So hopeful Hong Lok Golf can echo the Boom at Sha Tin
Smart four-year-old is looking to follow in the footsteps of his stablemate by remaining unbeaten after three starts
by Sam Agars on Saturday, February 8, 2025 12:00 PM Hong Lok Golf salutes under Harry Bentley at Sha Tin last month. Photo: Kenneth Chan
He's already done it this season with The Boom Box and now Chris So Wai-yin is hopeful he's got Hong Lok Golf primed to make it three wins from as many starts at Sha Tin this Sunday.
Like The Boom Box did on January 26, Hong Lok Golf enters Class Three company on a rating of 66 after consecutive Class Four successes to begin his career.
The Boom Box remained undefeated in some style and Hong Lok Golf looks well placed to follow suit from barrier six in the TVB Heroes In White Handicap (1,200m).
'I hope he can be like The Boom Box and win three in a row,' said So of the four-year-old son of Grunt.
'Class Three is totally different but I think he can handle it. He's not carrying a heavy weight, so the step up should be good for him. He's still in good form.' — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 5, 2025
Harry Bentley has been in the saddle for Hong Lok Golf's first two starts and the Englishman will again take the reins this weekend.
'Harry galloped him and he's very happy. I think he will keep improving,' So said of Hong Lok Golf, who carries 124 pounds.
'He's got ability and everything is going right. When he comes back after his gallops he's bounding, he's jumping about. The draw is OK and he should be able to get a good result.'
Hong Lok Golf tackles fellow last-start winners Blazing Wind and Triumphant More, as well as the likes of Majestic Express, Alsonso, Rising From Ashes and Call Me Gorgeous.
He is one of six runners for So on Sunday, with the 56-year-old also saddling up Top Time, Colourful Winner, Great State, Oldtown and Winning Gold.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Chris So has Group One hopes for Hong Lok Golf after exciting Happy Valley win
Group One goals could be on the agenda for Hong Lok Golf next season after the exciting galloper continued his rapid rise with a successful Happy Valley debut on Wednesday night. Sent off the $2.8 favourite for the Class Two Cheung Sha Handicap (1,650m), Hong Lok Golf settled sixth and worked into the race when Harry Bentley made his move on the turn. As the $3.5 second favourite Soleil Fighter shot to the lead early in the straight, Steps Ahead launched a determined challenge to hit the front at the 100m. But it was Hong Lok Golf who dug deep when it counted most, lifting down the centre of the track to edge Steps Ahead by a short head. Soleil Fighter was close behind in third. Hong Lok Golf added to his reputation as a rising star of Hong Kong racing with his sixth win from seven starts. The Chris So Wai-yin-trained gelding should arguably be unbeaten, with a luckless second to Righteous Arion at Sha Tin in February his only defeat. Class act, Hong Lok Golf! 🤯 Chris So's talent lifts his impressive record to six wins from seven starts, lunging late to deny Steps Ahead with a second straight Class 2 win... @HarryBentley_ #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 11, 2025 'I was worried about coming to Happy Valley for the first time, but I thought the horse could be flexible – he can lead, sit off the pace or come from behind - so it was worth the try,' said So. 'Every time he gives you a surprise - he's such a tough horse and never gives up, he always hits the line strongly. I hope he can be a Group One horse in time. 'I don't think we'll go for the Group Three [Premier Plate] next week, there is a [Class One] mile race on July 13 at Sha Tin that we can maybe look at, but we'll see how he pulls up and what the owner thinks.' 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. Bentley, who has been aboard Hong Lok Golf in all seven starts, labelled the four-year-old 'a jockey's dream'. 'This horse is just so tough and he really goes to the well,' Bentley said. Trainer Chris So (second from left), jockey Harry Bentley (centre) and connections of Hong Lok Golf celebrate. 'The pace was a bit sedate, perhaps, for him early on. We got a lovely run through following Steps Ahead but the straight here is a bit on the short side for him and it blunts his staying power, where Sha Tin really suits him with the long straight. 'Chris and his team have done a really good job in keeping him in tip-top shape until now.' A day after celebrating his 33rd birthday, Bentley notched a Valley double after also striking on Jimmy Ting Koon-ho's Smiling Emperor in the Class Five Tai Wo Ping Handicap (1,650m). Elsewhere on Wednesday night, Caspar Fownes extended his lead in the unofficial Valley trainers' championship with a race-to-race double courtesy of Autumn Delight and Capital Delight. Autumn Delight broke through at start six, capitalising on a dream run just off the speed from gate four to claim the second section of the Class Four Tai Hang Tung Handicap (1,200m) under Andrea Atzeni. Andrea Atzeni high-fives the Valley crowd after booting home Autumn Delight. 'It's nice when you can get a result with horses that have a lot of problems,' Fownes said of the four-year-old, who was struck down by a tendon injury last year. 'The owners have been very patient and now they're starting to get the rewards. I think this horse hopefully will improve and win another race before the season finishes.' Capital Delight successfully backed up from a closing second a week earlier to score a barnstorming triumph in the Class Four Tai Kok Tsui Handicap (1,650m) for in-form apprentice Ellis Wong Chi-wang, who has booted home eight winners since the start of May. Known as 'the King of the Valley', Fownes has recorded 25 wins at the city circuit this term. Mark Newnham is his nearest rival with 22. Karis Teetan also chimed in with a brace aboard Smart City and Definitive.
