Latest news with #HongKongRacing
The Standard
a day ago
- Sport
- The Standard
Hong Kong racing doesn't exist in a vacuum and why whip rules won't ever please anti-racing groups
Hong Kong racing doesn't exist in a vacuum and why whip rules won't ever please anti-racing groups
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Keagan de Melo tastes maiden Hong Kong Group success as Copartner Prance runs them ragged
Keagan de Melo celebrated his first Hong Kong Group win when $26 outsider Copartner Prance led them a merry dance in the Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday evening. The South African has not hit any great heights this season and his success aboard Francis Lui Kin-wai's Copartner Prance, who also landed a Group-race breakthrough, was a much-needed tonic. Copartner Prance sat on the shoulder of Victor The Winner for the first part of the race, but De Melo took the outright lead at the 1,000m peg and, on a day when front runners were tough to rein in, it was a decisive move. A host of challengers came to try and steal the prize in the straight, but De Melo remained all action and drove his mount home to beat Happy Together by a head. 25/1 shock in the G3 Premier Cup! 😱@kdemelo01 collects his first Group race win in Hong Kong as Copartner Prance defiantly makes all at Sha Tin for trainer Francis Lui...#SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 22, 2025 It was a 1-3-4 for the Lui stable, with $2.9 favourite Packing Hermod and Patch Of Theta chasing their stablemate in vain, but the day ultimately belonged to a grateful De Melo. 'It's a real honour to be in this position and thanks to Francis and his team. The horse's turned out phenomenally and I think he got the right fractions,' said the jockey. 'We all know the numbers don't lie and I don't get many opportunities but thanks to all the trainers that do support me – I really do appreciate it.' It was a third Group-race win of the season for Lui, who also tasted Hong Kong Derby success with Cap Ferrat in March. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. And the 66-year-old, now on 47 winners for the campaign, was full of praise for both De Melo and his willing partner. It was all smiles for jockey Keagan de Melo and trainer Francis Lui (centre). 'I think the jockey controlled the pace really well. It's the main thing for him to win this race,' said Lui. 'Before we always thought that 1,400m will maybe suit him, but we tried once and he was just too keen. Maybe at the end of the season, he's more relaxed. I'm very happy to get more and more winners.' Elsewhere on the card, the Eustace family's good week continued when the David Eustace-trained Mister Dapper rallied gamely after a prominent run to deny $3.4 favourite Fortune Boy in the Class Four Topaz Handicap (1,600m). David's brother Harry enjoyed a remarkable Royal Ascot, training two Group One winners in the form of globetrotter Docklands and Time For Sandals, and David made sure to add a winner of his own after spending the early part of the week celebrating in the United Kingdom.
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
James Cummings accepts offer to train in Hong Kong from the 2026-27 season
James Cummings will withdraw his application for the famous Leilani Lodge stables at Royal Randwick after accepting an offer to train in Hong Kong. Cummings flew to Hong Kong on Tuesday and will later this morning front a press conference in which the Hong Kong Jockey Club will confirm the trainer will move there for the start of the 2026-27 season. It's a real coup for Hong Kong racing to secure one of Sydney's most outstanding trainers. Cummings' tenure as Godolphin's private trainer comes to an end on July 31. It is understood he may take a 'sabbatical'' from training before he moves to Hong Kong next year. It is unclear whether Cummings will continue training Godolphin's Group 1 stars Tom Kitten and Zardozi and boom rising three-year-old filly Tempted for their spring carnival campaigns later this year. Cummings has been reconsidering his future since Godolphin Australia made a bombshell announcement recently it is moving to a public training model from August 1. The trainer had lodged an application to take over the vacant Leilani Lodge stables at Royal Randwick. The Australian Turf Club board of directors are due to meet this week to discuss which trainer will be allocated the 60-boxes at Leilani Lodge where Bart Cummings trained so successfully for more than 40 years. An original Hall of Fame inductee, Bart Cummings prepared some of his greatest champions out of Leilani Lodge including Saintly, So You Think, Beau Zam, Shaftesbury Avenue, Sky Chase, Campaign King, Dane Ripper and many others. The nation's leading trainer, Ciaron Maher is clear favourite to be given the keys to the Randwick stables which have been vacant since James's father, Anthony Cummings' licence to train was revoked earlier this year. James Cummings is only 37 years of age and has already trained 52 career Group 1 winners including two with his legendary grandfather, Bart. To put this achievement into context, Bart Cummings and Tommy Smith didn't train their 50th Group 1 winner until they turned 45. Chris Waller may rewrite all the training records but he didn't get to 50 big race wins until he was 42. In fact, the only other trainer to reach 50 Group 