Follow South China Morning Post - Racing, filter it, and define how you want to receive the news (via Email, RSS, Telegram, WhatsApp etc.) https://follow.it/scmp58 Sun, 17 Oct 2021 02:41:16 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTU0UUFVnk36M5VjH6qdYdAk He beat all but Super Wealthy under top weight in the National Day Cup and Blake Shinn feels that if Sky Field can go one better in Sunday’s Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m), the Group One Hong Kong Sprint is “at his mercy”.The Caspar Fownes-trained Sky Field will again carry 133 pounds and his opposition goes up a notch as the brilliant Courier Wonder and the barnstorming Naboo Attack join the fray, while Super Wealthy, Lucky Patch and Stronger shape up again.“Obviously Courier Wonder is an…]]> Sat, 16 Oct 2021 07:39:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTU0UUFVnk36M5VjH6qdYdAk https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTXYwBHzh8VIHsb1naedg1wr Chad Schofield will walk out of Sha Tin with more than just a victory if Fantastic Treasure can salute on Sunday – he’ll also have the satisfaction that comes with an unblemished record and the knowledge he has a galloper that could be anything come next year’s Classic Series.The David Hayes-trained four-year-old faces by far his toughest test yet in the Class Two Piaget Excellent Handicap (1,200m), lining up against the likes of Trillion Win, Fantastic Way and Winning Dreamer at a trip short…]]> Sat, 16 Oct 2021 05:26:50 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTXYwBHzh8VIHsb1naedg1wr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTV7vbPhZ411V-zdsCmHakzH Golden Sixty snared the Group Two Oriental Watch 60th Anniversary Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) a year ago but Joao Moreira insists Hong Kong Derby hero Sky Darci doesn’t have to emulate Hong Kong’s best horse to prove he can one day topple him.Sky Darci returns to his preferred trip and is well-weighted for his first Group Two assignment at Sha Tin on Sunday and while Caspar Fownes is confident “he gets his chance to win”, both the reigning champion trainer and the star Brazilian jockey are content…]]> Sat, 16 Oct 2021 03:55:44 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTV7vbPhZ411V-zdsCmHakzH https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTXVZkkMkSLoHHn9ye8UNv30 Champion by name, champion by nature: Britain’s flat seasonal finale has attracted a truly world-class line-up including Adayar, Mishriff and Palace Pier.Racing fans around the globe will not want to miss it, and thankfully those in Hong Kong will not have to – as a World Pool event, it will be simulcast live by the Hong Kong Jockey Club on Saturday night.Those aforementioned stars are three of the highest-rated racehorses in the world and they confirmed their presence on Thursday to set up…]]> Fri, 15 Oct 2021 08:56:56 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTXVZkkMkSLoHHn9ye8UNv30 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTUq5sjyxNTm85VjH6qdYdAk Of all the jockeys in Hong Kong who need a boost, four-time champion – and current premiership leader – Zac Purton is probably not one of them.It seems Mother Nature doesn’t agree, however, with the Typhoon Kompasu-enforced cancellation of Wednesday night’s Happy Valley card ensuring the star Australian misses just one meeting through suspension rather than two – maybe she has found common ground in the pair’s take-no-prisoners approach?After missing Sunday at Sha Tin, the midweek fixture was…]]> Thu, 14 Oct 2021 08:47:59 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTUq5sjyxNTm85VjH6qdYdAk https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTUjPsq5PcJPB-T5HJgy6HUf John Size is not one for grand statements but he remains optimistic his boom sprinter Courier Wonder has more upside, putting him in a strong position to extend his winning streak to six when he resumes in Sunday’s Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m).The son of Sacred Falls took Hong Kong racing by storm last season, winning all five of his starts – most in stunning fashion – and rocketing from a rating of 52 to 107.After taking out the Group Three Sha Tin Vase in May (at $1.15), Courier Wonder…]]> Thu, 14 Oct 2021 07:32:31 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTUjPsq5PcJPB-T5HJgy6HUf https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTXhIGJCMepXQClmFkX7M1Jw The Jockey Club has been forced to cancel Wednesday night’s Happy Valley race meeting as Typhoon Kompasu skirts Hong Kong.With the Hong Kong Observatory confirming the typhoon signal No 8 will remain in force until at least 4pm on Wednesday, officials had no choice but to scrap the eight-race card.