Chancheng Glory, Self Improvement face Seoul test on big weekend for Hong Kong racing

By Declan Schuster

Francis Lui and Manfred Man will have eyes on Hong Kong and South Korea this Sunday (7 September) when both trainers seek their first overseas wins as the 2025/26 racing season gets underway at Sha Tin.

Hong Kong Champion Trainer in 2023/24, Lui saddles Copartner Prance (115lb) and Divano (115lb) in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) in Hong Kong, while Chancheng Glory represents the stable in Seoul’s G3 Korea Cup (1800m, sand).

Man saddles Self Improvement in the G3 Korea Sprint (1200m, sand) shortly after four-time Group 1 winner Lucky Sweynesse (126lb) resumes against Ka Ying Rising (135lb) in the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup – a contest Man’s seven-year-old gelding is trying to win for a second time. The trainer is pointing Lucky Sweynesse towards 28 September’s G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama in Japan.

The winner of 696 races as a trainer in Hong Kong, Man previously campaigned Eagle Regiment – a horse he nurtured through setbacks – overseas to finish a brave third in the 2013 G1 Al Quoz Sprint (when the race was previously run over 1000m) behind Mike de Kock’s classy Shea Shea.

Drawn in gate seven, Self Improvement has an affinity with Sha Tin’s dirt, but Seoul’s sand is a different undertaking as is the unknown opposition. The Group 1-placed Chancheng Glory is off the turf for the first time, but he is an uncomplicated ride equipped with early speed, which should help his cause from barrier two on Sunday.

Lui said: “He’s settled down well and he’s eating well. Of course, he’s an American horse, so normally he can handle the track, but South Korea is sand, and it is deep, it’s also anti-clockwise. If he’s happy, he will run well. The stable staff have reported to me regularly that he is all ok. I hope he can perform well.”

Bred in the American state of Iowa, Chancheng Glory – winner of this year’s HK$4.2 million G3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) – is stallion Mor Spirit’s highest-earning progeny. The sire won twice at Group 1 level on dirt for trainer Bob Baffert before retiring in the United States of America.

Even without American contenders in Seoul, Japanese representation again poses a major threat, having won the past two editions of the Korea Cup (Crown Pride 2023 & 2024) and Korea Sprint (Remake 2023 & 2024). Sunrise Hawk, Tagano Beauty and Chikappa tackle the Korea Sprint, while Ramjet, Dura Erede and Diktaean contest the Korea Cup worth KRW1.6 billion for Japan.

Yutaka Take is booked to ride Chikappa when the four-year-old mare breaks from the widest barrier (13). The former Hong Kong-based Ruan Maia hops on five-time winner Achim Dongja in the Korea Sprint, although it is Vincero Cavallo who heads the local side’s arsenal in the KRW1.4 billion dash as the 10-time winner chases his biggest scalp on the nation’s preeminent race day.

Success Baekpa sailed past the well-travelled and currently sidelined Global Hit for a smart win in last month’s KORG2 KRA Cup Classic (2000m) at Seoul. The four-year-old Success Baekpa has become a middle-distance force with three triumphs over Seoul’s 2000m.

Japan’s Ramjet is the probable Korea Cup favourite. He won the 2024 JPNG1 Tokyo Derby (2000m, dirt) at Oi and the four-year-old boasts form around 2025 G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) hero Forever Young. Five-year-old mare Dura Erede will command plenty of respect this Sunday having placed behind Ushba Tesoro and Lemon Pop at the elite level in Japan.

Meanwhile, at home in Hong Kong, Lui’s Divano and Copartner Prance face Ka Ying Rising at 2pm. The handler, who will be on course in South Korea to watch Chancheng Glory, is harbouring modest expectations as he tries to upstage the world’s leading sprinter Ka Ying Rising.

“He’s (Divano) OK. How can you beat Ka Ying Rising? Copartner Prance also, I am happy with him. He’s an honest horse. I hope we can win another race with him,” Lui said.

Lucky With You (116lb), Beauty Waves (115lb), Victor The Winner (115lb), Raging Blizzard (115lb), Magic Control (115lb), Bottomuptogether (115lb), Gorgeous Win (115lb) and Harmony N Blessed (115lb) complete the 12-runner line-up.

Sunday’s (7 September) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin commences at 1.00pm with the Class 5 Grassy Hill Handicap (1200m).