Latest news with #StepsAhead
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Sport
- 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
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Tony Cruz celebrates 2,500 Hong Kong wins as a jockey and trainer after Sha Tin double
Legendary figure reaches another big milestone after Liveandletlive and Winning Ovation win Sunday's final two races Tony Cruz's status as a legend of Hong Kong racing elevated to a new level again on Sunday when he reached 2,500 wins as a jockey and trainer with a double at Sha Tin. A winner of 946 races in his time in the saddle which included six Hong Kong championships, Cruz hit the new milestone when striking in Sunday's final two races with Liveandletlive and Winning Ovation. The now 68-year-old made a seamless transition to training with two championships and a swag of Group One wins with some of the city's top gallopers, headlined by champion Silent Witness who won 17 consecutive races. 'I'm very happy with that. It's great,' Cruz said after training his 1,554th winner. Tony Cruz is INCREDIBLE! 👑 Winning Ovation brings up the legendary figure's 2,500th win in Hong Kong as both a jockey (946 wins) and trainer (1,554 wins) with success in the finale under @AlexisBadel... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 4, 2025 Cruz was quick to deflect praise to jockeys Angus Chung Yik-lai and Alexis Badel for their rides on Liveandletlive and Winning Ovation, respectively. A two-time winner in Britain under the same name, Liveandletlive broke through for his first Hong Kong success at start seven when leading all the way in the Class Three Chatham Handicap (2,000m). Chung controlled the race from the front on the $9.75 chance and he lifted when challenged by Gold Master to prevail by a nose in a thrilling finish. 'I must give credit to Angus on Liveandletlive – he rode a perfect race,' Cruz said. '[Gold Master] went past him, but he fought back just on the wire. All credit to Angus.' Liveandletlive's best previous run in the city was a close third to Steps Ahead in February. The Muhaarar four-year-old had excuses on his start before Sunday's victory, running seventh to Winning Wing after knuckling over at the start and unbalancing Chung. Another British import, Winning Ovation, capped Cruz's day to remember with an impressive triumph in the Class Three Austin Handicap (1,400m). Settling third on the fence from gate one, the three-year-old was hooked off the inside by Badel and pounced on pacesetter Yuen Long Elite to take control at the 150m. He soared clear at his second local start to beat heavily-backed $3.2 favourite Yuen Long Elite by a length. 'The jockey, Alexis Badel, rode a perfect race. The barrier draw was a benefit – if we didn't have that, we might not have won the race,' Cruz said. Winning Ovation won at Salisbury and finished midfield in Royal Ascot's Group Two Coventry Stakes (1,200m) when known as Nascimento pre-import. Elsewhere on Sunday's card, trainer Chris So Wai-yin was in awe of Hong Lok Golf's fifth victory at start six in the Class Two Hillwood Handicap (1,600m). On his first start over a mile, the emerging four-year-old dug deep to beat Pray For Mir by half a length in a tight finish. 'Wow,' So said. 'In the straight when I saw [Pray For Mir], I thought he would beat us. But I spoke to Harry [Bentley] and he just said that he wasn't that worried. 'The last 100m, he did it easy. I was just a bit worried because he was stepping up from 1,400m to 1,600m and for some horses it's a big challenge.' So will consider setting Hong Lok Golf, who was an unlucky second on his only career defeat in February, for upcoming features such as the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) on May 31. 'We now have the choice whether to give him a break or another run. There's Group races coming at the end of May, but we will decide,' So said.
