Sky Vino faces Class 2 challenge for Fownes at Sha Tin on Sunday
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By Declan Schuster
Caspar Fownes has made a strong start to the new season and the 2025/26 Hong Kong Champion Trainer is aiming to keep the ball rolling on Sunday (4 October) at Sha Tin.
Fownes, now a five-time title winner in Hong Kong, has fired in five winners through the term’s first seven fixtures. The 59-year-old has trained in the city since 2003/04 after taking over from his late father Lawrie, winning 1,240 races and being renowned for handling Group 1 winners Lucky Nine, Southern Legend and The Duke, among others.
“Five wins coming off a big season (69 wins) – I’m very happy with the stable, and we should be competitive again. We’ll certainly be putting up some good numbers – where it takes us, we don’t know, but we’ll certainly be having another crack at it,” Fownes said.
The trainer’s quintet is bettered by Cody Mo (eight wins) and notorious quick-beginner Pierre Ng (eight), who top the table, while Manfred Man (seven) and David Hall (six) trail. Like Fownes, Danny Shum also has five wins.
“We’ve restructured a bit and we have quite a few new horses in there. We had a few horses last year that were pretty immature; hopefully in their second prep they can improve and add some winners to the tally,” Fownes said. “It’s very competitive now – there are so many big stables and so many have full barns, but we’ll be doing our best.”
Fownes takes six runners to Sha Tin, spearheaded by Sky Vino (115lb) in the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Muk Min Ha Handicap (1650m, dirt). The gelding rises in grade following a pair of course and distance wins last season.
The 79-rated five-year-old links with Alexis Badel and comes up against Chancheng Glory (135lb), Talents Ambition (128lb), Sing Dragon (127lb), Gorgeous Win (122lb), Awesome Fluke (120lb), Definitive (115lb) and Loch Tay (115lb).
“It’s going to be a little bit rich for him running in Class 2, but he carries a nice light weight which gives him a chance to show something,” Fownes said. “There are a few really good dirt horses in the race that might be just a bit better than him.
“He’s prepared well, he’s fit and he looks good. I’m happy with him and he’ll be racing consistently because he’s that type of horse – he doesn’t know how to run a bad race.”
Alpha Strike (131lb) will attempt to secure consecutive victories for Fownes when the gelding carries an extra 11lb in the Class 3 Shing Mun Handicap (1000m).
“It was a nice win. He kept running away from the outside rail, so hopefully that doesn’t happen. He’s up in weight, and Ellis (Wong) is suspended – Jimmy Orman will ride. He’s in good form and there’s no reason why he can’t be competitive again,” Fownes said.
Hong Kong International Sale graduate Corleone (134lb) resumes in the Class 3 Shek Wai Kok Handicap (1650m, dirt) after an impressive three-win 2025/26 campaign.
“Nice horse. He just trialled earlier in the week, and he’s probably got race-fitness to come. He will be improving off the run and hopefully he runs a nice race,” Fownes said.
Fownes saddles Hymnbook (119lb) in the Class 3 Chinese Recreation Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1800m). Silver Spurs and Perfect Team also represent the trainer.