“The Hong Kong Jockey Club, having considered the hoisting of tropical cyclone warning signal number 8 and adverse weather conditions – under which there would be difficulties for horse movement and…]]> Wed, 13 Oct 2021 05:21:44 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTXhIGJCMepXQClmFkX7M1Jw https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTWzJ_43noDAb5VjH6qdYdAk Landing plum sprint rides has become a habit for Alexis Badel in recent times and the trend has continued ahead of Sunday’s Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m) at Sha Tin, with the Frenchman to partner David Hayes’ exciting behemoth Naboo Attack.Badel will be Naboo Attack’s fourth jockey in as many Hong Kong starts and while he’s only warming the saddle for Zac Purton due to the five-year-old’s featherweight 114-pound impost, he’s more than happy to have the chance to add to his recent run of Group…]]> Tue, 12 Oct 2021 12:33:30 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTWzJ_43noDAb5VjH6qdYdAk https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTVe3caxO96MpJs0ohxaO6Yr Vincent Ho Chak-yiu is itching to get back in the saddle after an untimely suspension compounded his uncharacteristically slow start to the season but how soon that happens is very much in the lap of the weather gods.Just days after Tropical Storm Lionrock dumped 488mm of rain on Sha Tin, Tropical Cyclone Kompasu is creating genuine doubt around whether Wednesday night’s Happy Valley meeting will be able to go ahead.The Hong Kong Observatory is poised to raise its typhoon signal No 8 signal…]]> Tue, 12 Oct 2021 08:24:03 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTVe3caxO96MpJs0ohxaO6Yr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTURcaCPTUfBjps0ohxaO6Yr They sent him around as second favourite in last year’s Hong Kong Sprint and local punters are again expected to pile into Classique Legend to kick off the busiest run of Australian spring simulcasts since 2017.The Jockey Club’s punt on The Everest could not be looking any better days out from the race, with Boniface Ho Ka-kui’s striking grey set to generate significant interest among Hong Kong punters in his first race since international day last year.In the biggest offering since a…]]> Mon, 11 Oct 2021 12:28:42 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTURcaCPTUfBjps0ohxaO6Yr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTX1Txkdsp-g-ezdsCmHakzH It’s been “a long time” since David Hall has had 20 new horses in his care and the rejuvenation of his stable takes another step on Wednesday night when three of them step out at Happy Valley.Joyful Genius, Flying Giant and Solid Impact will have their first Hong Kong starts at the midweek meeting as the Australian trainer continues to build into the new season.Hall is excited to see what those new additions are capable of but admits it wasn’t a deliberate process to overhaul the roster.“It’s…]]> Mon, 11 Oct 2021 07:39:47 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTX1Txkdsp-g-ezdsCmHakzH https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTX_bCzLxHojnezdsCmHakzH The ability of Hong Kong’s racetracks to withstand deluges that would cripple other jurisdictions has long been the subject of much fascination and Jockey Club head of race day operations Stephen Higgins has offered an intriguing insight into the mechanics behind their remarkable drainage.After 488mm of rain between Friday and 9am on Sunday morning – and much speculation, largely from abroad, about whether Sunday’s card would take place – the Sha Tin turf raced as good to yielding for four…]]> Sun, 10 Oct 2021 15:36:43 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTX_bCzLxHojnezdsCmHakzH https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTVLxWbTcl94Nps0ohxaO6Yr Tony Millard knows better than anybody that Silver Fig is a race-to-race proposition but that didn’t stop the South African dreaming after the flashy grey produced another booming all-weather finish to win the Class Two Tsuen Lok Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.It was the seven-year-old’s third victory from his past four starts and will catapult his rating into the high 90s, prompting Millard to ponder whether the dirt specialist could follow in the footsteps of his Group One runner-up…]]> Sun, 10 Oct 2021 13:52:33 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTVLxWbTcl94Nps0ohxaO6Yr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTVLxWbTcl94NuzdsCmHakzH Matthew Chadwick did his homework for Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting and undoubtedly earned an A-plus as he snared