Light Years Charm sets out to prove capability in Chinese Club Challenge Cup

By Declan Schuster

Light Years Charm (132lb) has always shown plenty of aptitude and Thursday’s (1 January) HK$4.2 million G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin shapes as a timely and suitable opportunity for the five-year-old to enhance his standing.

Seeking a first Group race win, Light Years Charm has progressively earned a 107 rating across 12 appearances in Hong Kong – highlighted by five wins over Thursday’s course and distance – for trainer David Eustace and owners Zhao Guoming & Xiao Bing.

Zac Purton has ridden the bay in all five of his wins and resumes riding duties this week aboard the earner of HK$10.87 million, drawn barrier six, after the pair was eighth in last month’s HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m).

“He’s continued to improve over the last 12 months – he’s done a really good job. He can’t run a mile (1600m) – he’s shown that on a couple of occasions now, so we’re back to 1400 metres, which suits him better,” Purton said.

Blocked for a run first-up this season in September’s HK$4.2 million G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) when racing along the inside rail, Light Years Charm trailed that effort with a quality Class 2 win on 9 November at Sha Tin before his latest outing.

“But once again, it’s just a matter of how he gets out of the gates. He just doesn’t begin, and usually by now they’ve figured it out, but he hasn’t,” Purton said. “He’s not making it easy for himself and that’ll be his next step. Now that he’s up to the rating that he is at, if he doesn’t start getting away with the field, then it’s going to be really hard for him.”

Leading the jockeys’ standings with 51 wins this term, Purton is nearing HK$100 million mark in stakes won with HK$99.54 million earned from 243 total rides. The Australian Racing Hall of Famer partnered Light Years Charm when second in a recent barrier trial.

Purton said: “He feels like he’s in good form and his trial was good. Hopefully, we get some speed on and he can chime in when he’s ready.”

Boasting an unmatched 1,929 wins in Hong Kong, Purton has previously won the Chinese Club Challenge Cup three times: Little Bridge (2011), Helene Spirit (2013) and Lucky Sweynesse (2023).

The Chinese Club Challenge Cup also features Tomodachi Kokoroe (135lb), Patch Of Theta (134lb), Packing Hermod (133lb), Beauty Eternal (127lb), Johannes Brahms (117lb), Aeris Nova (116lb), Capital Delight (116lb), Dancing Code (116lb), Sky Trust (115lb), Storm Rider (115lb) and Gustosisimo (115lb).

Thursday’s (1 January) 11-race Lucky Start 2026 Raceday at Sha Tin begins at 12.30pm with the Class 5 Tsung Pak Long Handicap (1600m).

A jackpot of HK$10 million has been accumulated for the Triple Trio, while a jackpot of HK$1 million from the Operator Reserve will be offered for the first Double Trio.

The Quartet & First 4 Merged Pool will be topped up from the Jackpot Reserve totaling HK$2 million – allocated to the Chinese Club Challenge Cup (Race 8) and Race 11.