Trainer Caspar Fownes will cast a menacing Karma into uncharted territory on Sunday (3 November) when the sizeable chestnut – outclassed on paper but in career-best form – contests the HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin.
Tipping the scale with a body weight of around 1,200lb, Karma has won three of his last four races – each over the mile at Sha Tin. The Turn Me Loose gelding goes beyond Class 2 and 1600m for the first time this weekend, doing so with a featherweight 115lb – 20lb less than top-weight (Beauty Joy, 135lb) – as the race’s second lowest rated horse.
“He’s a big, rangy type of horse. He’s long and lanky – big boy. He just seems to be improving with each prep we give him and we’ve seen it many times here in Hong Kong – ages six and seven can tend to be their best seasons,” Fownes said.
One of Hong Kong’s most renowned races with over 150 years of history, the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse has attracted a capacity 14-runner field, including two from Fownes with Senor Toba (115lb) also engaged. Fownes previously won the race with Southern Legend (2019).
The 89-rating Karma rolled quality opposition in the Class 2 HKJC 140th Anniversary Cup Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on 20 October last start after surging from the tail of the field.
“The horse is in great form and I think he will eat up the distance. There’s a lot of good horses in there though, so it’s a great test for us to see whether he measures up to this level, which we’re hopeful, and if he does then it opens the door for some nice races this season.
“We’ll continue to stretch his distance out, I feel, especially if he gives us a good closing sectional time on Sunday,” Fownes said.
Alexis Badel hops aboard Karma on Sunday. The Frenchman partnered the galloper in a recent trial at Conghua.
“It’s a good ride for him. Alexis trialled him up at Conghua for me and I said to him this was plan, Vincent Ho would ride him last start and this time he won’t get Vincent’s weight. It works out well and he gets a chance to hop back on the horse,” Fownes said.
The Fownes name has a rich history in the Ladies’ Purse with Caspar’s late father Lawrie Fownes capturing five editions: Sky Bound (1985), Fire Wind (1990), Celestial Park (1990), Crown Commander (1994) and China Cruise (1996).
Steely grey Senor Toba makes his seasonal reappearance for Fownes. The Toronado gelding has won two Group 3 races in Hong Kong, including once over this weekend’s distance.
“Senor Toba is first-up. He’ll be ridden by Keith Yeung and he had a nice trial last week at Conghua over the mile. He’s run respectively, so we’re hoping for a nice enough effort,” Fownes said.
“He’s going to come to his best towards the end of the season for the (G3) Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400, Handicap) – that’ll be his race.”
Karma will step from gate 12, while Senor Toba has drawn sweetly in gate three.
Group 2 placed in Hong Kong, Sword Point dazzled on the dirt first-up with a near-four length demolition on 6 October for trainer Frankie Lor. The six-year-old is chasing a fourth Hong Kong win from barrier 10 under Derek Leung in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse.
“After his win I trialled him once more and he trialled ok. Last season he started well and then his form dropped a little bit. That’s why he wasn’t performing well. He looks better this season,” Lor said.
Lor also saddles eight-year-old All For St Paul’s in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse, who jumps from barrier nine with Matthew Poon, in a bid for a 10th Hong Kong win.
“The old man! He has a light weight. This won’t be easy but his form is ok. He always leads and if someone challenges then maybe it will be difficult for him,” Lor said.
Sidelined due to a setback, Lor is hopeful six-time winner Happy Together can return next month in the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m).
“I want to run him on the 17th in the Group 2 over the mile. I know Galaxy Patch is really good but I don’t want him (Happy Together) to run over 2000 metres first-up. He needs to trial because he has had issues. If everything is ok then he will race,” Lor said.
Flaming Rabbit lines up for Douglas Whyte in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse, aiming for a return to the form that saw him record a pair of make-all wins at Sha Tin. Angus Chung rides the Time Test galloper from barrier five.
“It’s a tough race, especially with Beauty Joy. He (Beauty Joy) performed well last season and first-up as well. Flaming Rabbit is up in class but last season he was consistent at times. It depends on the pace and if someone comes to annoy him,” Chung said.
The Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse also features Nimble Nimbus (124lb), Massive Sovereign (123lb), Chancheng Glory (121lb), Encountered (121lb), Five G Patch (121lb), La City Blanche (119lb), Moments In Time (116lb) and Ensued (115lb).
The Best Peach and Ka Ying Generation are emergencies one and two, respectively.
Sunday’s (3 November) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin commences at 1pm with the Class 5 L’Oreal Paris Handicap (1800m).
By Declan Schuster
