Latest news with #LightYearsCharm
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hat-trick hero Light Years Charm set for Group assignments after clinical Sha Tin win
David Eustace's rising star could head to the Celebration Cup to kick off next season Light Years Charm has Group racing in his future after scything his way through the field to win the Class Two Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Tuesday. The David Eustace-trained improver always travelled best one from the rear under Zac Purton and despite turning widest of all into the straight, the top jockey was full of both rein and confidence. When unleashed, the Rubick galloper surged into the lead at the 100m pole before holding off a challenge from the equally fast-finishing Mickley to win by a head. On a day when making ground was tricky, the effort can be upgraded and Eustace already has Group racing in his thoughts, though a step up in trip might be on the back burner. Enormous win, Light Years Charm! 🤯@EustaceRacing's improving 4YO scores back-to-back Class 2 victories at Sha Tin, toughing out close-up victory over Mickley in the Hong Kong Reunification Cup at Sha Tin under leading rider @zpurton... 🏆#SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 1, 2025 'He doesn't do it the easy way but he just travels so well in his races and he's able to quicken off it,' said Eustace. 'To come from close to last – the second horse has obviously run very well with no weight – and do it carrying a bit more weight today against what I thought was a very strong field was a really good effort. 'We'll put him away now. It really does look like 1,400m is his trip. I know he gets back and runs on but he doesn't actually really look like he wants a mile. There's really no need to change it now. 'There is [the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m)] at the end of September, which looks like the logical kick-off point. We'll hope that he pulls up well, give him a break and plan for next season.' For jockey Purton, it was a straightforward assignment on a horse that is quickly building into a potential star. 'It was pretty straightforward. He got out of the gates OK for him and he was in a lovely rhythm the whole race, handled the ground really well and he was just able to come into it with a nice-timed run,' Purton said. 'He had to stave off the challenger the last 100m. He did a really good job to keep sticking his head out. 'David has done an exceptionally good job with him to bring him this far in his first season and they did a good job to find him – he came out of Lismore. It was well spotted by the agents.' Unsurprisingly, it completed another double for champion jockey Purton, who kicked off the card with victory on Gold Tack in the Class Five Racing Goes On Handicap (1,800m). Gold Tack holds on at Sha Tin! The galloper is off the mark in Hong Kong at his 30th try, capturing the opener for champion jockey @zpurton and David Hall... 👏#SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 1, 2025 The David Hall-trained six-year-old was zero from 29 heading into the race but was in no mood to extend the sequence to 30, always travelling kindly on long-time leader Lapras' shoulder. Off the turn, Purton asked the $6.8 shot to extend and his partner duly obliged, quickly spurting into the lead and holding off the fast-charging Mr Aladdin by half a length. 'He's had a couple of good runs recently and has been very consistent, so it was just a matter of time before he was going to get the win – at his 30th attempt it seems like waiting forever,' said Hall. 'He's a pretty limited little horse but he's had six seconds so it's nice to see him get the win. He had colic surgery at the end of last season and he pulled through that really well, so it's great for the owners – who had the patience to wait – to get a deserved win.'
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
David Eustace boasts strong hand in Reunification Cup: ‘He does need to learn to jump'
David Eustace hasn't left a Sha Tin meeting empty-handed since mid-May and the trainer looks well placed to continue his hot run at Tuesday's Hong Kong Reunification Raceday. Successful for the sixth straight Sha Tin meeting when banging in a double on Saturday, Eustace has a strong hand in Tuesday's Class Two Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1,400m) thanks to the airborne Light Years Charm and the consistent Swift Ascend. Light Years Charm chases a third straight victory after a pair of course-and-distance victories and Eustace is hopeful the exciting four-year-old can continue his march up the ratings. 'I'm very happy with him. He's trained on nicely. I haven't had to do too much with him and he's holding his condition great,' said Eustace of Light Years Charm, who has rocketed to a rating of 93 and will carry 129lb on Tuesday. Light Years Charm has been winning in spite of his tendency to begin only moderately – something Eustace knows is going to be harder to do as his charge climbs the ratings. Light Years Charm goes from last-to-first with a BANG in Class 2 at Sha Tin! ✨@EustaceRacing and @zpurton combine with the smart 4YO by Rubick, who soars to consecutive wins... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 8, 2025 Zac Purton will be tasked with finding a position with cover from the tricky barrier 10 on Tuesday and the jockey will be hoping Light Years Charm jumps well enough to give him options. 'As Zac has touched on, it's going to get harder the way he races,' said Eustace. 'He does need to learn to jump and he hasn't really got better at it throughout the season, so that's going to be the big query. Is he up to it now or down the track? You'd like to think so.' 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. Swift Ascend is another galloper likely to be coming from off the pace and Eustace is feeling positive about a horse who has run well behind some handy horses in consecutive 1,400m starts. 'I was delighted with Swift Ascend's run the other day [when fifth behind Packing Hermod, Dancing Code, Young Champion and Mickley],' said Eustace. 'They didn't go that quick and his closing sectionals were the best of the meeting. He's trialled well since. There looks like there'll be pace in that race, which I think will really suit him.' Young Champion and Mickley are also among the 12-strong field for Tuesday's feature, while Taj Dragon, Healthy Happy, Lo Rider and Brilliant Express also line up. Eustace also saddles up Glorious Ryder, Inno Super, Without Delay, Francis Meynell and Glorious Success as he looks to add to his 35 victories so far in his maiden Hong Kong campaign. Before turning his attention to Tuesday's fixture, Eustace will be dialled in on Monday morning's all-weather trials at Sha Tin, where Massive Sovereign will stretch his legs with a view to a possible run before the end of the season. Not seen at the races since running sixth in November's Group Three Sa Sa Ladies' Purse (1,800m) and then undergoing fetlock surgery in December, Massive Sovereign has since switched from Dennis Yip Chor-hong to Eustace and he will have his third trial for his new handler. All going well on Monday, last year's Hong Kong Derby hero could line up in the Class One 1,600m contest on July 13. 'He's going to trial on Monday and then we'll make a call with Zac and [owner Chan Kam-hung] after that,' confirmed Eustace.
