Latest news with #Chairman'sSprintPrize
New Paper
20-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Satono Reve in need of Magic in QEII Jubilee
ASCOT Horses from Ireland and France have flown miles to Royal Ascot to contest the £1 million (S$1.73 million) Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m), but Satono Reve has travelled over 13,000km from Japan. No horse has made the journey and won in 10 tries to conquer Britain's most iconic race meeting, but no Japanese contender has been as good as Satono Reve. The Lord Kanaloa six-year-old is a Group 1 winner in Japan, but is probably better known for finishing second to Ka Ying Rising in the HK$22 million Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) at Sha Tin on April 27 - which is no better endorsement given that Ka Ying Rising is the best sprinter in the world. Satono Reve arrived in Newmarket on May 2 to be given plenty of time to prepare and has been stabled at James Horton's yard. "After arriving from Hong Kong, Satono Reve had some time to recover before steadily building up his training," said his trainer Noriyuki Hori. "He had his final gallop on June 11, a five-furlong (1,000m) piece of work on the July Course at Newmarket, ridden by Ryan Moore. "Although it's a different environment from what he's used to, he's been coming along well thanks to the warm support of James Horton, his team and everyone involved." Satono Reve will be ridden by Joao Moreira. The Brazilian jockey known as the "Magic Man" was in the saddle when Satono Reve won the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) at Chukyo in Japan on March 30. "He's such a good horse," said the globetrotting jockey. "I'm excited about riding him at Ascot. He just needs to bring that type of form here to be competitive." The French-trained Lazzat leads the opposition, with trainer Jerome Reynier confident of a good performance. "He has such a high cruising speed," said the French trainer. "His last run was his first over as short as 1,200 (metres), but he can take a good grip and stay on well. I think he is the perfect match for the race." Last year, Inisherin was the easy winner of a Group 1 sprint at Royal Ascot on fast ground, the Commonwealth Cup (1,200m). The Shamardal four-year-old was subsequently rather disappointing but returned to win the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes (1,200m) on May 14. Trainer Kevin Ryan could not conceal his delight at York. "That's a relief. I was nervous but it went well," he said. "He'll improve for that run. I'm delighted because he's such a lovable, sensible horse." The formidable duo of trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Ryan Moore, who have already claimed five races after three days at Royal Ascot, command respect with their representative Storm Boy. The only three-year-old in the race, the Justify colt moved from Australia to Ireland this year. Last year he won sprints up to Group 2 level for leading Sydney trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, but finished last when favourite on his UK debut last month in Ireland. The Coolmore ward will surely do better, as O'Brien would not run him if he was not confident of a better performance. The race in which Storm Boy was last was won by the Clive Cox-trained James's Delight, who is a live outsider in Saturday's contest. HKJC
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Hawkesbury's strongest stand-alone program deserves to have a big-money race
The Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting, the pioneer of the popular and successful concept, deserves to have a big-money race. Hawkesbury celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday and boasts the strongest program of all the stand-alone meetings with three Group 3 races worth $250,000 prizemoney each and a Listed race of $200,000. But the stand-alone meetings at other venues have bigger prizemoney races including $1 million features at Newcastle (The Hunter) and Kembla Grange (The Gong), and $500,000 races at Wyong (The Lakes) and Gosford (The Coast). Perhaps the era of stakes increases is over for the immediate future but Hawkesbury is entitled to have a principal race with at least $500,000 prizemoney. While Hawkesbury Race Club chief executive James Heddo acknowledged the quality of the current race program, he said: 'I'm more than happy at the appropriate time to sit down with Racing NSW to see if there is an opportunity to add a new race to the card.'' â– â– â– â– â– I felt for Shane Dye after he was lambasted on social