Bundle Award charged into HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) calculations with a brilliant victory in the Class 2 Carpenter Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (9 March) to fan hopes of a fourth Classic triumph for champion trainer John Size. Ridden perfectly by Ben Thompson, the 75-rating Shamus Award gelding (115lb) charged from last at the 400m in a searing 22.11s to down Markwin (115lb) and Helene Feeling (135lb) to enhance claims of clinching a place in the BMW Hong Kong Derby on 23 March. “It felt as good as it would have looked,” Thompson said of the gelding’s blistering finish. “I was confident he would let rip when it was time to go. He was super. He’s handled by a master in John Size. He’s versatile. He’s a lovely horse.” Size, who saddled Fay Fay (2012), Luger (2015) and Ping Hai Star (2018) to BMW Hong Kong Derby victory, said: “He (Bundle Award) did very well. He seems to settle and relax and didn’t seem to waste any energy. He had plenty of resources left for the finish.” Fifth behind Sky Heart over 1600m after drawing barrier one at his previous start, Bundle Award – who won three times in Australia for Jason & Allan Williams as Prince Prawn – appreciated being dropped to the tail of the field today before Thompson drove the gelding out to the middle of the track and unleashed a devastating sprint. “You couldn’t compare the two days (today and last start). I think that he drew well last start – he drew gate one. Maybe that was no help to him. Anyway, today he showed us what he wanted,” Size said. The BMW Hong Kong Derby field selection will be announced on Friday (14 March) with the field likely to be headed Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner Rubylot and Hong Kong Classic Mile victor (1600m) and My Wish. The 76-rating Markwin – a two-time winner in Hong Kong – also boosted claims of a possible BMW Hong Kong Derby berth a length and a quarter behind Bundle Award. Bundle Award’s success continued a see-sawing battle for the Hong Kong trainers’ championship, shunting Size back into the lead after David Hayes had snatched back the ascendancy with first-starter Akashvani’s win under Lyle Hewitson in the first section of the Class 4 Lung Kong Handicap (1200m). Size and Hayes both have 37 wins but 12-time champion trainer Size has more second placings. “He (Akashvani) did a good job from a wide gate (barrier 12) and my sons (Ben, Will & JD) educated him very well from Lindsay Park (in Australia). He came in and I just had to get him here,” Hayes said. “He’s actually got a low head carriage action like Rubylot. He reminds me of a young Rubylot, so let’s hope he ends up as good as Rubylot – not saying he will be, but his action is very similar to Rubylot.” Hewitson also partnered Mark Newnham’s Armour War Eagle to victory in the Class 3 South Wall Handicap (1400m). A dual winner in New Zealand, the War Decree gelding had racked up five minor placings in 12 starts before today’s breakthrough. Apprentice Britney Wong moved to the top of the Hong Kong jockeys’ All Weather Track standings with a double, striking aboard on Natural High for David Hall in the Class 4 Nga Tsin Wai Handicap (1200m, dirt) and Manfred Man’s Self Improvement in the Class 3 Sa Po Handicap (1200m, dirt). With 12 wins in total in her first season, Wong has notched seven of those victories on dirt to lead Luke Ferraris (five) in her first season in Hong Kong after riding 50 winners in Australia. “It’s great. I had two doubles when I was in Australia but they were both non-TAB meetings, so this feels fantastic,” Wong, 25, said. “Whether it’s turf or dirt, I’ll go for it and it’s good that I have one (surface) that works in a particular way, so I’m very happy.” Man also posted a double when Super Seth three-year-old Patch Of Cosmo won the Class 3 Tak Ku Ling Handicap (1600m), downing Embraces and BMW Hong Kong Derby hopeful Light Years Charm. Luke Ferraris slotted his 30th winner of the season and maintained his perfect record on Lucky With You when the consistent seven-year-old overpowered his rivals in the Class 1 Kowloon City Handicap (1200m) for Frankie Lor. “He’s a lovely horse, obviously when he gets up to Group 1 level, it’s a bit tough for him but he’s definitely a Class 1 horse,” Ferraris said. “He was in great shape today, Frankie had him going good and it was a very easy win. “I sat back on him, pulled him out at the 400m and coasted up to them at the furlong (200m), let him go and put them to bed.” David Eustace scored with Regency Happy Star under Alexis Badel in the Class 5 Junction Handicap (1400m) before Chris So combined with Keith Yeung to win the second section of the Class 4 Lung Kong Handicap (1200m) with three-year-old Mount Everest. The Exceed And Excel debutant lunged to claim first-start victory over Patch Of Time before Caspar Fownes-trained Flying Luck notched his second win of the campaign with a withering finish for Brenton Avdulla to land the Class 4 Nam Kok Handicap (1600m). Yeung completed a double when The Auspicious clinched the Class 4 Lok Sin Tong Cup Handicap (1400m) at odds of 131/1 to give Me Tsui his ninth win of the season. Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (12 March). By Leo Schlink

Video Stars Race 2 No 4 AUTUMN VIBES He was unlucky not to win on debut, as a slow start severely hampered his chances, leaving him well off the pace. Despite this, he unleashed a strong turn of foot in the straight to finish third, falling just 1.25 lengths short. Since then, he has trialled well and now finds himself ideally placed in a below-par Class 4 field. With a clean getaway, the three-year-old looks primed to break through. Race 10 No 5 WINNING DRAGON It is puzzling that he continues to be overlooked by the market, regardless of class. Last start, he defied his rating to finish fourth in a Group 1 feature, backing up a close second in a Group 3 two runs ago. Dropping to Class 2 is a significant advantage this week, and if he maintains his recent form, he should prove highly competitive. Sectional Stars Race 1 No 8 GANGNAM STAR His recent underperformance can be largely attributed to drawing poor gates. However, his fast-finishing eighth last time out indicates that he is on the right track to regaining his form. With a better draw this week, he could sneak into the placings at odds. Race 4 No 5 LUCKY SAM GOR Having shown promise in both starts, he closed strongly for fourth over 1400m two weeks ago, finishing three lengths behind the talented SKY JEWELLERY. Stepping up to a mile this week, he should be even better suited, and with a genuine pace, he is expected to make his presence felt.

