Tin and can make it fourth-time lucky on city circuit debut Phillip Woo SUPREME AGILITY - R7 (1) Can go one better on the back of a second last month at this level Shannon (Vincent Wong) CALIFORNIA MOXIE - R7 (7) Scored well over this C&D last start and can repeat the dose tonight Racing Post Online CALIFORNIA MOXIE - R7 (7) Looks set to continue his incredible form and notch a third straight win Tom Wood AMAZING AWARD - R4 (5) Been consistent, he has a good draw and the stable's firing
