Hong Kong Racing Tips: Luck on Fownes’ side again at Happy Valley
HAVING been surpassed by John Size in the trainers’ championship race at Sha Tin on Sunday, expect Caspar Fownes to come back with all guns blazing in his attempt to wrest back the lead at Happy Valley on Wednesday.
Fownes, with over 500 career winners at the city-track, saddles eight runners, including some of the stable’s heavy artillery, and is going to be disappointed if he is not at the top of the table by the end of racing.
With the likes of last start winner, The Rock in the Shan Kwong Handicap (11.45am), the well-drawn Sky Field in the Blue Pool Handicap (1.15pm) and highly-progressive Kurpany in the Sing Woo Handicap (2.20pm), hopes must be high of adding to the stables already impressive 24 winners accumulated at the Valley this season.
Million Challenge at Grateful Heart s mercy after fourth win at Happy Valley
Million Challenge at Grateful Heart s mercy after fourth win at Happy Valley by Leo Schlink (HKJC) Grateful Heart strengthens his grip on Challenge Series Image: HKJC
Happy Valley sprint specialist Grateful Heart has built an almost impregnable buffer in the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge after a fourth victory at the city circuit propelled the Australian import to an imposing lead in the HK$1 million series. Perfectly ridden by Zac Purton, Danny Shum’s speedster posted his first victory over 1000m to pocket 15 points in the Million Challenge to have 66 points overall – a lead of 24 points.
Hong Kong Racing Tips: Size looks to have another Ace up his sleeve
John Size is closing in on the lead in the trainers championship.
IT COULD pay to jump on the John Size bandwagon when the 11-time Champion Trainer sends a handful of raiders to Happy Valley on Wednesday.
Records show the ‘master trainer’ saddled an incredible 14 winners last month, including 11 from his last 32 runners.
He is now breathing down the neck of championship leader Caspar Fownes, currently leading by two, and is capable of being outright leader by the weekend, especially with Sha Tin races to come on Saturday.
TRAINER Me Tsui finally looks set for a change of fortune when he saddles
GLORIOUS LOVER in the competitive Sze Mei Handicap (12.45pm) over the extended mile.
Tsui, who has saddled a dozen winners this season, last visited the winners’ circle over the Christmas period, but most of his horses have still performed with credit since, and it’s only a matter of time before he hits the bullseye again.
Some eagle-eyed form students will remember this five-year-old gelding when he raced by the same name under the tutorage of Ed Walker in the UK and finished ninth behind Biometric in the 2019 Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.
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Zac Purton has claimed ultimate honours in the HK$800,000 LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley after clinching a tense contest from Joao Moreira in a dramatic finale to the four-race series.
Tied with Moreira on 18 points heading into the deciding race of the contest, Purton collected an invaluable two after dead-heating for third aboard Flying Bonus with Wind N Grass (Tom Marquand).
Moreira, who needed to finish ahead of Purton in the championship-deciding contest to add another accolade to his bulging collection, crossed the line in sixth place on Cue The Music, failing to improve his score.