Caspar Fownes is optimistic Sky Heart and Lo Rider can bolster stable hopes of landing a third HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) when the pair contests the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Carpenter Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (9 March). Sky Heart and Lo Rider are among a group of four-year-olds – along with Cambridge, Markwin and Bundle Award – taking on older opposition this weekend in the search of a ratings boost as they attempt to gain a start in the BMW Hong Kong Derby on 23 March. Cambridge, Markwin and Sky Heart are all rated 76, while Bundle Award and Lo Rider are a point lower on 75 and victory or placings against a field headed by Group 3 winners Helene Feeling and Encountered could trigger vital progress in the handicap. Four-time Hong Kong champion trainer Fownes has twice savoured Hong Kong Derby glory with Super Satin (2010) and Sky Darci (2021) and hopes Sky Heart and Lo Rider can edge closer to earning starts in the Classic. “Both horses are there, presenting very well. We won’t have many excuses, they’re both in good form and even though it’s Class 2, I’m sure they’re going to be performing with a bit of credibility. They’re both in good nick and it’s going to be fun,” Fownes said. Lyle Hewitson will ride Sky Heart (115lb) and start from barrier seven, while Karis Teetan will partner Lo Rider (115lb) from gate five. “Lo Rider ran enormously the other day, but I thought the track was pretty hard. If we get a normal track, he would be better on it,” Fownes said of the Harzand gelding, who won an 1800m three-year-old handicap carrying 135lb in Ireland when known as Sharinay, and who finished second last-start to Steps Ahead at Sha Tin. “The same with Sky Heart. He’s stepping up to 1800 (metres) for the first time, so it’s going to be quite interesting to see what he can do. He was quite impressive, I thought, the other day when that horse came to beat him, he stuck his neck out while giving away a lot of weight. “I think we’re looking forward to the weekend and I think they’ll acquit themselves very well.” Pierre Ng concedes time is against Cambridge but the young trainer hopes the former Irish galloper can regain his best form under Angus Chung this weekend. Formerly trained by Aidan O’Brien, Cambridge ran second in the G3 Eyrefield Stakes (1800m) at Leopardstown in 2023 but has yet to fire in two Hong Kong runs, finishing 12th and ninth. “His form hasn’t come ideally on time for us. His last run was still a little bit weak at the end, so we’re backing him up and hopefully he can get some points to get into the Derby,” Ng said. “We know he can run a long distance but still he might need some time to wake him up to acclimatise to Hong Kong. I just want him to have an easier run where he can pick up in the straight and have a good run. He’s definitely a quality horse, but he just needs time.” The Class 3 Tak Ku Ling Handicap (1600m) is also critical to the aspirations of the connections of Light Years Charm and Liveandletlive, who could also boost their chances of running in the BMW Hong Kong Derby this month with strong performances. Trained by David Eustace, Light Years Charm is rated 75 and will carry 130lb this Sunday under Hugh Bowman, while Liveandletlive is on a mark of 66 and will be partnered by Chung from barrier three. One of Sunday’s features for established horses is the Class 1 Kowloon City Handicap (1200m) which is headed by G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) winner Invincible Sage (135lb), Lucky With You (134lb), Magic Control (133lb), Mugen (133lb), Taj Dragon (130lb), Copartner Prance (129lb), Drombeg Banner (122lb) and Whizz Kid (115lb). Sha Tin’s 11-race card on Sunday (9 March) starts with the Class 5 Junction Handicap (1400m) at 12.30pm. By Leo Schlink

Trent Busuttin has developed an affinity for winning Derbies and he’d love nothing more than to add the G1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) to his collection with Thedoctoroflove at Ellerslie on Saturday (8 March). The New Zealand Derby has special significance for Busuttin and his co-trainer and partner Natalie Young as both hail from New Zealand and are now domiciled in Australia, where they train from Cranbourne in Victoria. They will be attempting to become the first Australian-based trainers to win the New Zealand Derby. The couple decided to send Thedoctoroflove to New Zealand for the Derby after he won at Flemington on 11 January over 2000m. He then finished sixth in a Benchmark 78 at Sandown behind older horses before he headed to New Zealand where he won the G2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) on 22 February at Ellerslie. Busuttin said there was something special in preparing horses to win a Derby and it was something he had inherited from his father Paddy, who trained Castletown to win the 1989 New Zealand Derby. “We like the Derbies,” Busuttin said. “In addition to the New Zealand Derby, Dad won the Macau Derby and the Singapore Derby. We’ve won a Victoria Derby and an Australian Derby and it would be great to add another one.” Trent Busuttin finished second in the 2017 edition of the New Zealand Derby with Rising Red who was beaten by Gingernuts. Busuttin said the son of So You Think had continued to work well under the supervision of their travelling foreman Brendan Hawtin. “He’s equal favourite for the race. He’s drawn 12 out of 16 which isn’t ideal but it could be worse,” Busuttin said. Melbourne jockey Daniel Moor, who rode Thedoctoroflove in the Avondale Guineas, will again ride him. Moor was impressed by Thedoctoroflove’s win last month but he said he will be better for the experience as it was his first run the right-handed way of going. “He showed me he could race closer, which is very handy, as he began so well but didn’t really go right-handed,” Moor said. “Around every bend he was all over the place. He took a bit of riding and will benefit from that experience. “He is a pretty cool customer although he was a little on edge, but he raced forward and was impressive at the end.” The Avondale Guineas has proven to be a great form reference for the New Zealand Derby with seven of its past 13 winners completing the double at their next starts. The horses which have completed this feat are Orchestral (2024), Rocket Spade (2021), Gingernuts (2017), Rangipo (2016), Mongolian Khan (2015), Puccini (2014) and Silent Achiever (2012). The raiders certainly won’t have it all their own way with plenty of opposition expected from the locals, headed by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray trained-Tuxedo, who comes off a last start victory in the G2 Waikato Guineas (2000m). It’s not the traditional lead-up to the Derby. “It’s getting harder to find the negatives around him, I suppose if you’re being picky then the traditional lead-up would have been the Avondale Guineas,” Ritchie said. “We felt he was fit enough and didn’t need it, and I gave John Bary a call and he did the same thing with Jimmy Choux (2011 winner). “It’s not like it’s not doable, I understand it’s against normal things, but we felt he didn’t need another run on a hard track at Ellerslie two weeks before the Derby when he’d already excelled in the Waikato Guineas.” Ritchie said he believes Tuxedo has the best turn of foot in the race, but is stepping up to 2400m for the first time and admit it’s always a query. He said Thedoctoroflove and the highly fancied Bourbon Proof would almost certainly run out the 2400m.