South China Morning Post
20-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Californiatotality bounces back from Derby defeat to land betting plunge in Lions Cup
Tough four-year-old Californiatotality landed a late betting plunge when he bounced back from his Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) flop with victory in Sunday's Class Two Hong Kong Lions Cup (1,800m). Brown-lamped late in betting from $16 to $6.2, the Tony Cruz-trained gelding notched his fourth win of the season after a fading 11th behind Cap Ferrat in last month's Derby. Camped behind a solid speed set by Voyage Samurai, Californiatotality looked in trouble approaching the turn when coming under pressure and failing to respond to Alexis Badel's urgings. However, he kept on willingly down the centre of the track to prevail over Steps Ahead and Pray For Mir in a thrilling three-way finish. Three-way finish! 📸 Californiatotality edges past Steps Ahead and Pray For Mir in a thriller under @AlexisBadel and Tony Cruz in the Class 2 Hong Kong Lions Cup... 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 20, 2025 'I think it's the second or third time he's beaten that horse, Pray For Mir,' Cruz said after Californiatotality relished a light weight of just 116 pounds to win by a short head. 'Today you can see the lightweights are winning. It's a fast track today. First, second, third, even fourth – it was all the lightweights coming in. 'I think 1,800's perfect for him – light weight, even better.' While the strength of this year's Derby crop has been questioned, the form was given a little boost by Californiatotality, Steps Ahead and Bundle Award, who had excuses when a beaten $2 favourite in the Hong Kong Lions Cup. Jockey Zac Purton told stewards he intended to settle Bundle Award in a more prominent position, but the John Size-trained gelding's slow start forced him back to third last. The son of Shamus Award was disappointed for clear running between two runners near the 250m and had difficulty obtaining a clear run over the final 150m. Californiatotality notched his fourth win of the season and sixth overall from 19 starts. Cruz said the son of Zoustar will not make the leap to Group Three level in next month's Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m), but he could be a candidate for a late-season feature such as the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) in June. Cruz's likely Queen Mother Memorial Cup runners Winning Dragon, Five G Patch and La City Blanche ran seventh, eighth and last of 11 respectively behind Californiatotality on Sunday. Elsewhere on Sunday's card, punters were on the money again when the brown-lamped Moduleconstruction saluted in the Class Three Ngau Tau Kok Handicap (1,200m). Firming late from $23 to $10, the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained gelding sat outside of the lead and kept on strongly under Lyle Hewitson to beat Super Infinity by a neck. Super training performance, Francis Lui! 👊 After setbacks, Moduleconstruction rolls to a third career win for connections at Sha Tin... @LyleHewitson #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 20, 2025 Moduleconstruction has overcome two major injuries – a tendon injury in December 2023 and suspensory ligament injury last September – to return to the winners' list. 'He's had bad injuries twice, but his last run [when fourth to Geneva] was impressive and I think today it's good for the front-runners,' Lui said. 'He likes to go out in front.' Meanwhile, Cruz was fined HK$15,000 on Sunday for breaching the Trainers' Handbook Regulation when 'during a compliance check conducted in his stable on February 25 he was found in his possession medication that had not been approved by the Club's Veterinary Departments'. Stewards also suspended Karis Teetan and James Orman each for one meeting for careless riding.
South China Morning Post
19-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Steps Ahead and Bundle Award bid to strengthen Derby form in Sha Tin Class Two
Steps Ahead and Bundle Award headline a trio of four-year-olds dropping back from the 2,000m of the Hong Kong Derby to contest Sunday's Class Two Hong Kong Lions Cup (1,800m) at Sha Tin. While there are questions about the strength of this year's Derby, won in an upset by maiden galloper Cap Ferrat, Steps Ahead and Bundle Award will be joined by Californiatotality in attempting to boost the form from the city's biggest race. Rubylot was the first four-year-old to reappear from the Derby, but he finished eighth of nine runners behind Divano last Sunday in what was more of a warm-up run for the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) next weekend. Steps Ahead was sent out an $82 roughie in the Derby and was only beaten two and a half lengths in ninth, despite running into trouble twice in the straight. HISTORY AT SHA TIN! 👏👏@CWilliamsJockey wins the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby aboard Cap Ferrat for trainer Francis Lui over a fast-closing My Wish... #4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025 The Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained gelding was a Class Three winner at the course and distance of Sunday's race in February and a solid fifth to Rubylot in the Classic Cup (1,800m) before the Derby. 