media for daring to declare Ka Ying Rising a better sprinter than the legendary Black Caviar or former Hong Kong champion Silent Witness. Dye, a Hall of Fame jockey, is certainly entitled to his opinion and whether he is right or wrong, only time will tell. But I decided to ask Timeform guru Gary Crispe for his expert view on the comparison as he was trackside for Ka Ying Rising's win in the Chairman's Sprint Prize in Hong Kong last Sunday. Ka Ying Rising takes the Chairman's Sprint Prize (G1)! â€' IFHA's Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (@worldsbesthorse) April 27, 2025 • Smith's 'unbelievable' win on game-changing day for NSW racing 'Ka Ying Rising is a very good horse but my first impression was that he reminded me of Hay List,'' Crispe said. 'My opinion is Black Caviar would be too good for Ka Ying Rising, just as she was always too good for Hay List.'' The Timeform ratings supported Crispe's assessment with Black Caviar earning a lofty 136 figure while Kay Ying Rising is on 132, the same peak rating returned by both Hay List and Silent Witness. â– â– â– â– â– Newgate Farm's super sire Extreme Choice is standing at an equal Australian record fee of $330,000 in the spring breeding season. Extreme Choice, only the second stallion to sire the winners of the Golden Slipper (Stay Inside, 2021) and Melbourne Cup (Knight's Choice, 2024), has the same fee Redoute's Choice commanded in 2007 and 2008. This means Extreme Choice has the highest fee of any stallion in the southern hemisphere with Widden Stud's Zoustar and Darley's Too Darn Hot next on $275,000, then Arrowfield's Snitzel at $247,500 and Yarraman Park Stud's I Am Invincible at $220,000. The only other stallion to sire the winners of the Golden Slipper and Melbourne Cup was Sir Tristram. The legendary New Zealand-based Sir Tristram sired three Melbourne Cup winners with Gurner's Lane (1982), Empire Rose (1988) and Brew (2000), plus a Golden Slipper with Marauding (1987). â– â– â– â– â– Racing Australia this week announced the increase of the mandatory minimum ban for any person found guilty of using an electronic device more commonly referred to as a 'jigger' on a racehorse. From Thursday, May 1, the amended rule means the minimum penalty period for jigger use is five years (up from two years). In other major rule changes, stewards Australia-wide have been given additional and wider powers on the frequency a horse is allowed to race. Under the new rule, a horse will not be allowed to race on consecutive days without approval from a Principal Racing Authority or its panel of stewards. â– â– â– â– â– Trainer Ian Wilkes is attempting to become the first Australian to win the famous Kentucky Derby with Burnham Square at Churchill Downs on Sunday. Burnham Square was an impressive last start winner of the Blue Grass Stakes and is among the early favourites at $9.50 behind Journalism at $3.50 for the 'Run for the Roses'. Wilkes, whose brother Wayne is a leading NSW country trainer based at Taree, said Burnham Square has done well this week in the build-up to the three-year-old classic. Burnham Square just solidified his spot in the @KentuckyDerby starting gate with a win in the Blue Grass (G1) @keeneland! 🌹 Trainer: @IanWilkesRacing Jockey: @b_hernandezjr 🎥 TwinSpires Replay â€' TwinSpires Racing ðŸ�‡ (@TwinSpires) April 8, 2025 • Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Hawkesbury on Saturday 'Everything is good, he is keeping a lid on it which is good,'' Wilkes told American reporters. 'He has to handle everything, the crowd, the long post parade. The mile and a quarter (a2000m) is no issue, it is just whether he is fast enough.'' Wilkes, 59, began his professional career working at Lindsay Park under legendary Hall of Fame trainer Colin Hayes before moving to America in the late 1980s. He teamed up with trainer Carl Nafzger and was associated with two Kentucky Derby winners, Unbridled (1990) as trackwork rider and then Street Sense (2007) as assistant trainer. Wilkes then started training in his own right with his biggest win in the 2012 Breeders Cup Classic with Fort Larned. He's also had Derby runners before but Burnham Square is clearly his best chance yet to win America's biggest race. 'I'm happy with the horse and I couldn't ask for a better draw (nine),'' Wilkes said. 'I'm seeing a horse that is thriving, he's moving forward and improving every time.'' Burnham Square will be ridden by Brian Hernandez who won last year's Kentucky Derby on Mystic Dan and the Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna.