Already a multiple Group 1 winner, Godolphin’s powerhouse colt Broadsiding is aiming to add another prestigious title to his collection in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas this Saturday. With James McDonald in the saddle, he is poised to start as the favourite at Sydney’s iconic racing headquarters, though a strong field of contenders will be aiming to stop him in his tracks. Leading the charge against Broadsiding is Swiftfalcon, trained by Team Hawkes and ridden by Tyler Schiller. Swiftfalcon finished a strong second behind Broadsiding first-up but is expected to be even more dangerous with the rise in distance to the mile, a trip that should suit him perfectly. Another serious contender is the Chris Waller-trained filly Aeliana, who comes out of the same lead-up race as Broadsiding and Swiftfalcon. Although she finished third on that occasion, Aeliana hit the line with impressive speed, clocking some of the day’s fastest sectionals. If she can repeat that late charge, she will be a major threat come race time.

Track Two will be in operation for Races 1-4 while Races 5-11 will be contested on Course A6. HANDSOME JOYFUL is a fast beginner and is a chance to finally deliver a win in Malaysia and quickly atone for his last start defeat by a head over 1150m. ROAD OF TIGER also has barrier speed and can bounce back after casting a plate on February 16. TAKHI trialed well behind Ipoh winner Angel Baby recently and despite the draw, is well weighted on the 52kg. Race 1 Selections: 1 – 2 – 9 – 4 OUTFIT was never in danger when scoring this track and trip a fortnight ago and can repeat the dose. BIONICS is coming off successive Ipoh wins and the Trips D Stable / Wayne Lim combination are churning out good results this year. EMPHATIC indicated he is nearing a Class 5 win finishing 0.5L behind BIONICS at Ipoh. MR BIG BROTHER resumes for the new stable. Race 2 Selections: 4 – 1 – 3 – 5 OUR SECRET WEAPON is racing consistently and was a fraction unlucky when tightened last start but is a reliable beginner with best form over the sprint trips. OLIVER KHAN can mix his form but is a two-time winner at the track and distance, including a dead heat win in January. SHOW ALL SIXTY-ONE enters Sunday’s contest with good Singapore form lines and his impressive trial win here suggests he will attract market support. DRAGON CAVALLO was a beaten favourite last time but dropping back to the “B” division at this level should enhance his chances with the stable starting to fire up again. Race 3 Selections: 7 – 9 – 1 – 2 V’INVINCIBLE resumes with a fair trial under his belt but his first up record is good which keeps him under notice. PACIFIC ANGEL continues to race well with a neck defeat at her past two starts and the on pacer can strike back anytime. PRINCE LONHRO received no pressure when leading throughout to score in Class 5 by just under six lengths and was placed at Class 4 in December. THUNDER STAR has won twice from four local runs and is well weighted. Race 4 Selections: 5 – 6 – 7 – 12 SACRED SKY has been more reliable at the start when delivering successive wins and that winning streak can continue. LIM’S BESTBREAKER turned in his best local performance so far with a fast-finishing 2nd behind over the mile. SUPER BOWL is coming off a string of minor placings and will strip fitter following his 2nd behind SACRED SKY three weeks back. WEALTHYNESS can be vulnerable if early pressure is applied and needs to lead. His early pace is a great asset and both local wins have been comfortable. Race 5 Selections: 2 – 1 – 8 – 4 Progressive 3yo, DUMA has been defeated a neck his past two runs and can easily strike back third-up this campaign. CHEVAL PEGASUS is coming off a Restricted Maiden win but has a quick turn of foot and is capable of winning immediately in this grade. KSATRIA has sprinted home well when placed his last two starts and is on the eight-day backup. NIMBUS STAR trialed well and is a chance at its local debut. Race 6 Selections: 4 – 11 – 6 – 7 SACRED COMMAND is a former Class 2 galloper and can follow up on his 1600m victory on his Malaysian debut. PACIFIC WARRIOR is due to break through and was a heavily backed favorite when finishing runner up here last Saturday. SO WE FIGHT is the likely leader and will give then something to chase over the mile. DON’T FORGET BOSS is only a moderate beginner but his final sectionals have been quick at all three local starts. Race 7 Selections: 2 – 1 – 3 – 5 GULF EAGLE was a first up winner for his last preparation and the trend can continue judging by his trial run on Tuesday. ONG MARI will be suited by the distance drop after winning twice over 1400m in January. PACIFIC ATLANTIC over raced and was beaten a head after leading and should be given another chance. DAYLIGHT was suited by a fast tempo when scoring last start but is yet to win over this journey. Race 8 Selections: 6 – 4 – 10 – 5 INFINITY VICTORY placed seven times in Australia and his recent 2nd in a 1400m Open Novice on local debut suggests he will be one of the market leaders. SPICY BABE received every chance on her Malaysian debut and her barrier speed places her in good stead. FRIEND OF HONOUR is coming off a Class 4 run and is expected to improve while LUCKY WARRIOR has attracted market support in the past and was runner up in a maiden two starts back. Race 9 Selections: 2 – 10 – 4 – 9 SMART LIKE JASON is suited by the distance rise and will be fitter second up. SCHNEIDER is capable of going back-to-back despite the wide gate. RED SUN will break the maiden tag soon and finished on nicely in a trial on Tuesday. LIM’S FUJI is rarely far off the mark and is one for the trifectas. Race 10 Selections: 6 – 8 – 10 – 4 In a low-grade contest SHIHAB had no luck caught wide last start and can quickly atone. SABAH WIN has been coming from wide barriers recently and looks a chance from pole position. BIG DAY has descended in the ratings and is worth watching first up while BEHIND PLAYER ran on well last start and is worth considering despite the wide gate. Race 11 Selections: 2 – 3 – 8 – 1  

