Lyle Hewitson removed luck from the equation aboard Highland Rahy (126lb) and the rider found a willing partner as Francis Lui’s galloper secured a first Hong Kong win in the Class 4 Ireland Trophy Handicap (1650m) at Happy Valley tonight (Wednesday, 12 March).
Successful in Ireland pre-import, Highland Rahy fired to an uncontested lead under Hewitson from barrier seven and never looked back, clutching onto a three quarter length victory over a ground-making Viva Graciousness (135lb) in the HK$1.17 million feature race.
“I think he’s (Highland Rahy) found a mark now where he should be winning and it’s probably been frustrating that he hasn’t,” Hewitson said. “He showed how he wants to race – he wants to roll, pick up and just build into it.”
Gearing up to ride Steps Ahead in the HK$26 million 148th BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on Sunday week (23 March), Hewitson lifted his haul to 16 wins this season, also riding a double last Sunday (9 March) at Sha Tin.
Following a recent near miss atop Highland Rahy, the 27-year-old jockey was delighted to repay connections with breakthrough success on the American-bred gelding tonight.
“He’s happy to sit one off but he needs to roll the whole way and we saw that, a horse came to him, although far away from him to get up to almost level, but he fought on again. It’s an overdue win and I’m happy I could stick aboard to do it,” Hewitson said.
Three times South Africa’s leading rider, Hewitson teams with Lui and the 83-rated Steps Ahead in the BMW Hong Kong Derby – the third and final leg of the three-race HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series – at Sha Tin in 11 days’ time.
“I think his (Steps Ahead) rating is pretty true of where he is in the field but he’s the most genuine horse and he’s probably one of the most versatile, too,” Hewitson said. “This will be stretching him but against his own age group and being such an easy and versatile horse, it gives him every chance.”
A shot at once-in-a-lifetime glory awaits 14 horses in Hong Kong’s most-prized race, which is expected to be headed by Rubylot and My Wish – winners of the first two Four-Year-Old Classic Series legs. The selected BMW Hong Kong Derby field will be announced this Friday (14 March).
Trainer Cody Mo sealed a double with Happy Fat Cat’s (122lb) grinding win – his eighth across 44 Hong Kong starts – in the first section of the Class 3 Cheung Chau Handicap (1200m) under jockey Antoine Hamelin ahead of King Of Fighters (124lb).
“I love this horse and I love the owner. They have supported me a lot and that’s what we need,” Hamelin said. “The horse has a big heart and I always do very well with him – I’m very happy to get the winner for everyone.”
Mo was on the board early at the city circuit as Crystal Powerful edged to a close-up score in the Class 5 Waglan Island Handicap (1000m) with jockey Andrea Atzeni, who also posted a double when American Pharoah galloper Great Spirit claimed the second section of the Class 4 Peng Chau Handicap (1200m) for trainer Dennis Yip.
Crystal Powerful became a three-time winner in Hong Kong with tonight’s 8/1 triumph.
“We dropped in class and he was back to 1000 metres, which I thought was a good shout because he’s been showing a lot of speed over 1200,” Atzeni said. “He had a good draw (three) and good trip. I know he had top weight (135lb) but he had good form in Class 4.”
Championship-leading trainer John Size kicked off a double with Beauty Infinity’s success in the second section of the Class 3 Cheung Chau Handicap (1200m) under Brenton Avdulla, who extended a sparkling run of form with his fifth win from the past three fixtures and 31st overall this term.
“It’s been a good little run. I’m getting the right opportunities and it’s about trying to make the most of it. The horses are racing well and John’s team is racing well,” Avdulla said.
BMW Hong Kong Derby entrant Beauty Alliance capped Size’s brace with a dominant display under the hands of Alexis Badel in the Class 3 Ap Lei Chau Handicap (1800m) to lift the Australian Racing Hall of Famer to an unrivalled 39 wins. Badel earlier rode Tactical Command to win the third section of the Class 4 Peng Chau Handicap (1200m).
“He (Beauty Alliance) began very well. There was no early pressure and no pace on, so I could get him into a nice rhythm. When we took off, he really responded well, he’s a classy horse,” Badel said. “It’s fantastic to get a double. The horses are doing well.”
Making his first start in Class 4, Frankel six-year-old Find My Love was the beneficiary of a composed Hugh Bowman ride to return a third Hong Kong win in the first section of the Peng Chau Handicap (1200m) for trainer Douglas Whyte.
Angus Chung bagged his 10th victory this season aboard Good Luck Win in the second section of the Class 4 Soko Islands Handicap (1650m) for trainer Jimmy Ting.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin this Saturday (15 March).
By Declan Schuster
