Latest news with #PierreNg
South China Morning Post
28-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Beauty Waves salutes in stable debut for Tony Cruz: ‘I'm so happy this horse came over'
Talented sprinter Beauty Waves made the perfect start to life with new trainer Tony Cruz, banking a tough win in Saturday's Class One Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup (1,000m) at Sha Tin. Recently transferred to Cruz after four wins for Pierre Ng Pang-chi, the Irish import enhanced his reputation as a straight-track specialist when he proved too slick for strong opposition in Saturday's feature. Backed from $6.9 to $3.7 late, Beauty Waves was sent forward by Alexis Badel to race on the speed and fought on gamely to beat $3.5 favourite Wunderbar by half a length. 'I was expecting him to run a big race,' Cruz said of the five-year-old, who won the Group Three National Day Sprint (1,000m) for Ng and Badel in October. Beauty Waves is a winner again! The Starspangledbanner speedster defeats Wunderbar in the Class 1 Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup for @AlexisBadel and Tony Cruz at Sha Tin... 🏆 @Beautystablehk #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 28, 2025 'I wasn't really confident about the horse winning the race, but he showed today he's got some ability and I believe I can get better results. I believe he can win more races. 'I'm so happy this horse came over [to my stable]. I liked this horse from the very beginning - I've been watching him in the past. He's always a real speedy horse, like he showed today, and he won in good time. I believe he's a 1,000m horse.' Wunderbar launched a late challenge in the centre of the track but ultimately came up short, while Magic Control was beaten a length and a quarter in third. Cruz said Beauty Waves would be aimed at 1,000m features next season, while Badel was over the moon to hop back aboard the son of Starspangledbanner. 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. Jockey Alexis Badel and trainer Tony Cruz after Beauty Waves' win. 'It's good to be back on him. I'm grateful that Tony gave me the ride and he's a talented horse and it was just a nice win,' the French jockey said. 'I'm doing the best I can to give my horses every chance and today it was good to win in such a good race.' Beauty Waves capped a Sha Tin double for Cruz after his Australian import Gentlemen Legacy broke through at his fourth local start, claiming the Class Three Nam Chung River Handicap (2,000m) under Zac Purton.
South China Morning Post
24-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
James Orman eyes Happy Valley success in bid to end season on a high
Bidding to end the season on a high after a frustrating run of seconds, James Orman has identified Supreme Agility as the pick of his eight-strong book of rides at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Joining the ultra-competitive Hong Kong riding ranks in February on a six-week contract, the Australian jockey made an instant impression with two early winners, helping him earn a licence extension through to the end of the season. The 27-year-old hopes to continue riding in the city next season, but his fate is yet to be determined after delays to the Licencing Committee's announcement for the 2025-26 campaign. While he has managed to boot home eight winners, a streak of recent placings has left Orman frustrated. 'I've had a bit of a run of seconds which is annoying. They're getting their chances, so that's all you can do,' said Orman, who has notched 15 seconds and 11 thirds. Smashed 'em! 🔥 Four-time Australian victor Candlelight Dinner (ex Andouillette 🇦🇺) makes every post winner under @JimmyOrman for Me Tsui at Happy Valley... 🤝#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 11, 2025 'I want to get to 10 wins before the end of the season if I can. Hopefully something can bob up for me on Wednesday night.' Orman hops back aboard Supreme Agility in the Class Four Lancashire Handicap (1,650m) after almost guiding Pierre Ng Pang-chi's import to a breakthrough Hong Kong success last month, finishing a close second behind To Infinity. 'I rode him in Class Four and he went really well - he got caught wide from a wide gate,' Orman 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. 'Then he went up to Class Three chasing the [Private Purchase] bonus. Now he's back to Class Four and he looks well suited. He's drawn well [in barrier four], which is important at Happy Valley.' Supreme Agility at the Sha Tin trials in January. A Group One winner in Brazil when known as Summerset, Supreme Agility followed his second under Orman with a sixth behind Keefy when making his run out wide from the 800m. He bumps into a competitive field featuring hat-trick seeker California Moxie and fellow last-start winners Wrote A New Page and Capital Legend. Orman has picked up the ride from the suspended Ellis Wong Chi-wang on Mega Bonus, who shoots for back-to-back victories in the first section of the Class Four Hereford Handicap (1,200m). Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's consistent galloper bagged his first triumph of the season when he led all the way to score by two and a quarter lengths. Mega Bonus cruises to victory under Ellis Wong. 'It's my first ride on him. He won well last start and he's in the same class. He's got top weight now, but he's a good pick up ride,' Orman said of Mega Bonus, who carries 135lb and jumps from gate six. Orman and Yiu will also team up with Charming Babe, who drops back to Class Four in the second section of the Hereford Handicap. The Pride Of Dubai gelding was Orman's first winner in the city on February 26. Ragnarr, Amazing Victory, Namjong Kingdom, A Americ Te Specso and Triumphant More are Orman's other rides at the Valley.
