Latest news with #EustaceRacing
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.
South China Morning Post
30-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Luke Ferraris ready to dazzle at Sha Tin after shaking off fever
Luke Ferraris has shaken off the worst of the fever that sidelined him from Wednesday night's Happy Valley meeting and is hoping he has the ammunition to continue his strong recent form at Sha Tin on Saturday. Victorious at the past two meetings he has ridden at, Ferraris will feature in both of Saturday's Group Three features but must overcome barrier 10 aboard Lucky With You in the Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) and Chancheng Glory in the Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m). 'Lucky With You is going to need the rain to stay away. He's definitely more effective on a firm track, so that doesn't look great, and he's also got a bad barrier to contend with as well,' said Ferraris. 'But he's got nice horses drawn around him, so if he can get on the back of a nice one and get a nice pull through the run, hopefully he can bring that Class One form up to this Group Three. Seriously impressive, Dazzling Fit! 🤯@EustaceRacing's 3YO son of Ribchester explodes to a first win at Sha Tin under @LukeFerraris...#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 4, 2025 'Chancheng Glory also has a bad barrier but his raceday form is honest and if the pace is on and he can get a nice run in transit, hopefully he closes off well.' Ferraris fared better at the draw with smart youngster Dazzling Fit, who has gate three but must carry 135lbs as he shoots for consecutive victories in the Class Four Tin Sam Handicap (1,400m). 'Dazzling Fit has finally pulled a gate, which is nice. Hopefully he can lob somewhere around midfield. It will be a good test. He's a young horse with a lot of weight to shoulder, but he is a big fella so hopefully it's not too much of an issue for him. He's definitely a horse on the rise,' said Ferraris, who also looks to be a winning chance aboard Hong Kong debutant Infinite Resolve in the Class Three Tai Wai Handicap (1,200m). 'Infinite Resolve's last trial at the Valley was good and he looks to be a versatile horse – he can go forward or he can go back. I'll see what Mark [Newnham] wants to do. His prep going into the run has been good, he hasn't really put a foot wrong and he seems honest enough. It will be interesting to see what he does.'
South China Morning Post
10-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Light Years Charm a class apart as Zac Purton smashes in another Sha Tin treble
Light Years Charm ran out a very impressive winner of the Class Three Lung Mun Handicap (1,400m) and rounded off another Sha Tin treble for champion jockey Zac Purton on Saturday. It was a second career win for David Eustace's promising galloper, who gave his $1.5 backers some heart-in-mouth moments on the way to an ultimately cosy head success. Purton settled the Rubick gelding in the rear of midfield and as they straightened up off the turn, he was cruising and desperately looking for racing room as the taps were turned on. As is customary, Purton took the daring route up the rails and spied a gap between the weakening Meowth and New Forest, surging to the front in a matter of strides to fend off the fast-finishing Juneau Pride. 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 It was a masterful bit of race riding when it mattered, though Purton did admit that luck played a small part in the finish. 'He doesn't make it easy for himself at the start. It didn't help that prior to the start, he was able to pop the gate open and reverse himself back out so he was thinking he was going to do the same thing again,' Purton said. 'So he was right on the back of the gates and flopped out. They didn't go fast which was a concern and I was in a bad spot, so I had no option but to ride for luck – and luckily the runs came. 'He won well and there's more to come because he cooks himself before the start. Next season, hopefully he's better.' Class 3 bound! The rising Flash Current is an impressive winner with champion jockey @zpurton for Jimmy Ting at Sha Tin... ⚡️#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 10, 2025 That might not be it for the lightly raced four-year-old this season, however, with Eustace aiming to get another run in before the campaign is out. 'He misses the start, which doesn't help, but he's got a huge engine and got an absolutely fantastic ride from Zac. It was a 10-out-of-10 effort from him,' said Eustace. 'There's a Class Two in four weeks which fits in very well so we'll go there – that might be his last run of the season but we'll have to see. It's going to be a step up in grade – is he good enough? We'll have to see.' Light Years Charm was the final leg of Purton's treble, with the Australian getting off the mark when Flash Current trotted to victory in the Class Four Tuen Mun Public Riding School Handicap (1,400m). Serious talent! 🤯 All Too Hard youngster Patch Of Stars cruises home for consecutive wins as @zpurton makes it an early double at Sha Tin... ✌️#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 10, 2025 After travelling sweetly in midfield, the pair came into the straight tanking and when Purton let his mount down, they surged to the front to beat Riding Together. Easy wins was the theme for Purton's Saturday, with his success on Patch Of Stars in the Class Four Lei Yue Mun Public School Handicap (1,400m) one of his easiest of the entire season. Settled in the box seat behind the leader, Purton switched out at the top of the straight and Patch Of Stars' response was immediate when ridden, flashing clear in a matter of strides in the style of a horse with much more to offer. 'He's only three, still learning and does a little bit wrong,' Purton said. 'He wants to grab the bit and get a bit aggressive in the run and in the straight, he was hanging in quite bad. 'I think there's a little bit more there and next season when he's a bit more mature, he'll start to show his best.'