Punters will have to do some serious homework for the Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting on Sunday where they are faced with a competitive card of handicaps. Best bet however, could come in the first leg of the Pick 6, race three on the nine-race programme where Alyson Wright sends out Gorgeous Bomb. The daughter of Lancaster Bomber was well supported on debut and only just failed. She can go one better even taking on males and a modest field. Biggest threat could come from One Armed Bandit who has only missed a cheque once in six starts and that was over 1800m. He should put in another bold showing back to a sprint. In the fourth, Zena Rose has been knocking at the door for Duncan Howells and only just failed last time out over course and distance. Close up in third that day was Rani Tarabai who made good improvement after a break and should could have more to come. Dee Day was always handy before fading late in her last run over a mile and can do better back over this shorter trip. Skipper O’Malley  improved second time out and should prefer the extra furlong. The fifth is a wide open handicap but Barry Du Grond ran way below ability last start and may have need the run coming off a break. He has a competitive draw with a 2.5kg claimer up and should start at lengthy odds. Burning Man found one too good when favourite last time out and can make amends while Magma Magic was another beaten favourite last run but ran well below form. He has a chance on his previous effort. Gimmethegoodlife has been close-up in both starts since his maiden win and goes well this course and distance. Perilla faces a tough task in the sixth but steps up to a more suitable trip and jumps from a competitive gate. Bevies Delight is always dangerous and has been running on late over shorter. This longer trip from a good draw should suit. Mike Miller has three competitive runners but Warrior Royale was close-up behind Bevies Delight last run could prove the pick. Go Like Flo has the widest draw to contend with but has put in two competitive local efforts and she is never far back. The seventh could prove a little tricky. Cape Eagle is the class act and was far from disgraced in the Summer Cup but has been rested since and he is more effective over a little further. However, his class may tell. View Of The World has been consistent and goes well this trip. He jumps in class but only has 49.5kg to shoulder. Miss Platina ran an excellent race in a six-horse field last run where Royal Victory was favourite. She also has a light weight and will be a threat. The eighth is another wide open handicap but Sonata was not disgraced first run out of the maidens behind the promising Mocha Blend. She had the worst of the draw that day and is now drawn pole. Forward Motion showed up well first run back from a break and the Lafferty stable is in form. Miss Paget may just have needed her last run but was not far back. She has also dropped in the ratings and now seems to be off a competitive mark. Grey Fantacy has been disappointing since her maiden win but goes another furlong further and can pop up at any time. Future Flo can round off the meeting . He has been well placed by Michael Roberts and has only been creeping up the ratings. He has cracking recent form and rates the one to beat again. Wissa’s On Fire could be a threat as he makes his local debut. He has dropped in the ratings in spite of some useful Cape form. Philispiel showed up nicely first run back from a break and is over his favourite course and distance. While Trafalgar Square surprised with the blinkers off last time out and only got a two-point rise in the handicap.

