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South China Morning Post
17 hours ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Pray For Mir shoots for feature double after feeling the wrath of handicappers
Matthew Chadwick waves to the crowd after winning the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) aboard Pray For Mir. Photo: Kenneth Chan Matthew Chadwick is hopeful Pray For Mir can overcome a 21-point jump in the ratings and continue his strong late-season form in Sunday's Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) at Sha Tin. Victorious in open company for the first time in last month's Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m), Pray For Mir will attempt to complete the same feature-race double Galaxy Patch bagged last season. Penalised so heavily because his last-start win came from 17 points outside the handicap, Pray For Mir will carry only 6lb more this weekend and Chadwick is confident he will be right in the thick of things again. 'He's very consistent and he's shown us what he's capable of. It's an interesting field. He gets in with a decent weight still so I'm not too worried about [the ratings jump],' said Chadwick of Pray For Mir, who led all the way to win the Lion Rock Trophy carrying 115lb. 'There's some more pace in the race, so it will be interesting to see how that plays out, but we've seen him take a sit before so we're not too worried about that. Pray For Mir was not for catching! Cody Mo savoured a first Group race win on Saturday at Sha Tin in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy... 💪 @mattLchadwixk #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 2, 2025 'It will just depend how much pressure there is. It's the end of the long season so you never know how the other horses are going to be, either.' While Pray For Mir is stepping up in trip, his rival Cap Ferrat drops in distance after running third behind Voyage Bubble in last month's Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m). The pair jump from adjacent gates and while Pray For Mir is expected to push forward from barrier eight, Hugh Bowman will have some work to do finding cover for Cap Ferrat from the ninth alley. 'He's in great form,' said Bowman of this year's Hong Kong Derby hero, who will carry 126lb. 'It's a lovely race for him and he gets in with a lovely weight. 'I would have really liked a soft draw with him, but it is what it is. I galloped him the other day on the grass and he gave me a really smooth feel. I think it's a lovely set up for him.'
South China Morning Post
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Pray For Mir leads them a merry dance to win Lion Rock Trophy for delighted Cody Mo
Matthew Chadwick and Pray For Mir (left) grit it out to win at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Cody Mo Wai-kit continued his impressive season with his biggest career success at Sha Tin on Saturday, with Pray For Mir toughing it out from the front to win the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m). It was a well-executed game plan by jockey Matthew Chadwick, who pointed the Justify galloper straight to the lead from barrier eight ahead of the stalking pair of Red Lion and Chancheng Glory. Chadwick was still travelling best of all as the field turned in, but he was immediately confronted by Chancheng Glory, who levelled up and looked set to go on by at the 200m pole. But Pray For Mir refused to be denied and was roused by Chadwick to go on again, edging clear late for gritty half-length success. They can't get past Pray For Mir! 💪 Cody Mo celebrates a first Group race win as his Justify 4YO leads throughout with @mattLchadwixk to capture the G3 Lion Rock Trophy at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 31, 2025 On ratings it was an unlikely triumph, with the pair 17lb out of the handicap, but it was ultimately attitude that won the day – and Mo his first Group race. 'This is one of my targets for the season, now a dream has come true. I'm so happy – thanks to all my staff and the owners for their support,' he said. 'This horse is a very honest horse, you can see he has so many seconds and only loses by a little bit. 'Today Chadwick controlled the pace very well and the horse carried a light weight. At the end of the season, all the horses were maybe a bit tired and I kept him a bit fresh. '[Matthew and I] have very good communication. This season I have been really supporting local jockeys and I'm happy together we could win a Group Three.' Mo called his first season of training last campaign 'acceptable' after a haul of 20 winners, but the 47-year-old is already on the 38-winner mark for this campaign. The win was a meaningful one for Chadwick, who has had a long association with Mo dating back to their time working together in Tony Cruz's stable. The 34-year-old moves onto 31 winners for the season and home-grown talent was quick to return Mo's praise. 'He's always been very honest, he just gets beat, unfortunately. The weight really helped today,' said Chadwick. 'He was left alone and he relaxed really well and when [Chancheng Glory] put it to him, he just kept fighting and his quality just shone through. '[Cody and I] go way back when we were both training in Tony's stable and we've come through the ranks together and it's great to be part of this with him.' It was a race where it ultimately paid to be close to the speed, with the front two always in those positions in the run. Beauty Eternal enjoyed a midfield trip and stuck on well to finish third, while Sunlight Power was the only horse to make ground from the rear to finish fourth. The bitter disappointment of the race was undoubtedly the $3.7 favourite Johannes Brahms, who did not travel into the straight with his usual zest and he checked out quickly at the 200m pole to finish seventh. That was one position behind the top weight Red Lion, who was unable to follow up his Group One Champions Mile win from Champions Day, finishing sixth after lumping 135lb.
