Latest news with #TinChakHandicap
South China Morning Post
12-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Fownes wishes injured Ho well on way to treble: ‘we love you buddy'
Trainer gets the chocolates with Daily Trophy, Charming Steed and Capital Delight at Sha Tin on Wednesday night by Sam Agars on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 11:21 PM Caspar Fownes enjoys his treble with son Ronan. Photo: Kenneth Chan Caspar Fownes sent his love to the injured Vincent Ho Chak-yiu while reeling off a treble at Sha Tin on Wednesday night. Fownes got the chocolates with Daily Trophy, Charming Steed and Capital Delight, with his former apprentice never far from his thoughts during the midweek all-weather meeting. 'Obviously Vincent was supposed to ride [Charming Steed]. Vincent if you're watching, we love you buddy. Get well soon,' said Fownes. Ho, who is in hospital recovering from the head injury and minor shoulder and neck fractures he suffered in a nasty fall at Sha Tin on Sunday, would have also been aboard Capital Delight, but it was Brenton Avdulla who speared the galloper to victory in the evening's feature – the Class Two Tin Chak Handicap (1,200m). — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 12, 2025 'He's been a very nice horse for the stable. He's won at Happy Valley and he's got a particular liking for the dirt,' Fownes said. 'He's quite versatile – 1,200m up to 1,650m – and it was nice to see him just win on the line. We were lucky but we're very happy.' After Daily Trophy snared the first section of the Class Four Kam Shan Handicap (1,200m) under Harry Bentley, Keagan de Melo made the most of his opportunity aboard Charming Steed in the Class Four Silvermine Bay Handicap (1,800m). 'I asked Keagan if he was available and I gave him a chance. He rode a beautiful race so hopefully he can get some more support and some more winners,' Fownes said of the South African jockey, who moved to six winners for the campaign. Ho was one of four jockeys injured on the weekend – Zac Purton, Angus Chung Yik-lai and Keith Yeung Ming-lun are also sidelined – and there was more chaos at Sha Tin on Wednesday night, with Britney Wong Po-ni and Alexis Badel hitting the deck in the opening strides of the Charming Steed race. Wong appeared to slide straight off the back of $16 chance Snowalot on jumping, while All Are Mine ($14) bounded on jumping then knuckled, sending Badel flying into the dirt. Both jockeys walked away unscathed and both horses were declared runners. David Hayes was the other trainer to enjoy multiple successes on the evening, saluting with Falcon Court and Precision Goal to move to 30 winners and the top of the trainers' premiership. 'I'm very happy with my team, my mafoos, my riding boys – they're doing a great job,' Hayes said. 'At the moment, we're winning with older horses. The Ferraris start running soon.' While the evening didn't end on a positive note for Fownes, with M Unicorn scratched after bursting through the gates, Dylan Mo Hin-tung was ecstatic after piloting Frankie Lor Fu-chuen's Never Peter Out to his third straight success.
South China Morning Post
11-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Badel aims to take advantage of Lucky pickup ride at Sha Tin dirt meeting
French jockey highlights Jamie Richards-trained gelding as the best of his seven mounts on the all-weather card by Jay Rooney on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 2:25 PM Alexis Badel is all smiles after making the most of the late call-up to ride Righteous Arion at Sha Tin on Sunday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Alexis Badel hopes to capitalise on several pickup rides, headlined by Lucky Touch, after a jockey shortage forced the Jockey Club to lift his suspension for Wednesday night's all-dirt meeting at Sha Tin. The Frenchman scored a much-needed winner on Sunday when he got the late call-up to replace Angus Chung Yik-lai on Righteous Arion, who held off the previously unbeaten Hong Lok Golf to claim a narrow victory. Chung, Zac Purton, Vincent Ho Chak-yiu and Keith Yeung Ming-lun were ruled out for multiple weeks after they were injured in falls on Sunday. Badel will look to add to his 10 triumphs this season with a book of seven rides on Wednesday night, with the Jamie Richards-trained Lucky Touch his strongest pickup mount. Badel hops aboard Lucky Touch for the second time in the Class Four Po Shek Wu Handicap (1,650m), having partnered the son of Sweynesse two starts ago when he ran second to Take Action at Happy Valley. Lucky Touch was to be ridden again by Purton, who rode him last start when he rocketed home late to run a close third to the in-form Never Peter Out when trying the dirt for the first time. 'I like Lucky Touch. He was a good run last time,' Badel said. 'Ever Smart is a bit better than his form suggests, I believe, regardless of the draw. There are a couple that should run well.' Ever Smart was another Purton ride, with the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained gelding pursuing a breakthrough success in the Class Five Diamond Hill Handicap (1,200m). He ran back-to-back thirds at the Valley before leading from barrier 14 and fading to run 12th to Ho Ho Star at Sha Tin last start. Badel replaces Chung on Superb Capitalist in the strongest race on the nine-event card, the Class Two Tin Chak Handicap (1,200m). Trained by Tony Cruz, Superb Capitalist will be out to recapture his best form after misfiring in recent runs. It will be the five-year-old's first start on the dirt since his debut on the surface in May 2023, which yielded a solid fourth. Mark Newnham holds the key to the Tin Chak Handicap with Sing Dragon, who chases a fifth victory on the dirt, and consistent sprinter Full Credit. Capital Delight and Bundle Of Charm also look to have claims. Strive For Glory, All Are Mine, Monta Frutta and Beato are Badel's other rides on Wednesday night.