South China Morning Post
29-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Voyage Bubble to target Triple Crown after shock defeat: ‘we're aiming to run him'
Voyage Bubble (right) and Red Lion fight out the finish of Sunday's Group One Champions Mile. Photo: Kenneth Chan Voyage Bubble is 'likely' to stake his claim for Hong Kong Horse of the Year honours by attempting to become only the second galloper to sweep the Triple Crown in next month's Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m). An agonising second behind $90 chance Red Lion in Sunday's Group One Champions Mile, Voyage Bubble will look to join River Verdon as a Triple Crown winner after earlier victories in the Group One Stewards' Cup (1,600m) and Group One Gold Cup (2,000m). 'It was a real shame but he still ran well,' said trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai of Voyage Bubble's short-head defeat. 'He will most likely head to the 2,400m – we're aiming to run him.' Ka Ying Rising surely heads the Horse of the Year running after four Group One victories this season and Romantic Warrior must also be in the conversation after elite-level victories at home and abroad. RED LION ROARS! 🦁 It's an 89/1 shocker in the FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin for @HugeBowman and John Size as Red Lion lands his first Group 1 over Voyage Bubble... #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025 But a Champions & Chater Cup success would put the perennially underrated Voyage Bubble right in the frame, with victory drawing him level with Ka Ying Rising on four Group One triumphs in 2024-25. And Yiu may have another genuine Group One contender on his hands after Sunlight Power flashed home for third in the Champions Mile in his first appearance at the top level. 'Sunlight Power was a bit of surprise but he keeps performing every time,' said Yiu, confirming the five-year-old would next be seen in the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) on May 31. Catch the Express It worked for Cape Of Good Hope and connections of Helios Express must seriously be considering their options abroad for a horse who has placed behind Ka Ying Rising seven times this season. After a prolonged period of playing second fiddle to the great Silent Witness, Cape Of Good Hope was sent on the road, bagging Group One victories in Australia and the United Kingdom from 12 races overseas. Hugh Bowman labelled Helios Express' effort in Sunday's Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) 'his best run of the preparation' but he was still two and a half lengths adrift of Ka Ying Rising. David Hayes declared second placegetter Satono Reve 'probably the second-best sprinter in the world at the moment' and Helios Express was only a quarter of a length off the Japanese galloper. 'Helios, what a great horse he's been this year,' said Hayes. 'He just keeps putting his run up. I think he would be a multiple Group One winner if he was back home in Australia.' HE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚀 Ka Ying Rising makes it 12 straight wins, four Group 1s and a HK$5 million Speed Series bonus with victory in the 2025 Chairman's Sprint Prize... @zpurton #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025 While the HK$16.3 million Helios Express has bagged for connections this season is certainly not to be sneezed at, he's too good to finish his career without a Group One success on his CV. The challenge now is finding a race that Ka Ying Rising, and perhaps Satono Reve, aren't in. The Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) in Japan in September is one of the more obvious options, but the chances of Satono Reve being there would seem high, while the Group One Manikato Stakes (1,200m) in Melbourne around the same time could be a nice fit with Ka Ying Rising expected to be first up in October's The Everest. Or perhaps connections wait and target the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) in Dubai next March – a race in which Helios Express' trainer, John Size, has had runners in the past three years. Hayes pointed out on more than one occasion on Sunday that Ka Ying Rising is only a four-year-old and is just getting started. Hanging around in Hong Kong and hoping for the best seems a fruitless exercise for Helios Express.
