Laying down a marker for the HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (3 November), Caspar Fownes fired in a Happy Valley treble on Wednesday night (30 October) to move into second place on the Hong Kong trainers’ championship.
Four-time Hong Kong champion trainer, Fownes struck with Capital Legend, who was given a brilliant ride by Ellis Wong to land the first section of the Class 4 Bedford Handicap (1650m), Daring Pursuit in the Class 3 Fife Handicap (1650m) for Alexis Badel and Sugar Sugar in the Class 3 Hing Yip Handicap (1200m).
With 15 wins for the season, Fownes trails only Pierre Ng with 16. David Hayes is next with 14 wins.
“My best chance (Glory Cloud) actually got beat and the others were in good form. Hong Kong is tough, so tough, but it’s great ending up with three (wins), nearly four. Cherish the night and look forward to the next meeting,” Fownes said before asked about vaulting into second place.
“It doesn’t matter where we are, we’re just knocking the winners in and see how we go.”
Fownes will chase glory this weekend in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse with Karma and Senior Toba.
Dual Hong Kong champion trainer, Tony Cruz combined successfully with Brenton Avdulla for the third time this season when D Star finished stoutly to land the second section of the Class 4 Bedford Handicap (1650m) before teaming with Zac Purton to snare the Class 5 Cheung Shun Handicap (1000m) with Parents’ Love.
“I’ve been quiet lately. I haven’t had a lot of great chances, but they’re getting better now,” Cruz said after Parents’ Love triumph. “Zac knows this horse very well. He got him out flying tonight and got to the rail.
“The horse only just turned four, but he’s a lot more mature now. Before he just had speed and no stamina. He’s just a 1000m horse and he’s only small.”
Purton continued his march towards Douglas Whyte’s record of 1,813 wins with a double to have a career tally of 1,772 victories in the city after Triumphant More’s narrow success in the Class 4 Fat Tseung Handicap (1200m).
The Australian – seven-time winner of the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship – has 32 wins for the term so far to lead Hugh Bowman (18) by 14, with Vincent Ho (11) third in the standings.
Mark Newnham’s penchant for extracting the best from veteran gallopers surfaced with Right Honourable’s success in the Class 5 Cheong Wan Handicap (1650m) under Matthew Chadwick. A 10-year-old, Right Honourable notched his eighth Hong Kong victory – and seventh at the course and distance – at his 83rd start, which might have also doubled as his farewell appearance.
“That could possibly be his last run. There’s one more (Class 5 1650m) coming so we’ll just see if he’s got one more in him or not,” Newnham said.
“That’s probably the first (10-year-old) I’ve won with. He’s been in quite good form. His last couple of starts have been good, he just hasn’t had the pace of the race to suit. He got the right pace today and Matthew gets on really well with him – he’s won more races on him than anyone and he gave him the perfect ride.”
Chadwick boosted his tally of wins for the season to 10, maintaining hopes of riding in the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley on 4 December.
“I would like to ride in it but I need to rack the winners up,” Chadwick said. “There’s still a long way to go.”
Ng maintained his lead at the top of the trainers’ championship with Team Happy’s success in the Class 4 Chinese General Chamber Of Commerce Cup Handicap (1200) under Andrea Atzeni.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (3 November) with the running of the HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m).
By Leo Schlink