If Miss World comes back to her best earlier form in race 8 over 1250m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, she will stand an undeniable chance. There is some exciting racing on the card and she heads up what could be the most exciting race. She has earned some black type for being stakes-placed more than once. But her form to Lion Rampart stands out. Added to that is the demotion in grade recently that has taken her to the second box at her last two starts. She also has runs to Asiye Phambili, who was deemed good enough to compete in the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship just over a month ago. There is nothing close to that level of form in this lineup. She finished 1,95 lengths behind the multiple Grade 1 placed filly in December over 1000m who is two years older and far more battle-hardened than Miss World. She was only in receipt of 4kg while the true Weight For Age scale in a normal handicap would have had them 6kg apart at the time. That was the level trainer Greg Ennion thought Miss World to be. She was a winner all over at her last start before she was snared by a short head by Trip To Maputo at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Trip To Maputo has run subsequently but was desperately unlucky at Fairview where she ran into traffic and was eased out of the race. She is a good deal better than that. Corne Orffer is carded to take the ride on Miss World. He did duty last time out. War Chariot could be the horse to watch as the main danger. He is not the most straightforward around but he has form to some serious sprinters. His last run came on World Sports Betting Cape Town Met day in late January when he finished 2,55 lengths behind Golden Destiny in sixth place. On that run, he has the decent African Prince held comfortably. Blinkers are added to Victor Hugo in race 5 over 1400m and he is listed as the best bet of the day. He has been beaten favourite more than once. He has been tough to follow because punters will not be fond of him. But blinkers could be what he needs. He does not follow through with his races after looking like a winner. Also, the quicker track should help. Hollywoodbets Durbanville is a tight course that suits horses who like to race handy. Chad Little takes the ride on this horse who has four runs and four places to his name. Pilot Flame stands out as the horse to beat in race 9 over 1250m. The form of her last run has been well franked by Give Me Everything, who hacked up to win the Listed Schweppes Cape Fillies Classic. Pilot Flame was 4,4 lengths behind and she now has the services of Richard Fourie. She is miles down in class and she should take all the beating. Past her, the race is wide open. There is a lot to like about Let It Be Said as a horse to watch in the future and even though he takes on some well-established horses in race 2 over 1600m, he could come out on top under Fourie for Justin Snaith. His last run was a taking win from The Grey King who is likely to run against boom three-year-old One Stripe eight days after this meeting. Tripping Thunder is overdue a win and he could be the horse to follow in race 4 over 1000m. On the back of two consecutive second-place efforts he could be the next off the conveyor belt. One must bare in mind those were not in plum maiden races but neither is this. It could be shrewd that trainer Glen Kotzen has dropped him to 1000m with his good early pace. To the top of the card, Dawn’s Early Light stands a strong winning chance in race 1 over 1250m. Louis Burke is the leading workrider in Cape Town this season with three wins from only four rides. Dawn’s Early Light has the best form on offer too. It is a very shallow race. There are a lot of potential improvers in race 3 over 1400m. The key, this being the first two-year-old race over this middle distance range this season. So, a few of these horses could gain plenty from the form that they have to their names. Supposeyou’veheard ran a cracker on debut when finishing fourth behind the promising Ireland Forever. There is not much evidence of stamina genetically but if he is ready for this step up, he could be the horse that has most to come. Grant van Niekerk takes the ride for Ennion, who will be hoping this is the day his horses take their plethora of recent places to wins. There is a long list of chances in race 6 over 1500m. Beneath The Clouds under Richard Fourie for trainers Michelle Rix and Harold Crawford is the angle of selection because of her steady progress. Her last run was her best when she finished second behind Happy Wives, who looked the part on that occasion. Fourie rode her then and he takes plenty from a horse after he has ridden them. She should run another big race even if she does not win. Dangers include Ocotillo, Vivo Per Lei, Kleinzee, Tuscan Romance and Another Dream. The hardest race on the card is race 7 over 1250m. Punters will need to cast their nets wide in pursuit of a winner, but at a push, Trippi’s Silk could finally visit the winners’ box. He has recorded a second-place finish at his last two starts without being emphatic but he is due. He has not won in 18 months, which emphasises the lack of confidence one can have.

The combination of trainer Alan Greeff and jockey Richard Fourie continue to have a steady stream of winners each week at Fairview and that can again be the case on Friday when he sends out Heart Stealer in Race 7, a MR 82 Handicap over 1900m. Heart Stealer has already won two of just four of his starts for Greeff and was particularly impressive last time out when scoring by five lengths over 2000m at this track. That was the third time the Time Thief gelding had worn blinkers and his second victory with them fitted. An eight-point penalty for that win will make it tougher for him and there are some in-form and hard-knocking types but he looks likely to follow up. Earlier on this card we could have a match race developing in Race 3, a MR 86 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m with Love grass and Bomber Girl expected to fight out the finish. Bomber Girl has got the better of that argument in both of their recent starts but it has been close, and it can be even tighter this time. On 4 February on the Fairview Polytrack Bomber Girl was 0.25 lengths ahead of Lovegrass and she was in receipt of 1.5kg. Later that month on Bomber Girl finished fifth behind Gocekwithlove and 1.10 lengths behind while Lovegrass was a further length back. They were at level weights that day and Lovegrass will be giving 0.5kg to Bomber Girl this week. The telling difference is that Fourie gets to ride Lovegrass again and he was a winner on the only occasion he has ridden her. Clive Robinson  

Champion jockey Ryan Moore crowned a short-term Hong Kong riding stint in style at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (5 March), departing with a double which propelled John Size to the top of the 2024/25 trainers’ championship. Moore and Size combined with Golden Rise and Beauty Alliance, leaving Moore with four wins and five placings from 26 rides across a three-meeting cameo, while Size vaulted to the top of the trainers’ standings with 36 wins for the campaign – the same as David Hayes – but with more minor placings. Having struck with a brace at Happy Valley last Wednesday (26 February), Moore endured a frustrating meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday (2 March) with three minor placings from nine rides but the Englishman rebounded in familiar fashion tonight. “I’m very grateful to come here and for all the support I’ve had. I’ve had a few disappointments but that’s Hong Kong, but I’m thankful the support I’ve had here and hopefully I can back soon,” Moore said. “It’s always great to come here and it’s been a good trip.” Moore and Size struck first with Golden Rise’s narrow win over Prime Mortar in the Class 4 Kwoon Chung Macau Limousine Rental Services Handicap (1200m) before Beauty Alliance’s triumph in the Class 4 Kwoon Chung Inclusive & Accessible Service Handicap (1800m). Harry Bentley matched British compatriot Moore’s feat with a brace, striking with Excellence Value and Romantic Son. Bentley’s strength was pivotal to Romantic Son’s success in the Class 3 Kwoon Chung Bus 60th Anniversary Cup Handicap (1200m) as the Hayes-trained gelding emerged with a nose victory over Beauty Infinity to earn a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million. Mark Newnham’s Excellence Value earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million with victory in the Class 3 Trans-Island Chinalink Handicap (1650m). Formerly known as Diabelli when trained in Australia by James Cummings, the Fastnet Rock gelding was having only his fourth start in Hong Kong. “I think barrier one helped him. He had the fence to follow the whole way and it opened up nicely once he turned in (to the straight) and he did the rest,” Newnham said. “Apart from his first start where he just didn’t really compete at all, each of his runs have been good. He’s a nice, tough, consistent horse and he should have a good future here.” Newnham boosted his tally of wins for the season to 30 when Alexis Badel drove Spicy Gold to victory in the Class 3 New Lantao Bus Handicap (1200m). Hugh Bowman also slotted a double with Sky Vino, who won the Class 4 Sichuan Bipenggou Tourist Attractions Handicap (1650m) for Caspar Fownes, and Manfred Man’s Dragon Four Seas, who led all the way to land the Class 4 KC Smart Mobility Handicap (1200m), posting his second win in Hong Kong. Declan McDonogh notched his first Hong Kong win with Nice Birdie’s success for Danny Shum in the Class 5 Kwoon Chung Motors Handicap (2200m). The 2006 Irish Champion Flat Jockey, McDonogh was elated to add to a career tally of more than 1,200 winners globally. “It was great, I had a lovely run around. I never had to spend a penny,” McDonogh said of the Hong Kong International Sale (HKIS) graduate’s run. “The horse was good and genuine in the finish. “I had the run of the race. I had momentum turning in and I thought he kicked quite well in the straight and he did well to fight off the horse (Super Hong Kong) on the outside. It’s a pleasure to tick another one off the box and have my first winner in Hong Kong. I’m chuffed about that.” Angus Chung posted his first win since suffering a facial fracture in a race fall at Sha Tin on 9 February by piloting Jimmy Ting-trained Harmony N Home to victory in the Class 4 Intercontinental Limousine Handicap (1200m). “It reminded me of how to win a race because the first meeting back (Sunday, 2 March), I was still a bit nervous and had some memories of the accident,” Chung said. “Hopefully I can keep this feeling from tonight and keep on going.” Winner of last season’s Tony Cruz Award as the leading homegrown jockey, Chung partnered Harmony N Home – another HKIS graduate – to his fifth Hong Kong win and his third course and distance triumph. Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (9 March). By Leo Schlink