New Paper
09-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Eustace thriving, rings up 30th win
HONG KONG - David Eustace added further lustre to a burgeoning Hong Kong debut season when emerging talent Light Years Charm won the HK$2.84 million (S$466,000) Class 2 Lee On Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin on June 8, presenting the young trainer with his 30th winner of the campaign. By Rubick, Light Years Charm gave Eustace his first Class 2 triumph, collected a PP (Private Purchase) Bonus of HK$1.5 million and a prizemoney of HK$1.59 million, after Zac Purton patiently piloted the four-year-old to his third win from eight starts. Sold in Australia at the 2022 HTBA May Yearling Sale for A$3,750 (S$3,100), Light Years Charm took his Hong Kong earnings to HK$7.6 million. He had transferred from Brett Dodson's stables as the winner of a maiden race over 1,410m at Lismore, New South Wales in June 2024. Slowly away, Light Years Charm ($8) was allowed to settle and build momentum at the tail. Purton then angled the gelding to the outside of the eight-horse field, clocking 44.58sec for the final 800m and 22.37sec for the last 400m. "It was a perfect ride. The horse actually did jump better than he normally does, but he got squeezed at the start. Zac took his time and assessed the pace up front and the horse lengthened really well," said Eustace. "He'll definitely appreciate a break and I hope he'll get better next season. He's doing nothing wrong at the moment. He's obviously going to have to continue to improve, but hopefully he can. "It's hard to know what the ceiling is. He's only four and he's a big, raw horse. It would be wrong for me to put targets on his back. We'll see how far he gets." With 30 wins from 303 starters in Hong Kong, Eustace - who hit the ground running on Oct 1, 2024 - has made a strong impact in his first season. "Happy with how it's gone so far. They've raced well and consistently, and the team at home are doing a great job. We'll try and round the season out well," said the 32-year-old handler. With a double on June 8, Purton stretched his lead in the jockeys' championship to 52 with 118 wins for the term, well clear of Hugh Bowman, who is on 66. The seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey praised Light Years Charm after the win. "It was a really good effort. He actually didn't begin that bad, but the runner on the inside and the runner on the outside both shifted ground, so that put him on the back foot, but I just left him alone," he said. John Size edged closer to a record-extending 13th trainers' championship with a double, stretching his lead over David Hayes to eight, with 62 wins to 54 and 10 meetings left in the season. Size's Ping Hai Comet ($24) surged away in the HK$1.17 million Class 4 Lam Tin Handicap (1,600m) under Purton. Brenton Avdulla then scored on Majestic Express ($29) in the HK$1.86 million Class 3 On Yam Handicap (1,000m), earning a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million. Antoine Hamelin notched his eighth winner of the season, striking on the Caspar Fownes-trained Sky Prophet ($96) in the HK$875,000 Class 5 Chung On Handicap (1,400m). "It's nice to get a winner today - it's hot, but it's less hot when you win," said the Frenchman. "I think the horse was in good form and didn't deserve to be at such long odds. I believed in him, I thought he was a chance, the only concern was the draw (barrier 13). "But he had a good start. He led, controlled the race and held that to the line." Britney Wong's reunion with Cheval Valiant ($36) led to victory in the HK$1.17 million Class 4 Lai On Handicap (1,000m) for Douglas Whyte and gave the 10lb-claiming apprentice a double. "He was my first win (in Hong Kong on Sept 22, 2024) and I know him very well," said Wong. "Thank you to Mr Whyte for putting me back on because I have to chase this ride. I'm happy that everything's gone well today and I've had another win. I'm very happy." Ruby Sailing ($26) landed the HK$875,000 Class 5 Chak On Handicap (1,200m) under Wong to give Manfred Man a winner across each of the past seven meetings. Wong, 26, has ridden nine of her 18 winners this season for Man. The Chris So-trained Perfectday ($60) pounced late to snare the HK$1.17 million Class 4 Kwong Tin Handicap (1,200m) under Keagan De Melo. The latter made perfect use of barrier one to sit third behind Wonderstar and Lunar Dash before striking at the post for a short-head win. HKJC
South China Morning Post
08-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Light Years Charm goes whoosh again at Sha Tin: ‘it's hard to know what the ceiling is'
