Latest news with #TonyCruz
South China Morning Post
29-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
The Hong Kong Racing Postscript: who's hot, who's not and the best of June
Ellis Wong celebrates his first Hong Kong treble at Sha Tin on Saturday. Photos: Kenneth Chan An apprentice continued his hot form, a veteran handler had a big month and a few prominent jockeys struggled to fire in June. The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a month to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride. Who's hot? Fresh from his best month of the campaign with five wins in May, Ellis Wong Chi-wang went to another level in June with eight victories from just 35 rides – operating at a phenomenal strike rate of 22.86 per cent. The 24-year-old's haul for the month was second only to Zac Purton (11 wins) as he continues an impressive end to the season. Zac Purton was in fine form once again in June. Harry Bentley and Brenton Avdulla also had successful months with five victories apiece. From a trainer's perspective, Tony Cruz shone with seven winners from 49 runners, helping him jump from 10th to seventh in the championship standings. David Eustace also had a big month with six winners from 44 runners while Manfred Man Ka-leung, Chris So Wai-yin and Douglas Whyte each bagged five wins. Man's exceptional strike rate of 10.7 per cent for the season is second only to championship leader John Size (11.1). 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. Who's not? Hugh Bowman and Luke Ferraris sit second and fifth in the jockeys' championship, respectively, but June was a month to forget for the top riders after they managed just one win each. Superb Kid was Luke Ferraris' sole winner in June. Matthew Poon Ming-fai and Keith Yeung Ming-lun also had just one triumph each, while Ben Thompson failed to visit the winners' enclosure, with the Australian carrying a winless streak of 79 rides into the final month of the term. Four handlers had just one win in June – Frankie Lor Fu-chuen, Mark Newnham, David Hall and Jamie Richards. Win of the month He's rarely beaten far despite racing in some of the city's biggest features and he's consistent without often winning, but Beauty Joy managed to bag another Group success in emphatic style this month. 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 Tony Cruz's eight-year-old overcame a slow start to rattle home from second last in the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) field of 14, bursting down the centre of the track under Avdulla to comfortably account for Derby hero Cap Ferrat by a length and a quarter. It was Beauty Joy's first victory since last year's Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) and a signature result in a campaign that included a barnstorming third in the Group One Hong Kong Mile in December and fourth in the Group One Stewards' Cup (1,600m). More importantly, it convinced Cruz and connections to extend the HK$35.3 million earner's career for another season. Ride of the month If you're looking for an example of the perfect ride down the Sha Tin 1,000m straight, look no further than Avdulla's on Majestic Express. Look at Majestic Express run home! 🚂💨@brentonavdulla times his run to perfection atop the Larry Yung-owned sprinter with a swift rail-skimming finish for trainer John Size... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 8, 2025 Drawn unfavourably in gate five, the John Size-trained sprinter was taken back in the field by Avdulla, who gradually made his way towards the better going near the grandstand rail. The move was successful when Majestic Express got all the way to the grandstand rail passing the 500m and Avdulla waited until the 200m to unleash his mount, who responded with a paralysing late burst. He arrived just in time to run down Fast Responder by a short head.
South China Morning Post
28-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Zac Purton officially secures eighth premiership, while Ellis Wong lands maiden Hong Kong treble at 1,002-1
Star Australian is 59 wins clear at the top of the premiership table with only 50 races left in the season It's been a mere formality for months but Zac Purton officially secured his eighth title at Sha Tin on Saturday, banging in a treble to move 59 wins clear in the jockeys' premiership with only 50 races left in the season. Purton moved to 126 winners for the campaign – four short of last season's tally with five meetings remaining – and while he's miles off his Hong Kong record tally of 179 victories, he's striking at a ridiculous 23 per cent. 'It's really nice to win another one. Apart from having a stack halfway through [and missing seven weeks through injury], I've had another good season with a few highlights with some big horses,' Purton said, referring to champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising. 'All in all, I'm very happy again.' Purton opened his account aboard Tony Cruz-trained $1.75 chance Gentlemen Legacy in the Class Three Nam Chung River Handicap (2,000m) before completing a running double aboard exciting three-year-old Copartner Fleet in the first section of the Class Four Beas River Handicap (1,200m). Domination at Sha Tin! 