South China Morning Post
04-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
David Eustace's smart three-year-old dazzles at Sha Tin: ‘we've always liked him'
Dazzling Fit threw his hat in the ring as a potential Classic Series horse for next season with a sparkling win in the first section of the Class Four Cox's Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Luke Ferraris settled David Eustace's galloper in mid-pack early on and turning out of the back straight still had a lot of ground to make up. When hitting top gear Dazzling Fit flew down the straight to record a very comfortable win over Max Que, obliging for favourite backers after being sent off $2.65. Eustace sung the praises of his three-year-old post-race. Seriously impressive, Dazzling Fit! 🤯@EustaceRacing's 3YO son of Ribchester explodes to a first win at Sha Tin under @LukeFerraris...#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 4, 2025 'We've always liked him. He'd put in two really good performances but was showing signs of greenness and just inexperience, which is very normal,' said Eustace. 'He was good today. He jumped well and he relaxed. He had a bit of ground to make up and I thought he flattened out well and picked them up well. 'He'll be a lovely horse for next season. He'll definitely stay a mile. Whether he needs to do that now I'm not sure, but for next year he will. 'We'll see how he is as to whether he has another run or whether we give him a chance to mature. I'll just be guided by the horse.' Whip rules come into focus Jockey Club officials will discuss Hong Kong's whip rules with the city's riders on Tuesday, with executive director of racing Andrew Harding suggesting 'there is probably a case for reducing, in some circumstances, the use of the whip'. Under Hong Kong's current whip rules, jockeys can be punished for using the whip in an 'excessive, improper, unnecessary or inappropriate manner' but there are no official restrictions on how many times the whip can be used. 'We continue to look at various aspects of regulation and one of them is the use of the whip. We've been doing that for some time and having ongoing discussions with jockeys and trainers,' said Harding. 'After we have spoken to [the jockeys] and trainers and owners, we will make an assessment about whether there should be changes to the rules with a view to, if we change anything, introducing it next season. 'We're not suggesting anything at this stage. Obviously there have been changes to the way the use of the whip has been regulated in other major racing jurisdictions over time. 'We continue to monitor those changes, see how they've worked and we'll continue to do that. 'It is a conversation we'll be having with the jockeys – whether there is a case for making the changes here, and if we did make changes, what would be sensible? 'I would say overall, I think that there is probably a case for reducing, in some circumstances, the use of the whip.' Wong ends long wait for Victory Apprentice Britney Wong Po-ni returned to the winners' enclosure for the first time in almost two months when she booted home Circuit Victory in Sunday's Class Five Jordan Handicap (1,200m). Winless since firing in a double on the Sha Tin dirt on March 9, Wong snapped a drought of 39 rides without success after guiding Manfred Man Ka-leung's Circuit Victory to his first victory at start 11. The 25-year-old rider didn't let the lean period weigh her down and paid tribute to support from the industry. 'I've been not in the winners' circle for over a month, so it's all been a bit lost on me. It's good I have got all the good culture and good help around me and I just stick my head into it and I really feel good,' Wong said after notching her 13th triumph of the season. Circuit Victory is not for catching! Apprentice Britney Wong lands her 13th win in Hong Kong... 🔥#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 4, 2025 Relishing the addition of blinkers, Circuit Victory crossed from gate 12 early to lead for Wong and drew clear in the straight to comfortably beat Ever Smart by a length and three-quarters. 'It's really great and I really appreciate all the support from Manfred,' said Wong, who received a two-meeting careless riding suspension for her winning effort. 'He's been a big supporter even since I was a trainee. It's a nice feeling to reward him and his team in this way.' Matthew Poon Ming-fai broken an even bigger drought on Sunday, ending his streak of 75 winless rides with a desperately needed success on Cody Mo Wai-kit's Ka Ying Superb in the second section of the Cox's Handicap. Stellenbosch to stay at home Japanese mare Stellenbosch will not run in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) later this month, but Jockey Club officials remain confident the other two overseas entries – Dubai Honour and Al Riffa – will step out at Sha Tin on May 25. Third in December's Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m), Stellenbosch's connections have opted to head towards the Group One Victoria Mile in Tokyo on May 18 instead of another trip abroad. Local entries for the race, which close on May 12, are expected to be headed by Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's Triple Crown hopeful Voyage Bubble.