Light Years Charm cruises to victory under Zac Purton at Sha Tin on Sunday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Light Years Charm continued his march up the ratings and trainer David Eustace's impressive first Hong Kong campaign kept rolling during the season's first twilight meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday. Chasing back-to-back victories on Class Two debut, Light Years Charm was sent off the $1.7 favourite for the Lee On Handicap (1,400m), but there were a few nervous moments for his supporters and connections. Not known for being the quickest away, Light Years Charm found himself detached from the field after being squeezed between horses early. Still last turning for home but looming ominously, Light Years Charm barrelled home down the outside under Zac Purton to salute by a length and a half eased down. Light Years Charm goes from last-to-first with a BANG in Class 2 at Sha Tin! ✨@EustaceRacing and @zpurton combine with the smart 4YO by Rubick, who soars to consecutive wins... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 8, 2025 'It was a perfect ride. The horse actually did jump better than he normally does but he got squeezed at the start,' said Eustace. 'Zac took his time and assessed the pace up front and the horse lengthened really well.' In a race run well over a second inside standard for the final 1,200m, Purton bided his time before pouncing on his tiring opponents. 'It was a really good effort. He actually didn't begin that bad but the runner on the inside and the runner on the outside both shifted ground so that put him on the back foot, but I just left him alone,' said the jockey. 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. 'The other guys were busy running their 1,000m race and when they were finished doing that, I just chimed in at the 400m and ran the race like it should have been run.' Trainer David Eustace with Zac Purton and the jockey's children, Cash and Roxy. Light Years Charm's third Hong Kong victory will lift his rating into the 90s and Eustace is considering one more run before turning his attention to next season with the four-year-old. 'There's a Class Two [1,400m] on July 1 which is fairly tempting. We'll see how we go,' said Eustace. 'He'll definitely appreciate a break [when it comes] and I hope he'll get better next season. He's doing nothing wrong at the moment. 'It's hard to know what the ceiling is. He's only four and he's a big, raw horse. It would be wrong for me to put targets on his back. We'll see how far he gets. 'He's obviously going to have to continue to improve, but hopefully he can.' Zac Purton after landing a double at Sha Tin on Sunday. Eustace took his total to 30 winners for the season and with the stable operating in solid form, he's hopeful of finishing the term with a flourish. '[I'm] happy with how it's gone so far. They've raced well and consistently, and the team at home are doing a great job. We'll try and round the season out well,' he said. The victory of Light Years Charm completed a double for seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey Purton after his earlier success aboard the John Size-trained Ping Hai Comet in the Class Four Lam Tin Handicap (1,600m). It was a super training effort from Size to have his five-year-old ready to win over the Sha Tin mile just 11 days after breaking his maiden with victory over 2,200m at Happy Valley. Size left Sha Tin with a brace of his own thanks to the later success of Majestic Express in the Class Three On Yam Handicap (1,000m). The master handler is edging ever closer to his 13th trainers' premiership after increasing his lead over the second-placed David Hayes to eight wins with 10 meetings remaining.
South China Morning Post
07-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Zac Purton hopes Light Years Charm can put it all together on Class Two debut: ‘it's a much stronger field'
Zac Purton knows there will be much less room for error as Light Years Charm rises in grade for Sunday's Class Two Lee On Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin. In traffic turning for home after missing the start as the $1.5 favourite when last at the races on May 10, Purton had to pull out all the stops to drive Light Years Charm between horses late in proceedings. That half-length success was Light Years Charm's second victory to go with three placings from seven Hong Kong starts and the David Eustace-trained four-year-old now finds himself on a rating of 85 and locking horns with the likes of Healthy Happy, Young Champion, Invincible Shield and Chiu Chow Spirit. 'It's a much stronger field than what he's been racing against. He went back to the trials and seemed to jump a little bit better,' Purton said. 'Once he learns to jump out of the gates, he's going to make it a bit easier for himself. In this race it looks like they're going to go fast, there's a bit of speed there, so if he's flopping out of the gates and giving one or two lengths away and then they get running, he's all of a sudden going to be well out of the race. Check out this ride! 🙌 Timed to perfection, Rubick gelding Light Years Charm scores a sweet win with @zpurton for @EustaceRacing at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 10, 2025 'He doesn't want that scenario, where he's chasing the whole way. But he gets in with a lightish weight and he's in form.' Light Years Charm, who jumps from gate seven of eight and will carry 121lb, is one of nine rides for Purton as he looks to build on his 116 winners so far this season. Ping Hai Comet and La Forza are the other last-start winners among the star Australian's book, with La Forza chasing a third victory on the bounce after impressing so far this season. The Jamie Richards-trained three-year-old sticks to the Sha Tin straight for the Class Three On Yam Handicap (1,000m) and will carry 131lb after rising 18 points in the ratings across his past two successes. Barrier nine will help La Forza's cause in his first run since March 30.