1 wins before the age of 40 was Lee Freedman who was 38. Cummings has been Godolphin's trainer since 2017 and has been hugely successful for the global racing and breeding giant, preparing 48 Group 1 winners for the 'Blue Army' and more than $200 million prizemoney. Anamoe has been Godolphin's best horse during the Cummings era winning nine Group 1 races including the 2022 Cox Plate and earning Horse of the Year honours in 2022-23. "IT'S ANAMOE'S GEORGE RYDER!" The champion did it tough today to win his 9th Group 1! @mcacajamez @JamesCummings88 @godolphin — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 18, 2023 Cummings trained a Golden Slipper quinella in 2019 with Kiamichi and Microphone, and the winners of the Golden Eagle (Colette, 2019), Doncaster Mile (Cascadian, 2021), Epsom Handicap (Hartnell, 2018), Tancred Stakes (Avilius, 2019) and two Golden Rose s with Broadsiding (2024) and Bivouac (2019). The champion trainer also enjoyed tremendous success for Godolphin interstate preparing the winners of the All Star Mile (Tom Kitten, 2025), two Australian Cup s (Cascadian 2023, 2024), three Newmarket Handicap s (Bivouac, 2020, In Secret, 2023 and Cylinder, 2024), two VRC Oaks (Zardozi, 2024 and Willowy, 2021), two Caulfield Guineas (Anamoe, 2021 and Golden Mile, 2022) and the Stradbroke Handicap (Trekking, 2019).
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
John Size shrugs off mini-drought to land Hong Kong win 1,600: ‘I've taken my time'
It was all smiles for John Size after bagging his 1600th winner at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan John Size ended a frustrating mini-drought at Sha Tin on Sunday to celebrate his 1,600th Hong Kong victory and boost his claims of holding off a surging David Hayes in the trainers' championship. Size joined fellow Australian John Moore (1,735 wins) as the only trainers to reach the major milestone in the city when Stellar Express romped home in the Class Three Indigenous Handicap (1,000m). Relief was the overwhelming emotion for the 70-year-old, who halted his winless streak at 36 runners while claiming a crucial win as his battle with Hayes heats up. 'I've taken my time, but finally got there. It's always nice to get some sort of milestone or number up – that's the one today,' said Size, who last tasted success with Perfect Pairing at Happy Valley on May 7. 1⃣,6⃣0⃣0⃣ HONG KONG WINS FOR JOHN SIZE! 👏 Stellar Express brings up a major milestone for our 12-time champion trainer, who becomes the second in history to reach the mark... 🍾 @brentonavdulla @WorldPool | #TripleCrown | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 25, 2025 Since landing his first premiership in his debut season in the city in 2000-01, Size has become a legend of Hong Kong racing with a record 12 titles and a host of star gallopers and Group One successes. The Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee's bid for another title strengthened when he overcame a sluggish start to the campaign to establish a double-digit lead. However, Hayes cut the deficit to four wins when Shamus Storm won Sunday's Class Four Exultant Handicap (1,400m) before Size struck back. 'I'm hanging on by the skin of my teeth. We'll just keep trying,' Size said. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Brenton Avdulla celebrates on John Size's 1600th winner Stellar Express. Jockey Brenton Avdulla was thrilled to help deliver Size his milestone triumph when Stellar Express made all to bolt in by two lengths from the Hayes-trained Metro Power. 'It's worked out well because I was a bit upset, thinking I would miss out on riding it for him because John has gone three or four meetings without a winner when I wasn't riding,' said Avdulla, who has served careless riding suspensions while Size was stranded on 1,599 wins. 'I thought he might have got it when I was off but it's actually an honour to ride the winner that brings up the 1,600th for John and it's great that it's for [owner] Larry Yung [Chi-kin], who's a big supporter. 'It's a brilliant result and hopefully we can help John onto another premiership.' Stellar Express added Sunday's win to his Class Two triumph down the straight in December. A double for Brenton Avdulla took him to the 40-winner mark for the season. Hayes managed to keep pace with Size after Shamus Storm was given a brilliant ride by Zac Purton to win the Class Four Exultant Handicap (1,400m). It was fifth-time lucky for the Shamus Award galloper, who settled towards the rear of the pack before Purton made a move off the turn to box in his main rival Max Que heading into the straight. It was a move that proved crucial, with Shamus Storm getting first run and justifying $2.2 favouritism in the process. The win had Hayes keeping one eye on the championship, while admitting the task had been made a bit tougher after today. 'It's been a bit of a frustrating day. Ka Ying Glory ran faster than the Class One and got beaten, and Fortune Boy I thought was my best of the day and he got scratched at the gate,' said Hayes. 'I need to have a day where I sneak up on him – if I was further away then I wouldn't be able to win.' The win formed part of Purton treble, with Packing Hermod saluting in the Class Two River Verdon Handicap (1,400m) and Top Dragon ending the card in style by claiming the Class Three Oriental Express Handicap (1,400m).