South China Morning Post
09-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hong Lok Golf steps into the unknown: ‘If you never try, you never know'
Chris So-trained galloper's winning streak goes on the line at Happy Valley this Wednesday night Hong Lok Golf will put his winning streak on the line when he faces a tricky test on Happy Valley debut this Wednesday night. Victorious in five of six career starts – all at Sha Tin – including the past three on the bounce, Hong Lok Golf will step into unfamiliar territory for the Class Two Cheung Sha Handicap (1,650m). Fresh from a successful Sha Tin Sunday thanks to the victory of Perfectday, trainer Chris So Wai-yin is confident his stable star will take to the city circuit despite having never even trialled there. 'We didn't have too many options for him but owner [Jackie Wong See-sum] really wanted to race him again, so we picked Happy Valley,' said So. HONG LOK GOLF makes it five from six! 🔥 Chris So's rising star continues his red-hot form with a Class 2 win at Sha Tin under @HarryBentley_!# — Hong Kong Racing (@HongKong_Racing) May 4, 2025 'It seems like he will handle the track but we don't know yet – we have to take a chance. If you never try, you never know. 'I told the owner that many things are unknown but he said 'we have to try'. I think it might suit him.' So was thrilled to see Hong Lok Golf draw barrier four for his first appearance at the tight-turning Valley track, ensuring regular jockey Harry Bentley has options. 'It's a small field and having that good draw is most important. The horse is flexible – he can go in front or come from behind – and his form is still good,' said So of Hong Lok Golf, who coasted into second in a recent dirt trial. 'His trial was OK. It was just a soft trial and he looked good.' After Hong Lok Golf's most recent victory in a Class Two on May 4, So put May 31's Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) on the table for his galloper. Four wins from five starts! 🤯 Hong Lok Golf just keeps getting better as Chris So lands a 400th Hong Kong win as a trainer... 👏 @HarryBentley_ #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 13, 2025 He eventually decided against throwing the son of Grunt in the deep end in a race won by Pray For Mir from 17lb out of the handicap. Cody Mo Wai-kit's charge, who Hong Lok Golf defeated in that Class Two in early May, was hit with a 21-point ratings hike for his troubles. Should Hong Lok Golf win again on Wednesday night and lift his rating well into the 90s, however, So will consider backing him up in the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) at Sha Tin on June 22. 'For the Group Three on the 31st, the handicap was no good for us. Cody's horse went up 21 points. That's no good – it's tough to win again,' said So. 'Maybe, we will see [whether we go to the Premier Plate] – let's see how he runs this week first. I want to give him a chance to run at Happy Valley and then we will see. 'I think the 1,650m is suitable for him now but eventually he may need further.' Hong Lok Golf is one of four runners for So at the fourth-last Valley meeting of the season. He also saddles up Young Striker, Our Lucky Glory and Know At Heart.
South China Morning Post
20-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Frankie Lor leans on Zac Purton again as Savvy Twinkle looks to break his duck at Happy Valley
Frankie Lor and Zac Purton after Horsepower's winner at Happy Valley in October. Photos: Kenneth Chan Trainer and champion jockey bid to add to haul of 15 winners from 41 runners when teaming up this season Frankie Lor Fu-chuen is confident he can continue his strong partnership with champion jockey Zac Purton when Savvy Twinkle lines up in the Class Four Sports Club Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup (1,000m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The Capitalist gelding is yet to win in five career starts, but posted his best effort yet when second to the in-form Super Sixty at the track and distance of Wednesday night's race last month. Savvy Twinkle was rousted early by Alexis Badel and snaked his way to the rail to lead after 300m, before only being collared in the final 100m after a game rally. That experience will stand him in great stead and despite facing a wide draw in barrier nine, Lor is confident of a big run from the four-year-old. Super Sixty rallies up the inside! Apprentice @elliswong05 guides the chestnut to a second win at Happy Valley for Caspar Fownes... 👏#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 23, 2025 'Last time he went well, it's the same distance but last time he was drawn a bit better,' said Lor. 'The pace will be fast, so we'll have to see after he jumps. 'The form looks good and I think there is more to come from him. Hopefully this time Zac can help me.' Lor has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Purton this season, with the pair teaming for 15 winners from 41 total runners for a very healthy 37 per cent strike rate. 'It's always a positive to have Zac on board – when I ask him he'll pick the right one, so that's why he has 15 winners for me,' said Lor. Acappella Nova races on-speed under Ange Jones and goes on with the job for @tonygollan 🏇@BrisRacingClub — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 16, 2024 The 59-year-old trainer also has fascinating Australian import The Red Hare running in the Class Three Wyndham Handicap (1,200m) under jockey Derek Leung Ka-chun. The son of Sebring Sun – known as Acappella Nova pre-import – was beaten on debut in Australia but won his subsequent two starts, scoring over 1,200m at Eagle Farm and 1,350m at Doomben. The Red Hare ran well to finish third in a recent barrier trial at the Valley, racing greenly but always under a tight hold. And Lor is hoping for a big run from him on his local debut, though the draw in stall nine could have again been kinder. 'He's a little bit nervous in the mornings but when he starts cantering he's very quiet,' said Lor. 'He needs to learn a bit more but when I've trialled him, he's been good. 'I think he's OK off a rating of 67, but the draw is a bit unfortunate because stall nine is a bit wider than I'd want. 'I have put the earmuffs on him because he's a bit nervous and I think that will help him. He's got a good chance if overcoming his draw.' Lor has bounced back from a slow start to the campaign, which saw him go winless in the first month of the season until Master Trillion broke the drought on October 6. With 42 winners, he sits just two behind third-placed Ricky Yiu Poon-fai and is not too far off the pace overall, with 14 separating him from title leader John Size.