his first treble in almost seven years.The 31-year-old, whose previous three-timer came at Happy Valley on October 29, 2014, was in supreme touch as he lifted the unfancied trio of Soccer Master ($19), The Mint ($22) and Golden Link ($18) to victory.On a day that Joao Moreira and Karis Teetan were expected to dominate – they were the stand-outs in Jockey Challenge betting but went…]]> Sun, 10 Oct 2021 13:49:55 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTVLxWbTcl94NuzdsCmHakzH https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTVbnh5zCyG-NiejEQ2Mq9rY Karis Teetan tested his fitness aboard Group One winner Panfield at Friday morning’s trials and he is confident his injured shoulder can handle a full book of 10 rides at Sha Tin on Sunday.The Mauritian suffered bruising when falling from Yoo Yoo King in a tragic accident at Happy Valley on Wednesday night and was stood down from his remaining rides, but his absence from the saddle will be a short one.“I was not going to force myself to ride but after speaking to the doctors, they said there’s…]]> Sat, 09 Oct 2021 07:12:09 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTVbnh5zCyG-NiejEQ2Mq9rY https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTVGiRrKrUP-gF1cWWor9YPv Joao Moreira ate into Zac Purton’s mini-break in the jockeys’ premiership with a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night and the Brazilian knows it is important he takes his opportunity to erode it even further while his arch rival serves a rare suspension.Purton had opened up a six-win advantage heading into the midweek meeting and had all the early momentum, however Moreira is back within four after nine meetings and now has the next two race days to make hay.“It’s always good to be given a…]]> Sat, 09 Oct 2021 06:08:43 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTVGiRrKrUP-gF1cWWor9YPv https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTXXSt0qDiqurylmFkX7M1Jw It hasn’t been the flying start to the new campaign Chad Schofield was hoping for after what he admits was a disappointing 2020-21 but the 27-year-old feels the tide is turning.After struggling for momentum following a suspension, Schofield saluted aboard On Excel Star in his first ride since September 19 at Happy Valley on Wednesday night and he has plenty of reasons to be excited looking forward.Schofield partners the in-form Gluck Racer at Sha Tin on Sunday, the perfect appetiser ahead of…]]> Sat, 09 Oct 2021 04:45:35 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTXXSt0qDiqurylmFkX7M1Jw https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTWqqr4BVv5yHJVjH6qdYdAk It was a shotgun marriage that quickly became a match made in heaven and the tale of Jerry Chau Chun-lok and Douglas Whyte is far from over despite the jockey completing his apprenticeship at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.Plucked from his overseas training in South Australia as a 20-year-old after the sudden sacking of fellow apprentice Gary Lo King-yeung, Chau had it all to do in a jurisdiction lorded over by titans Zac Purton and Joao Moreira.That the Jockey Club enlisted then first-season…]]> Thu, 07 Oct 2021 10:15:23 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTWqqr4BVv5yHJVjH6qdYdAk https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTUKkrlh9olDwXn9ye8UNv30 Karis Teetan will take his rides at Sha Tin on Sunday, miraculously escaping serious injury after a horror fall at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.The Mauritian hit the ground hard and was taken to hospital as a precaution when Yoo Yoo King tragically broke down in the latter stages of the Class Three Harbour Handicap (1,800m).There were initial concerns for Teetan’s right shoulder but on Thursday morning he was given the green light to line up this weekend.“It’s very good news. He intends on…]]> Thu, 07 Oct 2021 09:06:15 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTUKkrlh9olDwXn9ye8UNv30 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTViIqDLw5YeJV1cWWor9YPv He was already considered one of the best apprentices in recent decades and Jerry Chau Chun-lok officially stamped it into the record books at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, landing his 70th Hong Kong winner to graduate to the senior riding ranks.Chau’s victory aboard the Tony Cruz-trained Transcendent in the Class Three Gloucester Handicap (1,200m) came at his 639th ride, with the 21-year-old slotting in ahead of Matthew Poon Ming-fai (648 rides) and behind only Matthew Chadwick (472) as the…]]> Wed, 06 Oct 2021 18:02:29 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/EXrxZJqHTTViIqDLw5YeJV1cWWor9YPv