Selangor Turf Club (STC) is set to welcome Brazilian jockey Carlos Henrique, who has been granted a one-year jockey license to compete in Malaysia. The 33-year-old rider made a brief but impactful appearance at STC in 2024, securing one win from 14 rides over two days aboard Antipodean. Now, Henrique is preparing for his first full season, with four rides booked for this coming Sunday, 9 March 2025. Among his scheduled mounts, Henrique will reunite with The Shadow, a horse he has ridden three times back in Singapore. Having partnered before, there will be a level of familiarity between them as he begins his new journey in Malaysia. A Passion for Racing from a Young Age Born in Brazil, Henrique’s journey into horse racing was sparked by his early exposure to the sport through his veterinarian father. Growing up, he regularly followed his father to Gávea Racecourse, where he developed a deep-rooted passion for racing. Determined to pursue a career in the saddle, he enrolled in the Apprentice School at Rio de Janeiro in 2008 and was granted his jockey license in November 2009. An International Career with Group 1 Success Henrique’s talent was evident early in his career, leading him to multiple international riding stints. He first ventured abroad in 2011, moving to India, where he quickly made his mark. During his four winter seasons there, he captured two Group 1 victories, winning the 2011 Deccan Juvenile Million aboard Ashok Chakra and the 2012 Kunigal Stud Million with Jersey Girl. Following his success in India, Henrique expanded his horizons, taking on new challenges in Germany and Bahrain before settling in Qatar in 2019. His time in the Middle East proved to be a defining chapter in his career, as he secured two Group 1 wins: the 2021 Qatar Silver Trophy with Sealine and the HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy with Abida. A New Chapter in Malaysia With an impressive career spanning 15 years, Henrique has amassed over 338 wins while maintaining a riding weight of 50kg. His experience across multiple racing jurisdictions and his adaptability on different tracks make him a valuable addition to the Selangor riding ranks. As Henrique begins his stint at Selangor Turf Club, his upcoming rides will provide a good opportunity to gauge his form in Malaysia’s racing circuit. With his first full weekend of rides approaching, racing enthusiasts will be keen to follow his performances on local tracks.

Craig Zackey and Gavin Lerena have set out their stalls for the 2024/25 season, with both Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-sponsored riders targeting National Jockeys Champion honours. At the time of writing, Zackey’s 158 winners since 1 August leads the current standings ahead of Lerena, whose 147 winners had been achieved from almost 300 fewer rides. They resume rivalry at a nine-race Vaal Classic track fixture on Thursday 6 March and it could pay to take advantage of four attractive betting propositions on the card, with both riders likely to bag a brace at the Vereeniging-based course. Lerena should strike first in Race 2 over 1000m aboard Tony Peter-trained Mister Wilson, an Act Of War colt that needn’t improve a great deal on his encouraging debut fourth over the same distance to land the spoils in Leg 1 of the Bipot. However, Fanie Bronkhorst’s Danon Platina filly Dondoyaki fits a similar profile and will likely settle the score for Zackey in Race 3 over 1000m. Roy Magner-trained It’s Personal is one of the better bets on the card in Race 4 and this improving son of What A Winter ought to open his account under Lerena in Leg 1 of the Pick 6 over 1000m. It’s Personal was returning from a rest, during which he was gelded, when finishing a close-up third over the same distance in his latest appearance. He would’ve come on with the benefit of that comeback outing and will prove hard to beat if exhibiting that improvement at the races. But Zackey is likely to hit back immediately in Race 5 over 1000m on Gimmethegreenlight filly Green Extreme for trainer Lucky Houdalakis, whose improving three-year-old runner has made giant strides from one outing to the next. With a tongue-tie fitted for the first time, Green Extreme finished a career-best second over the same course and distance in her last start. She stayed on encouragingly to clock the fastest 400-to-finish and a similar performance should be enough to shed her maiden tag. Clive Robinson