Japan Forward
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
Hong Kong Racing: Tastiera Returns to Top Level with Victory in QEII Cup
Damian Lane guided Tastiera to a 1¾-length victory over Prognosis in the lucrative 2,000-meter G1 race at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. Tastiera, piloted by Damian Lane, triumphs in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on April 27, 2025. (©The Hong Kong Jockey Club/via SANKEI) It was FWD Champions Day in Hong Kong on Sunday, April 27 and among the competition from around the world, Japan sent eight runners to contest the three G1 races held on the day at Sha Tin Racecourse. Prior to the big event, it looked as if Japan's best chance of a win might come in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (aka QEII Cup), a race that has given the country winners on numerous occasions, with the most recent being Loves Only You in 2021. Three of Japan's best middle-distance horses were entered for the race, and each one of them was looking to find a way to get their careers back on track, having not quite lived up to expectations recently. The 2025 QEII Cup looked to be at the mercy of one of the Japanese runners, but they would have to beat the French-trained Goliath, winner of the 2024 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, and a respectable sixth-place getter in the Japan Cup, the last time he ran, when connections felt things didn't go his way. It was Tastiera that proved to be the best of the Japan-trained runners, with the 2023 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) champion winning the QEII Cup under jockey Damian Lane, riding once again for trainer Noriyuki Hori. Always racing in a handy position, Tastiera went on to win comfortably. Lane had nothing but praise for the trainer: "He's an amazing conditioner of horses, and I just feel privileged and lucky to be here on these days, as well as getting to ride these top horses. It's very rewarding." Hori was also pleased with the outcome. "It's been a while since the horse has shown his best here in Hong Kong," Hori said. "With the different environment, it's not always easy to bring out the best in him. Maurice has been the only horse I've brought here that could win at the first attempt. I have to thank Damian as well, being a key man for our stable." Japan's other two runners in the race, Prognosis and Liberty Island, both trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, couldn't match up to the might of Tastiera. Prognosis, ridden by James McDonald, finished second in the race for the third consecutive year. Liberty Island, a multiple G1 winner in Japan, had to be pulled up by jockey Yuga Kawada, just when it seemed the horse might have a chance turning for home. According to Jiji Press, Liberty Island was diagnosed with a torn ligament in her left foreleg. After the race, the 5-year-old was euthanized. Ka Ying Rising (Zac Purton's ride) claims victory in the Chairman's Sprint Prize. (©The Hong Kong Jockey Club/via SANKEI) The first of the G1 races on the day, the Chairman's Sprint Prize, saw Japan field four runners in a bid to lower the colors of champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising. But the 4-year-old gelding, trained by David Hayes, proved to be just that and some more, when running away with the 1,200 meters contest. Before the race, Joao Moreira, hot off G1 success in Japan, thought he might be able to get a bit closer to the champion on Satono Reve (also trained by Hori). But it was just wishful thinking, even though he was still pleased with this year's G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner. "We've probably just bumped into the best sprinter in the world," the Brazilian ace commented. "I couldn't have been happier though, with the way my horse performed." Japan's other runners, Lugal, Danon McKinley and A Shin Fencer, all started slowly, although the latter was driven up to be closer to the pace by jockey Craig Williams. And while Lugal and Danon McKinley gained ground on the inside later in the race, they were certainly no match for the latest sprint sensation in Hong Kong, who won in a time of 1 minute, 7.88 seconds, 2¼ lengths ahead of Satono Reve. Not too much was lost in defeat, with winning jockey Zac Purton saying: "I applaud the Japanese. They're willing to travel and take anyone on anywhere in the world." FWD Champions Mile winner Red Lion (left) and runner-up Voyage Bubble compete in Hong Kong. (©The Hong Kong Jockey Club/via SANKEI) Gaia Force was the other runner for Japan on the day, and he contested the G1 FWD Champions Mile. Up against the likes of Hong Kong's Voyage Bubble and Australia's Mr Brightside, the striking 6-year-old grey by Kitasan Black put in a good run before fading to ninth at the finish. Trainer Haruki Sugiyama shrugged off the wide draw for the horse, and he looked to be right, with Kawada getting Gaia Force into a good position, where he could run to suit his racing style. He was, however, unable to keep up the momentum, with longshot Red Lion and Voyage Bubble doing battle to the line, and it was Hugh Bowman on the outsider that just prevailed, but he did have to survive a stewards' inquiry. Of Gaia Force, Kawada said: "He started well and kept up the pressure, but just lost some power towards the end." Official results: Sprint, Mile, Cup Please visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website for the latest news and further information. Author: JRA News
