Caspar Fownes fires in Happy Valley treble to extend Hong Kong trainers’ championship lead

By Leo Schlink

Caspar Fownes’ quest for a fifth Hong Kong trainers’ championship continued to gain momentum with a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (11 March) as he stretched his lead to five wins over nearest rival David Hayes.

Continuing blistering form after a city circuit double last Wednesday (4 March), Fownes struck with Elegant Life (135lb) in the Class 5 Conduit Handicap (1000m) under Luke Ferraris, Golden Brilliant (120lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Hatton Handicap (1650m) for Alexis Badel and Somelovefromabove (128lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Breezy Handicap (1200m) for James Orman.

With 53 of 88 meetings completed, Fownes (42 wins) leads David Hayes (37), Mark Newnham (36), Danny Shum (36), Francis Lui (34) and John Size (29).

“I’m happy, all I can do is present my horse well and you need a lot of luck in this game. I know how to win a championship, that’s one thing I can tell you,” Fownes, Hong Kong champion trainer in 2006/07, 2008/09, 2013/14 and 2020/21, said.

“I’ve got my game face on, and I’ll be doing my best. I know my target and I’m just trying to have fun along the way. There will be a lot of guys with a lot of winners coming up. Everyone has got a chance – everyone has a full stable and you just have to keep knocking them in. If you get a quiet patch, it’s very easy for someone to catch up.

“You can never write off John (Size) – he’s always capable of a spate of winners in a short period as he’s done so many times in his career. You’ve got David, Francis, Danny and Mark; there’s so many in with a chance, but they have to chase me, so I’ll say good luck.”

Elegant Life provided Ferraris with his fourth win in five rides across the past two meetings at Happy Valley, as the young South African added to a treble at the course on 4 March and took his seasonal tally to 26 wins.

“It’s good to get some momentum up and going again after what was a really dry spell – I just have to get more support,” the young South African said. “That’s the main thing, when you lose a bit of support, you do feel it.

“So, it’s good to be going to the races on horses with chances and it’s good to be putting them away.”

Hopeful of winning the Class 3 Lyttelton Handicap (1800m) and earning a ratings rise and securing a start with China Win (121lb) in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March, David Hayes’s hopes were dashed when Tony Cruz-trained Fallon (127lb) swept to a neck victory over his charge.

Hayes had earlier vaulted into second place in the trainers’ championship when Metro Power (124lb) claimed victory in the Class 3 Bonham Handicap (1200m).

Preparing to unleash Emblazon in the BMW Hong Kong Derby, Cody Mo prevailed with Lucky McQueen (122lb), who finished powerfully to land the third section of the Class 3 Breezy Handicap under Matthew Poon.

Three-year-old Win Method (122lb) grabbed a second win for Danny Shum and Lyle Hewitson in the second section of the Class 4 Hatton Handicap (1650m) before John Size’s Sight Hermoso (128lb) clinched the Class 3 Craigengower Cricket Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1200m).

Making his debut at Happy Valley, Sight Hermoso gave Dylan Browne McMonagle the 10th victory of the Irishman’s short-term stint.

“He’s (Browne McMonagle) come in and made an impact immediately. He’s a very strong rider, he’s still a little bit heavy, but with that comes the strength. He’s going to be a good addition to the riding ranks if he comes back in the winter time,” Size said.

Team Team Folks (129lb) posted his second course and distance win for Jimmy Ting and Vincent Ho with success in the second section of the Class 4 Breezy Handicap (1200m) before Orman posted his second double in two meetings aboard Metro Power.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (15 March).