James Orman has hit the ground running in Hong Kong and the Australian heads to Happy Valley on Wednesday night (5 March) armed with seven mounts including last-start winner Turin Warrior in the Class 4 Sichuan Bipenggou Tourist Attractions Handicap (1650m). Orman, 27, has made an immediate impact with two wins from six rides on a short-term contract which runs until after the race meeting on 2 April. The in-demand jockey is eyeing more momentum at the city circuit as he aims to capitalise on his biggest book of rides yet. “I’ve got to thank Ricky Yiu’s team for the support they have given me early and now things are starting to pick up for me. You come here, start at the bottom and work your way up through the ladder, so that’s what I’m planning to do,” Orman said. “I’m here to work hard and I’m really enjoying my time so far – I love it.” A winner of more than 1,300 races with experience competing in Australia and the United Arab Emirates, Orman has won the past three Queensland riding titles – including with 197 wins in 2022/23 – and partners King Glorioso, Magic Beans, Prime Mortar, S J Tourbillon, Mighty Commander and Seasons Wit along with Turin Warrior at the midweek programme. “He (Turin Warrior) gave me a great feel in the trial. It’s a good pick up from Manfred Man’s stable. He trialled up really nice in the same trial as My Wish – so the trial form is good. “He’s a horse who usually sits off the speed but there looks to be a good tempo, obviously at Happy Valley there’s always a good tempo. He’s won two of his last three so his form is right there,” Orman said. The skilled Orman’s first two triumphs in Hong Kong came atop Charming Babe and The Concentration – both for trainer Ricky Yiu – at the most recent two fixtures. Drawn in barrier three, Turin Warrior has won twice this season over tomorrow night’s course and distance. “He’s a really fit horse and as Manfred said he was ‘just ticking over in his trackwork’ – he wasn’t out do a lot,” Orman said. Mighty Commander (121lb) features with Orman in the Class 3 Kwoon Chung Bus 60th Anniversary Cup Handicap (1200m) against Young Emperor (133lb), Nordic Dragon (128lb), Francis Meynell (127lb), Sunny Da Best (126lb), Golden Empire (125lb), Romantic Son (125lb), Tai Victory (123lb), Beauty Infinity (122lb) and Capital Legend (120lb). British ace Ryan Moore concludes his short-term contract tomorrow night with nine rides at the Valley, pairing with Smashing Express, Bowser, Glorious Success, Endued, Golden Rise, Beauty Alliance, Sunny Da Best, Happy Daily and A Americ Te Specso. Two-time winner Sunny Da Best is owned by Matthew Wong BBS, Chairman and founder of Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Limited. Trained by Chris So, the four-year-old debuts at Happy Valley this week having trialled there once previously for second last October. “It’s my owner’s sponsorship night. I hope he (Sunny Da Best) performs,” So said. “I think he will be suited there (Happy Valley). The pace should be faster in the early stages and he will come home strong. “He’s a nice horse. Early in the season he was a bit disappointing over 1400 (metres). We’ve brought him back to 1200 and he’s performed well.” Wong also owned Group 2 winner Not Listenin’tome, 2006 Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) winner Sunny Sing and the quality Sunny King. He was also syndicate manager of star galloper Collection, while daughter Janice Wong currently owns Super Sunny Sing. Wednesday’s (5 March) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley commences at 6.40pm with the Class 5 Kwoon Chung Motors Handicap (2200m). By Declan Schuster

Trainer Alan Greeff and jockey Richard Fourie can have another very successful meeting at Fairview on the Polytrack on Tuesday They hold a number of winning chances but probably two of the best look to be Ono No Komachi in Race 2 and Lady Silvano in Race 7. One World filly Ono No Komachi has had just the five starts and has finished in the first four in all of them, considering her first start was over 1000m and her last was over 1900m. In her last start she was making late progress into third place and now she will try 2200m in this Maiden Plate. Blinkers have also been added and she will taste the Poltrack for the first time. Bold Silvano filly Lady Silvano was off the track from November 2023 to October 2024 but has made good progress since her return. She was particularly impressive when scoring by 3.25 lengths in December and followed that up with two good runs. It will be Fourie’s first race-ride on her when she lines up in this Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1600m. She is probably better over further but based on her penultimate start over this distance when she finished a 0.75-length second behind Luna Halo, one should not ignore her chances. It is worth noting that stable companion Catch Your Breath, who is also in this race, has disappointed twice under Fourie on the turf and returns to the Polytrack where she has been impressive. Jockey Kendall Minnie does not ride too many winners in a season but has a real chance on Catch Your Breath. Clive Robinson