News.com.au
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Better than Black Caviar and Silent Witness? Champion jockey Shane Dye's massive call on Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising
Hall of Fame jockey Shane Dye has declared Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising a better sprinter than the legendary Black Caviar and Silent Witness. Dye made his brazen call after Ka Ying Rising scored his 12th consecutive win in the Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on Sunday. Ka Ying Rising is already into $2 favourite for the $20 million The Everest at Royal Randwick later this year and Dye said the champion sprinter has the world's richest turf race at his mercy. Dye rode against the former Hong Kong champion Silent Witness and saw plenty of the unbeatable Black Caviar but is adamant Ka Ying Rising is the superior sprinter. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I always thought Silent Witness and Black Caviar were the best sprinters I had seen and it was debatable who would beat who,'' Dye said. 'One would win one week, the other would win the other week. 'But you put Ka Ying Rising in against those two and he would win every time – 100 per cent.'' "He's the Usain Bolt of the equine world!" âš¡ Ka Ying Rising DOMINATES in the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin! ðŸ�† — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 27, 2025 • Dye is never afraid to voice his opinion but it speaks volumes about Ka Ying Rising's impact on world racing that he rated the David Hayes -trained sprinter ahead of Black Caviar and Silent Witness. The unbeatable Black Caviar won 25 races including 15 at Group 1 level, was a three-time Australia Horse of the Year winner, held the World Champion Sprinter title four years in succession from 2010-13, was ranked the World's Best Racehorse in 2013 and earned Hall of Fame status. Silent Witness dominated Hong Kong racing between 2003-05, winning his first 17 starts, and was rated the World's Champion Sprinter from 2003 to 2005. But Dye said Ka Ying Rising went to a new level when he raced away with the Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m) to improve his record to 13 wins (and two seconds) from 15 starts. "I get nervous with him... I just want to show Australia how good he is." David Hayes will give Ka Ying Rising a break & we'll see him in Australia for The Everest ðŸ˜� — (@Racing) April 27, 2025 • Ka Ying Rising completed an unbeaten four-year-old season with his eighth win from as many starts, scoring by more than two lengths without being fully tested by Zac Purton but still recording a blistering time of 1m 07.88s. 'Ka Ying Rising is a champion in every sense of the word,'' Dye said. 'He can break 1m 08s for 1200m under a hold. 'If he goes to Sydney for The Everest in the form he has shown this last 12 months no horse will beat him. 'It would need to be a heavy track and things to go wrong for Ka Ying Rising then something like Jimmysstar on a wet track at Randwick over 1200m fresh would be very dangerous. 'But on a good track, Ka Ying Rising can lead, sit off the speed and just win. I feel he is even better when he takes a sit like he did on Sunday. 'He settled behind the leaders then sprinted clear – it looked like a barrier trial. He can quicken as good as anything I have ever seen.'' KA YING RISING is the world’s best sprinter! Never in doubt, @zpurton. #FWDChampionsDay — World Pool (@WorldPool) April 27, 2025 Ka Ying Rising, the world's number one ranked sprinter, will now be spelled before being prepared for The Everest at Royal Randwick on October 18. With Ka Ying Rising expected to soon be locked in by a slot-holder for The Everest, he is set to start at 'ridiculously short odds' in the rich Randwick sprint, according to TAB's Tim Ryan. 'The Everest is a World Pool event and Ka Ying Rising is already a big liability for us,'' Ryan said. 'We have a lot of multis going into Ka Ying Rising winning The Everest after a number of favourites won during the Sydney autumn carnival. 'Nature Strip is the shortest favourite we have had in The Everest, he was $1.90 when he ran fourth to Giga Kick in 2022, but I'm certain Ka Ying Rising will start much shorter if he gets to Sydney in top form in the spring. 'The Everest is still six months away and although Ka Ying Rising is now 'evens' in betting, because the race is part of the World Pool I think he will start ridiculously short odds because Hong Kong punters will be all over him.''