😤 Copartner Fleet gets off the mark in emphatic style and shapes as a 3YO with a big future racing in Hong Kong... @zpurton #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 28, 2025 Having his second career start after running a close second on debut last month, the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained Copartner Fleet dictated proceedings from the front and put the race to bed early in the straight, eventually saluting by three-quarters of a length to reward those who backed him into $1.8. While Purton's first two victories came aboard progressive gallopers on the turf, he completed his three-timer atop a far more exposed horse on a wet-slow all-weather track. Backed late to jump the $3.2 favourite, Fashion Legend travelled nicely just forward of midfield in the Class Four Sha Tau Kok River Handicap (1,650m) before whistling past his rivals in the straight to salute by a length and a quarter. Fashion Legend's second Hong Kong success at start 23 marked the first leg of a double for his trainer David Eustace, who later took out the Class Four Shan Pui River Handicap (1,400m) with Riding Together. 'He's just taken to the dirt. He's had a couple of wins on it now where everything has gone beautifully,' said Eustace of Fashion Legend, who has won twice from six starts since switching surfaces. 'Good barrier [three] and the pace was not too strong, which allows him to stay on the bridle because he's just got a short sprint over the mile. He's gaining a bit of confidence on the dirt.' Elsewhere on Saturday's twilight card, Ellis Wong Chi-wang punched home his first Hong Kong treble with wins aboard King Oberon, S J Tourbillon and Ariel. Riding at his first meeting since reaching 45 career winners and having his claim reduced from 7lb to 5lb, Wong picked up where he left off before his two-meeting suspension with a breakthrough 1,002-1 three-timer. On fire, @elliswong05! 🔥 Our apprentice scoops a Sha Tin treble with a superb front-running ride aboard Ariel for David Hayes... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 28, 2025 'This is my first time to have three winners in Hong Kong, so I'm very happy,' Wong said. 'These past few months I have had more support and I really appreciate that. I still have a lot to learn but when the opportunities are coming, I have been lucky to take advantage. 'I'm trying to learn a lot from Zac, from Hugh [Bowman], who is very patient, and I love Vincent [Ho Chak-yiu].' The win of Ariel completed a double for David Hayes after the earlier success of Gallant Crown, with the Australian declaring he's 'no chance' despite drawing within seven victories of John Size in the race for the trainers' title.
South China Morning Post
28-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Beauty Waves salutes in stable debut for Tony Cruz: ‘I'm so happy this horse came over'
Talented sprinter Beauty Waves made the perfect start to life with new trainer Tony Cruz, banking a tough win in Saturday's Class One Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup (1,000m) at Sha Tin. Recently transferred to Cruz after four wins for Pierre Ng Pang-chi, the Irish import enhanced his reputation as a straight-track specialist when he proved too slick for strong opposition in Saturday's feature. Backed from $6.9 to $3.7 late, Beauty Waves was sent forward by Alexis Badel to race on the speed and fought on gamely to beat $3.5 favourite Wunderbar by half a length. 'I was expecting him to run a big race,' Cruz said of the five-year-old, who won the Group Three National Day Sprint (1,000m) for Ng and Badel in October. Beauty Waves is a winner again! The Starspangledbanner speedster defeats Wunderbar in the Class 1 Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup for @AlexisBadel and Tony Cruz at Sha Tin... 🏆 @Beautystablehk #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 28, 2025 'I wasn't really confident about the horse winning the race, but he showed today he's got some ability and I believe I can get better results. I believe he can win more races. 'I'm so happy this horse came over [to my stable]. I liked this horse from the very beginning - I've been watching him in the past. He's always a real speedy horse, like he showed today, and he won in good time. I believe he's a 1,000m horse.' Wunderbar launched a late challenge in the centre of the track but ultimately came up short, while Magic Control was beaten a length and a quarter in third. Cruz said Beauty Waves would be aimed at 1,000m features next season, while Badel was over the moon to hop back aboard the son of Starspangledbanner. 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. Jockey Alexis Badel and trainer Tony Cruz after Beauty Waves' win. 'It's good to be back on him. I'm grateful that Tony gave me the ride and he's a talented horse and it was just a nice win,' the French jockey said. 'I'm doing the best I can to give my horses every chance and today it was good to win in such a good race.' Beauty Waves capped a Sha Tin double for Cruz after his Australian import Gentlemen Legacy broke through at his fourth local start, claiming the Class Three Nam Chung River Handicap (2,000m) under Zac Purton.
