Le Zonda continues impressive winning streak at Happy Valley

By Leo Schlink

Group race targets are under consideration for Le Zonda after the exciting galloper extended his winning streak to three with success in the Class 2 Shek O Handicap (1650m) for Pierre Ng and Vincent Ho at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (16 September).

Ridden patiently by Ho, Le Zonda (119lb) claimed a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million plus the winner’s purse of HK$1.74 million after sweeping down the centre of the track to deny Sagacious Life (132lb) by a head in 1m 39.90s, with Helene Feeling (129lb) a further half length away in third place.

Ng plans to aim Le Zonda – who won twice in Ireland when known as Beckman for Ger Lyons – at a Class 2 contest over 1800m at Happy Valley on 14 October before possible tilts at the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin on 8 November and the G3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley on 13 January.

“He’s very impressive for this 1650m race, although it was a little bit fast and sharp for him today, but Vincent managed to get him rolling early on,” Ng said.

“He does have a good turn of foot, as we know, and he showed that again today, so it was a good win. We look forward to the next race which is on October 14. After that, we'll see what happens. Those two races (Sa Sa Ladies' Purse and January Cup) are definitely in our minds, but hopefully he continues to perform well and we can think of that more later on.”

Ng joins Danny Shum, Cody Mo and Caspar Fownes at the top of the Hong Kong trainers’ championships with four wins after four meetings.

Derek Leung continued a brilliant start to the 2026/27 season with a race-to-race double, striking aboard Mo’s Spicy Spangle (123lb) in the Class 5 Ho Mei Handicap (1000m) before doubling his haul atop Manfred Man’s Bright Day (133lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Lido Handicap (1200m).

“I’m very lucky, I’ve got a couple of good stables who are supporting me and the trainers have kept their horses performing very well,” Leung said. “Hopefully, I can keep things going – fingers crossed.”

Three of Leung’s five winners this term have come from Mo’s stable.

Zac Purton maintained his quest for a 10th Hong Kong jockey’s championship with a brace in tandem with Douglas Whyte. The duo prevailed with Live Wire (131lb) in the Class 4 Community Chest Cup Handicap (1200m) and the HKJC Racing Club’s Young Arrow (131lb) in the second section of the Class 4 Lido Handicap (1200m).

Whyte believes Live Wire, who closed last season with success over tonight’s course and distance, is still improving.

“Physically, he's improved and you can now train him, whereas before, he was very fragile. Mentally, I hope the penny drops and when it does, he'll certainly improve,” the South African said.

“The gate (barrier two) helped him. He got a tactical, soft time of it out in front, which was clearly beneficial to him, but he makes his own advantages by beginning the way he does and he stayed on strongly and picked up when Zac asked him. So, that's all you can ask of him at the moment.”

Formerly known as September when he raced in Singapore for Dan Meagher, Young Arrow also notched his second course and distance victory with a tenacious effort.

“From an awkward barrier (gate six), he jumped really well. Midrace there was a bit of interference, the pace was muddling, so he didn’t have the best of runs but he did it well. It was a good, tough win,” Purton said.

Purton has eight wins for the season with at least one victory at each of the four completed meetings.

Dancing Classics (125lb) – raced by The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Year Of The Horse Ambassador Aaron Kwok – powered to this third win at Happy Valley for Caspar Fownes, scoring under Ellis Wong in the Class 3 Repulse Bay Handicap (1000m) after Jamie Richards and Alexis Badel combined to post their first win of the term when Romantic Fantasy (122lb) survived a fierce challenge from Rosewood Fleetfoot (123lb) to clinch the Class 4 Big Wave Bay Handicap (1800m).

Badel sealed a double on Me Tsui’s Pope Cody (126lb), who proved too classy in the Class 3 Chung Hom Kok Handicap (1650m).

“He seems to enjoy the course and distance, he’s a quality individual and he’s got everything he needs to be a nice horse,” Badel said.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (23 September).