South China Morning Post
19-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Antoine Hamelin eyes more success aboard Happy Fat Cat before a potential reunion in France
Antoine Hamelin gives Happy Fat Cat a pat after their win last month. Photos: Kenneth Chan Antoine Hamelin will miss Happy Fat Cat more than most of the Hong Kong horse population but it might not be too long before he's reunited with a galloper he's saluted aboard three times. Preparing to move back to France at the end of the 2024-25 season, Hamelin may be joined by one of the gallopers he's had the most success with during his five-year stint in Hong Kong. 'He might be a horse I will have in my stables in France, so maybe I won't miss him for so long,' said Hamelin of Happy Fat Cat, confirming he has had conversations with owner Admund Au Chi-hoe about allowing the six-year-old to spend his retirement at his Chantilly property. 'Maybe he will come back to my house in France when he retires. There's no plans to retire him yet but once he does, there's a chance he comes over to me in France.' Super effort, Happy Fat Cat! @AntoineHamelin guides Cody Mo's galloper to a ninth career win, denying Spicy Gold and Storm Rider, who share second place... 👏#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 30, 2025 Two of Hamelin's seven victories this season have come aboard Happy Fat Cat and the pair will chase further success in Wednesday night's Class Three Wyndham Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley. Victorious after leading throughout from gate 11 last start, the Cody Mo Wai-kit-trained Happy Fat Cat will find life easier from gate two on Wednesday night but he sits on a career-high rating of 78 and will have to lump top weight of 135lbs. 'He's been amazing – he's a lovely horse. I really enjoy riding him and it's always a pleasure. He's done really well and he deserves what he gets. I'm glad to be back on him again,' said Hamelin. 'That's very good news for us, to have a good gate, but his rating is a bit high now so he will have some weight on his back. I'm sure he will still be competitive. His form is still there so I'm confident and happy.' 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 Antoine Hamelin is all smiles after saluting aboard Happy Fat Cat. Spicy Spangle is another galloper Hamelin has saluted aboard this season but he's hopeful rather than confident ahead of the Class Four Sports Club Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup (1,000m). 'His rating is also likely a bit high. He's always there, always competitive and he gives me his best, but always the last 100m he seems to tire a bit,' said Hamelin. 'I need to save him as much as possible. He's definitely a horse who could place but I think his rating might be a bit high now to win – I hope I'm wrong.' Hamelin isn't setting any specific targets for his final two months in Hong Kong, with the Frenchman just keen to add as many winners as possible to the 106 he's already snared in the city. That's fiery! Spicy Spangle rolls them all for @AntoineHamelin and Cody Mo in the Hong Kong Football Club Centenary Cup at Happy Valley... 🔥#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 19, 2025 'I will just do my best until the last day. It's going to be sad to leave Hong Kong so I'm not really thinking about it now,' he said. Hamelin confirmed there are a number of reasons he has chosen to move home. The pull of family is strong for he and wife Marion, while their three-year-old son, Matheo, starts school next year. 'We really enjoy everything here and there's not many things I won't miss,' said Hamelin, who plans to start riding in France within a few weeks of returning. 'I will miss my friends. I have a lot of friends here after five years, either in racing or in the climbing community, because I am doing a lot of rock climbing here. 'Another thing is the amount of free time we have here – I'm going to miss the free time I have for my family.'