South China Morning Post
27-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Richard Kingscote returns, Ben Thompson departs and Tony Cruz gets an extension
Richard Kingscote will return to Hong Kong, Ben Thompson will depart and Tony Cruz has been permitted to train beyond the age of 70, the Jockey Club's licensing committee confirmed on Friday. Kingscote is the only addition to a riding cohort that will lose Antoine Hamelin, who returns to France at the end of this term after five years in Hong Kong, the retiring Alfred Chan Ka-hei and Ben Thompson, who has opted to head back to Australia after nearly 18 months in the city. A multiple Group One winner in his home country and Ireland, Englishman Kingscote booted home four winners – headlined by a dirt treble at Sha Tin on March 26 – during a six-week stint as injury cover earlier this year. Thompson has ridden 15 winners during his time in Hong Kong but has struggled in recent months, with the 27-year-old heading to Sha Tin on Saturday in the midst of a 71-ride drought dating back to April. THREE FROM THREE! 🔥@RKingscote caps a treble from only three rides tonight at Sha Tin as debutant Rising Force dazzles for Ricky Yiu... @AtTheRaces | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 26, 2025 All jockeys have been handed a full-season licence except for Kingscote, Keagan de Melo and James Orman, who are contracted until February 17. The only changes to the trainers' roster for next season have already been confirmed, with South African handler Brett Crawford the new addition and veteran Benno Yung Tin-pang calling an end to his 12-year career. Crawford has been on the ground at Sha Tin and meeting owners in recent weeks. The 53-year-old officially starts training in Hong Kong on July 17, the day after the current season ends. The licensing committee confirmed Cruz, 68, is eligible for an extension beyond the conclusion of the 2026-27 racing season, during which he will turn 70, until the conclusion of the 2029-30 racing season 'provided he continues to satisfy the benchmarks set down by the club'.
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Beauty Joy bags another Group win: ‘He's probably got as much head noise as I did when I was 18'
One of Hong Kong's old warhorses helped Brenton Avdulla celebrate a new arrival at Sha Tin on Sunday night, with Beauty Joy taking out the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m). Not long after welcoming baby boy Kobe to the family, Avdulla landed his second Group victory aboard the notoriously difficult Beauty Joy. 'He's probably got as much head noise as I did when I was 18 years old. We seem to get along very well,' said Avdulla of the Tony Cruz-trained eight-year-old. 'He was good to me last season and we've won another Group race today. Obviously well handled by Tony to get him here in good form and he did his job well.' 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 After travelling second last in a race with decent early pace, $12.85 chance Beauty Joy worked through traffic early in the straight before charging through the line to salute by a length and a quarter from Hong Kong Derby hero Cap Ferrat. 'He's such a quirky horse, you can't get any feel of him early. You've just got to let the bridle try and fall out of his mouth as much as possible because he can give you a very difficult ride,' said Avdulla of the four-time Group winner. 'I never knew I was really in the race until probably just before the corner when the pace steadied and he got hold of the bridle. I gave him a little click into gear and he felt like the horse that was going to take me a long way. 'He had to come off the Derby winner's back and get out after him and he did that in good style. It was nice to win for a loyal supporter like Tony and for the Kwok family. Kobe has brought a bit of luck to the team.' 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. Cruz confirmed Beauty Joy will race on next season after pushing his prize money past HK$35 million. 'He's always been a very honest horse but difficult to ride. In the parade ring before the race, [owner] Simon [Kwok Siu-ming] said, 'I hope we win this race. If we win this race, we're going to keep on racing him'. He won, so it looks like we're going to keep on racing him next season,' said Cruz. 'He's a healthy horse and as long as he's healthy, we'll keep going. We're going to keep the flow going.' Avdulla finished the season's 81st meeting with a double, also saluting aboard Mister Dapper for David Eustace, while Zac Purton landed a brace of his own with victories aboard Chris So Wai-yin-trained debutant Lightness Of Music and Lo Pan Spirit for Jimmy Ting Koon-ho. Sizzling debut, Lightness Of Music! 🔥 Soon-to-be Australian Racing Hall of Famer @zpurton guides Chris So's first starter to a stylish victory at Sha Tin for owner Nikki Ng... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 22, 2025 'It was a good effort because he got a little bit stirred up in the parade and going out to the track and then he pulled a shoe off [going to the barriers], so we had a little bit to deal with,' Purton said after Lightness Of Music's two-length victory in the Class Four Ruby Handicap (1,000m). 'Once he got behind the gates, it was pretty straightforward from there but it was good to see him do it on race day.' So headed home with multiple winners after also prevailing with Golden Fairy, with that galloper providing the first leg of a double for jockey Lyle Hewitson, who also saluted aboard Douglas Whyte's Morgan Success. Cody Mo Wai-kit also grabbed a brace thanks to wins from Jumbo Treasure and Flying Fortress.