Brenton Avdulla continued a blossoming season by dominating at Sha Tin on Sunday (2 March), crowning a stellar display with victory in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on David Hayes-trained Rubylot before piloting emerging HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) hopeful Enthralled to an important triumph. Avdulla, 34, moved into third place in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 29 wins behind injured Zac Purton (84) and Hugh Bowman (42) after taking riding honours with three successive wins after also striking with Young Champion in the Class 2 Tai Hing Handicap (1400m) for John Size. “Nice day. I had four rides, I thought three of them were good, competitive rides and they’re the three that have lobbed. They all had nice runs in transit, got the job done,” Avdulla said. “Hayesey’ had the horse (Rubylot) spot on. He had a nice run through and I was confident at the 250 (metres) he was going to get the job done. I’ve got no doubt if he drew a gate in the (Hong Kong Classic Mile) he would have gone very close (to winning). “I was just back in No Man’s Land and he still ran on well, so I was confident enough to stick with him to come to 1800m. I thought the draw (barrier eight) was a little bit tricky again (today) and, ideally, I would have been a bit closer but it just didn’t look any good after 50 (metres), so I just rode him quiet and my only decision was whether I go inside Mickley or around him. “I just felt I was going good enough to get Mickley out of the way when I cornered and to his credit the horse found the line really well.” Crowning a glorious eight days, David Hayes immediately set sights on the BMW Hong Kong Derby with Rubylot on 23 March when the Australian horseman will attempt to win the Classic for a second time. Leading the 2024/25 Hong Kong trainers’ championship with 35 wins, Hayes last Sunday (23 February) saddled HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) victor Ka Ying Rising before claiming the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge at Happy Valley on Wednesday (26 February) with Soleil Fighter and then striking this afternoon with Rubylot. Rubylot steamed from the tail of the field at the 400m to overhaul Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) winner My Wish (Luke Ferraris) and score by three quarters of length in 1m 46.29s with fast-finishing Johannes Brahms (Karis Teetan) half a length further back in third. In clinching the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, Rubylot improved his record to six wins and eight placings from 18 starts for his owners, the HK Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate, while taking his earnings to HK$15.5 million. Settling second last, Rubylot tracked Mickley (Ryan Moore) into the straight before angling into the clear and accelerating powerfully with a race-best 22.30s final 400m sectional to quickly settle the contest and atone for a luckless sixth in the Hong Kong Classic Mile. Dual Hong Kong champion trainer, Hayes last won the BMW Hong Kong Derby in 2003 with Elegant Fashion, who was the first filly to triumph in Hong Kong’s most coveted race since Corvette in 1976. “It would be very nice (to win another BMW Hong Kong Derby Derby). It’s been a long time. It’s one of the races everyone in Hong Kong wants to win,” Hayes said. “To my eye, he (Rubylot) was the strongest late and that’s a good sign stepping up to the 2000m. Being a Rubick you were always concerned, but he’s out of a Dubawi mare and stoutly-bred on the dam side. “You always look at this race (Hong Kong Classic Cup) to find the closers and that’s a good pointer to the Derby. I don’t think anyone ran home faster than him today. It was a brilliant sectional.” A two-time winner in England for Sir Michael Stoute, Size-trained Enthralled showcased his staying potential with a last-to-first win in the Class 3 Yan Tin Handicap (2000m) to earn a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million and impressing Avdulla. “I actually said to John after I first rode him that if you had another two months up your sleeve, he’d be one of the live chances in the Derby,” Avdulla said. “So, he’s had to get him there quickly. It’s not often you see John give them only a couple of trials and then run them in a mile. “I think he’s a good quality horse and if he makes his way into the Derby field, he’ll be a live hope for sure.” Size joined Hayes and Ricky Yiu in scoring a double with Young Champion’s impressive display before James McDonald completed a brace with victory on Dennis Yip’s Fast Network in the Class 3 Yau Oi Handicap (1200m). McDonald opened his account on Lucky Fionn in the Class 4 Yan Oi Tong Cup Handicap (1400m) for Yiu, who also combined successfully with James Orman and The Concentration in the Class 5 Lung Yat Handicap (1200m). Orman was elated after notching his first Sha Tin victory – four days after the Queenslander posted his first win at Happy Valley on Yiu-trained Charming Babe on Wednesday (26 February). “It’s pretty surreal, I’m still pinching myself from Wednesday to be honest with you,” Orman said after notching his second win from only six rides. “To be honest, I was pretty confident with this horse today because I know he’s only won one from 17 but he was one of the first horses I trialled when I got here and he trialled up really good against horses higher in the ratings. “I galloped him on Thursday and I thought he would be really hard to beat. I was always going to get a good run from that alley (barrier two) and I got a good run through today.” Justifying made a striking debut for Caspar Fownes when the three-year-old surged to a three and three-quarter length win in the Class 4 Fu Tai Handicap (1000m) under Luke Ferraris. “He’s a very fast horse and he’s got a long way to go because he’s still quite mature. I gave him two trials and normally I’d give them a few more but he looked to be ready to come to the races. He’s a pretty straightforward horse, he showed a lot of speed and I think he’s quite exciting,” Fownes said of the Justify gelding. Britney Wong slotted her 10th win of the season with Hayes-trained Ariel’s triumph in the Class 3 On Ting Handicap (1650m, dirt) before Blake Shinn and Benno Yung combined with well-backed Ballistic Win to clinch the Class 4 Po Tin Handicap (1200m) as Ellis Wong piloted Danny Shum’s Shanghai Style to victory in the Class 4 Sam Shing Handicap (1650m, dirt). Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (5 March). By Leo Schlink

David Hayes is relishing a banner season and the two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer (1997/98 & 1998/99) is aiming to add Sunday’s (2 March) HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) to a trio of Group 1 races won this term with star sprinter Ka Ying Rising. Represented by Rubylot and Mondial in the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, Hayes won this race in 1999 with Resfa and is hoping to enhance a championship-leading 33 wins when he saddles nine runners across the afternoon’s 10-race programme. Drawn in barrier eight, Rubick gelding Rubylot is the field’s most experienced racer with 17 Hong Kong starts to his name. He has won five times so far and Hayes – an Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee – expects his charge to respond positively to stamina queries. “He’s going well, he really is going well. He’s trialled well between runs and he’s crying out for 1800 metres,” Hayes said. “He finished well last start and I think he’s going to run well.” Rubylot is a winner in Hong Kong over 1000m, 1200m and 1400m. The 93-rater roared into sixth place from barrier 10 in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) – the first leg of the three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series which climaxes on 23 March with the 148th running of the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). Rubylot sports the recognisable white and blue silks of the HK Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate. The HK$8.26 million earner pairs with in-form rider Brenton Avdulla – a winner of nine races through February. “I used to train for the Football Club Syndicate years ago when I was first here and I currently have Snowalot, Rubylot and Decrelot with them. Decrelot is running on the weekend, and I think he’ll improve when he hits a mile,” Hayes said. Decrelot features in Sunday’s Class 4 Yan Oi Tong Handicap (1400m). Mondial makes his Hong Kong debut in the Hong Kong Classic Cup. The South African import placed at Group 1 level pre-import in the G1 South Africa Derby (2450m). “His last trial was better. He’s a clear 2000 metre or 2400 horse. He’s a Group 1 performer overseas and his last trial was good. I’ve spoken to his previous trainer (s) and he told me he couldn’t beat the stable pony in a track gallop – meaning he’s very lazy,” Hayes said. Victorious in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, My Wish heads the Hong Kong Classic Cup field. Sunday’s (2 March) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin kicks off at 1pm with the Class 4 Fu Tai Handicap (1000m). By Declan Schuster