South China Morning Post
22-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
The Champions & Chater Cup by the numbers
Rebel's Romance becomes the first overseas winner of the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m). Photo: Kenneth Chan The final Group One of the Hong Kong season is not always the most thrilling of elite-level contests but the scene is certainly set for a bumper 2025 edition of the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m). With big-name globetrotter Dubai Honour in town and Voyage Bubble alive in the Triple Crown, fans are expecting fireworks at Sha Tin on Sunday. Here's the race by the numbers: 1 – The number of horses to have started the Champions & Chater Cup alive in the Triple Crown since River Verdon completed the coveted sweep in 1994. After wins in the Group One Stewards' Cup (1,600m) and Group One Gold Cup (2,000m), Ambitious Dragon fell just short of Triple Crown glory in 2012, running second to Liberator by a length and a half. Golden Sixty twice did the Stewards' Cup-Gold Cup double but never made the step out to 12 furlongs. All-time LEGEND of Hong Kong racing! 🧡 The trailblazing River Verdon is the city's only #TripleCrown winner in history, completing the stamina testing three-race challenge in 1993/94... 🏆🏆🏆#FlashbackFriday | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 16, 2025 10 – The number of gallopers expected to run in this weekend's Group One, which would be the race's equal-biggest field in the past 20 years. While 12 gallopers were entered for the contest, Dennis Yip Chor-hong removed Noisy Boy early this week, not wanting to run his Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) runner-up off a rating of just 86, and Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained dirt specialist Sword Point came out on Wednesday. 5 – Cap Ferrat is looking to join the quintet of horses to have done the Hong Kong Derby-Champions & Chater Cup double in the same season since Hong Kong racing turned professional in the early 1970s. If the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained Cap Ferrat can back up his March victory in the city's most prestigious race, he will join Co-Tack (1983), River Verdon (1991), Makarpura Star (1995), Vengeance Of Rain (2005) and Viva Pataca (2006) in completing the increasingly rare double. After delivering the goods in the Derby, Australian jockey Craig Williams again jets in to partner Cap Ferrat. HISTORY AT SHA TIN! 👏👏@CWilliamsJockey wins the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby aboard Cap Ferrat for trainer Francis Lui over a fast-closing My Wish... #4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025 3 – The number of seconds Romantic Warrior ran during the 2023 Triple Crown, trailing Golden Sixty home in the first two legs before being pipped by Russian Emperor in the finale. There will be a Romantic Warrior flavour at Sha Tin this Sunday, however, with the Jockey Club putting on a welcome home ceremony for the 10-time Group One winner after his three-race campaign in the Middle East. In town to partner Voyage Bubble, James McDonald will sit atop Romantic Warrior as he parades for fans at 3.10pm. 6 – Barrier stats are always going to be skewed for a race prone to small fields but for what it's worth, gate one has provided the most Champions & Chater Cup winners since 1995 with six. Barriers four and seven follow close behind with five winners, while no other alley has thrown up more than three victors. It's the visitor, Dubai Honour, who jumps from the inside stall on Sunday, while Ensued has gate four and Cap Ferrat seven. Winning Dragon looks the potential leader from the outside alley of 10, while Voyage Bubble is poised to get the dream run from stall three. Rebel's Romance is just too good! The boys in blue land the @StanChart Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin... 🏆 #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 26, 2024 1 – On storming to victory in the race a year ago, Rebel's Romance became the first overseas winner of the Champions & Chater Cup. After running second behind Giavellotto in December's Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m), Dubai Honour looks very well placed to become the second. Overseas fixed-odds markets have local hero Voyage Bubble a $1.65 favourite and Dubai Honour a $2.75 second elect. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. 3 – Group One wins by Voyage Bubble this season. A fourth this weekend would put Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's superstar firmly in the Hong Kong Horse of the Year conversation alongside Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior.