'He'll be having his first run back from the four-year-old series. In the Classic Cup and Derby he ran quite well,' jockey Lyle Hewitson said. 'He probably should have finished closer if he had have got more room in the straight, so I was happy with him.' While Steps Ahead drops to a career-low 118 pounds on Sunday, the son of Written By has to overcome barrier 10 in a competitive field of 11. Champion jockey Zac Purton will partner Bundle Award for the first time, with the John Size-trained gelding fresh from a two-length seventh in the Derby. The former Australian galloper won his previous start, a Class Two over 1,800m, and a 1,400m race in January. 'Obviously he won well two starts back over the track and distance,' Purton said. 'He ran a nice race in the Derby, he gets in well into this race with a light weight [121 pounds] and he's drawn well [barrier three], so he'll be a chance.' Californiatotality will be out to bounce back from a his 11th behind Cap Ferrat on March 23. The Tony Cruz-trained gelding is a three-time winner this term, including two at the course and distance of Sunday's race, and could be dangerous with just 116 pounds. Alexis Badel will ride Californiatotality, who has drawn gate five. Elsewhere on Sunday's 10-race card, Hewitson will bid to repay the faith shown by Lui and Gallant Epoch's connections in the Class Four Tsing Lung Tau Handicap (1,400m). 'I erred in judgment last time, so it's nice that I got the opportunity again and hopefully we get back to winning ways,' the South African jockey said of Gallant Epoch's last-start 12th at Happy Valley when he faded after being pushed forward early to lead. 'He has become quite a funny horse. I don't think he's putting it all in but once he gets control of a race, then he's quite good. 'Hopefully he can do that again and be strong off the front. It looks a competitive race.' Gallant Epoch made all to brilliantly score by two lengths at Sha Tin three starts ago.
South China Morning Post
22-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Joao Moreira jumps aboard Francis Lui's Packing Angel in search of third Hong Kong Derby win
Brazilian jockey looks to follow up successes atop Rapper Dragon and Sky Darci in city's most prestigious race Three jockeys have enjoyed a pair of BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) successes in the past decade, but its Brazilian superstar Joao Moreira who looks best placed to chase a third victory in the hallowed contest at Sha Tin on Sunday. While Zac Purton is in the final stages of his return from injury and Hugh Bowman rides outsider Lo Rider, Moreira joins forces with one of the more-fancied chances in the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained Packing Angel. A close fourth behind Rubylot in the Classic Cup (1,800m) after three straight wins at 1,400m, Packing Angel – a son of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking – looks well equipped to run the 2,000m of the Derby and Moreira should be able to find a prominent position with cover from gate six. 'I hope in his last run he learned a little bit more and Joao also knows him [now],' said Lui of Packing Angel, who was ridden by Moreira for the first time in the Classic Cup. Rubylot mows them down in the Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin! My Wish is brave in defeat as @brentonavdulla and David Hayes combine for victory... 🏆#4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 2, 2025 'He's a good horse. He only had six runs before the Classic Cup and he just went straight from 1,400m to 1,800m, which is a little bit much for a young horse.' While Moreira enjoyed Derby success in 2017 with Rapper Dragon and 2021 with Sky Darci, Lui will chase a second win in five years after snaring the 2020 edition of the race with the great Golden Sixty. 'It's the owner's dream for their four-year-old horses. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance and it's a very special race. Hopefully, I can win it again this year,' Lui said. While Packing Angel is Lui's leading chance in a race where the David Hayes-trained Rubylot is expected to lead the market, the veteran handler will also be represented by Cap Ferrat and Steps Ahead. Cap Ferrat will be ridden by Craig Williams and Lyle Hewitson pilots Steps Ahead for the 66-year-old. '[Cap Ferrat has] drawn barrier two, which is a good draw. The connections expected it, they're happy. I think he has a chance,' said Lui of his son of Snitzel, who finished ninth from gate 10 in the Classic Cup. 'He had a bad draw and he had to use him a little bit more in front last time. It's much easier to relax him from gate two. Hopefully, we can find a good position. '[Steps Ahead is] an honest horse and he's in good form. He always tries hard and you never know.' Moreira, who jets into Hong Kong for the third time this season, will be busy on the Derby undercard, jumping aboard The Heir, Packing Hermod, Island Breezes, Parterre, Everyone's Star, Master Trillion and Pakistan Legacy. After piloting Packing Hermod to victory on international day in December, he fittingly partners Lui's four-year-old in Sunday's Class Two Rapper Dragon Handicap (1,400m).