South China Morning Post
10-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Derek Leung ‘chasing hard' as he looks to keep good times rolling on Voyage Samurai
Derek Leung Ka-chun hopes Voyage Samurai can overcome his wide draw as he bids for career win number six in the Class Two Cheung Sha Handicap (1,650m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The 36-year-old has been on board for all five of Voyage Samurai's victories, most recently when the pair dominated from gate to wire to win a 1,600m Class Two at Sha Tin in April. As with most of Voyage Samurai's wins, Leung controlled the fractions to a tee before unleashing a powerful turn of foot from the Dissident galloper to fend off any late bursts from his rivals. Frankie Lor Fu-chuen's five-year-old will need to do it the hard way on his maiden Happy Valley run, drawing gate seven of nine, but Leung is confident of bouncing back from a below-par run at Sha Tin last time where he had excuses. Top win, Voyage Samurai! Derek Leung steers Frankie Lor's ultra-consistent charge to a fifth career win at Sha Tin... 👏#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 6, 2025 'I think 1,800m probably stretched him a bit last time and he has a bad draw to overcome this time,' said Leung. 'He has trialled well though and has been performing well. 'His first run at the Valley won't be easy because of the draw but I hope he can win again. It won't be easy but he's consistent and not fully exposed yet.' Leung has several strong chances on the city circuit's Wednesday card, including Prestige Always in the Class Three Sheung Shui Handicap (1,650m). The Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained four-year-old posted his best run since a win on seasonal reappearance when third over track and distance last time – his first attempt at the 1,650m trip. 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. Prestige Always closes out the card at Sha Tin as the second leg of a Pierre Ng-@zpurton double after the victory of Fighting Machine! ✌️#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) September 28, 2024 And in the concluding Class Three Cheung Sheung Handicap (1,200m), Leung rides Very Grateful for Cody Mo Wai-kit, who made a promising debut over course and distance last month. 'Prestige Good ran well last time over this course and distance but he also has a bad draw to overcome,' said Leung. 'Thankfully Very Grateful has drawn the inside barrier. His debut was very good and hopefully I can use the draw to get a good position. He will hopefully improve from his first start.' Leung sits on the 28-winner mark for the campaign and is eight behind Matthew Poon Ming-fai, who leads the way in the Tony Cruz Award standings for the leading home-grown rider. Jockey Derek Leung has enjoyed his trips to Happy Valley in recent weeks. He also sits three winners behind Matthew Chadwick in the race for second and with both of those riders suspended on Wednesday, Leung is not giving up hope of a late surge to overhaul them – no matter how tough the going is. 'I'm eight winners behind, but you never know – I'm chasing hard,' laughed Leung. 'I still have my eyes on the prize and with the great support of trainers and owners, I will just keep trying to ride as many winners as possible.' The city circuit has been a happy hunting ground for Leung recently, with the rider winning the Jockey Challenge at two of the past three meetings. Two meetings ago Leung rode a brilliant treble headlined by the last-gasp success of Gracious Express, while his prior Jockeys Challenge win saw him pinch the spoils despite not riding a winner.
South China Morning Post
29-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Pierre Ng eyes Group Three glory in bid to kick-start stable's late-season push
Pierre Ng (left) has four runners across Saturday's pair of Group Three features at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Battling a quiet second half of the season, Pierre Ng Pang-chi hopes to kick-start a winning run to end his campaign when he launches a strong assault on Saturday's Group Three features at Sha Tin. Runner-up to Francis Lui Kin-wai in last year's dramatic finale to the trainers' championship, Ng picked up where he left off to lead the race for the title through to January this term. However, the 41-year-old has managed just 10 winners since the Lunar New Year meeting and slipped to eighth in the premiership standings with 38 winners. 'It has been a bit quiet,' Ng admitted. 'Even last year, after the Chinese New Year it was quite quiet as well. That's something I have to think about during the off-season. I gave many horses a break during the middle of the season and then I've brought them back, so I'm looking forward to June. 'I won't have a title run or anything like that, but we'll just keep on going and rolling and then wait for next season.' Ng will aim to replicate last year's haul of three wins from the final four Group races of the Hong Kong season when he starts Johannes Brahms and Ka Ying Generation in the Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) and Mugen and Beauty Waves in the Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) on Saturday. Johannes Brahms could be Ng's strongest chance of the quartet, with the talented four-year-old lining up for the first time since his unlucky sixth to Cap Ferrat in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) in March. The Irish import also had excuses when a fast-finishing third to Rubylot in the Classic Cup (1,800m) and was an impressive Class Two winner over a mile in February. 'He's been running very well for us. We've given him three trials in between runs and we targeted this race before the Derby,' Ng said. Tough win, Johannes Brahms! 💪 Former Aidan O'Brien galloper grabs a second win in Hong Kong, taking the Class 2 Heung Yee Kuk Cup at Sha Tin, for @Atzenijockey and Pierre Ng... 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 16, 2025 'With a light weight [115lbs] over a mile and Andrea [Atzeni] on, hopefully it works out for us. He's trialled well and he's fit and well.' Johannes Brahms has drawn barrier five in the field of 11, which is headlined by last-start Group One Champions Mile winner Red Lion. The John Size-trained Red Lion has to overcome the burden of top weight of 135lbs. Ka Ying Generation will race for the first time since bleeding from both nostrils in December's Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m). Matthew Poon Ming-fai will take the ride on Saturday. Johannes Brahms and Ka Ying Generation will progress to the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) on June 22. Ng won the Lion Rock Trophy-Premier Plate double with Galaxy Patch last year. Mugen will use the Sha Tin Vase as a warm-up to his Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) title defence and Ng was buoyed by the sprinter's trial win at Conghua last week. 'He trialled really well the other day with Karis [Teetan on board]. He was very happy with him and said the horse is back in form,' Ng said of Mugen, who has shown indifferent form since his failed trip to Japan for last September's Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m). 'But Karis won't be riding him. He's riding Victor The Winner and Andrea is riding Mugen. With the light weight [115lbs] over 1,200m, I think he'll get prize money and hopefully he runs well. I know it's a bit sharp for him, but he's fresh enough and then we'll target the race we won with him last year.' Angus Chung Yik-lai will ride Beauty Waves, who has mostly raced at the top level behind superstar Ka Ying Rising since winning October's Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m). 'He's been a bit disappointing his last few runs, but he's been running against top horses and now drops back into Group Three, which he's won at before,' Ng said. 'We tried to switch him off his last couple of races but it didn't really work, so this race we'll just let him roll and with the light weight [115lbs], hopefully he's tough enough to stay on.'
