By Declan Schuster
Mark Newnham is sailing through the 2025/26 Hong Kong racing season with flying colours and the Australian trainer, who has 12 wins in October, takes a five-strong team to Thursday night’s (30 October) eight-race all-dirt programme at Sha Tin.
Leading the trainers’ championship with 18 wins – four clear of nearest rival Caspar Fownes (14) – Newnham heads into Thursday’s fixture aiming to extend his streak to 13 consecutive race meetings with at least a winner.
Tomodachi Kokoroe (115lb) sensationally catapulted himself into LONGINES Hong Kong International Races reckoning after running the second-fastest 1200m time in Hong Kong racing history to scoop the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 October).
The only horse to ever run 1200m faster in Hong Kong is Tomodachi Kokoroe’s stablemate Ka Ying Rising, the world’s top-rated sprinter.
Energico missed the Grade 1 Japanese Derby on June 1 because of illness. He made up for his absence from that classic race with his second graded stakes win in Sunday’s Kikuka Sho for 3-year-old colts and fillies at the testing distance of 1 7/8 miles at Kyoto Racecourse.
Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, Energico had no trouble with the longest race of his career.
There was no course record, but the result was the same as last year.
Via Sistina won Saturday’s Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, to confirm her place as the nation’s leading older horse.
In 2024, Via Sistina won the Cox Plate in record time of 2:01.07 for about 1 1/4 miles on turf. On Saturday, Via Sistina (who was favored and paid $4.20 in American pools) was timed in 2:05.03. Both races were run on good turf.
By Paul Ryding
After a testing start to his 2025/26 campaign, Pierre Ng is looking to Mugen (115lb) for a change of fortune in the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 October).
A combination of factors could allow the seven-year-old to recapture the form that saw him post four wins and four placings during his five-year-old campaign, including solid race preparation and the installation of new headgear. Karis Teetan will once again take the ride and has been in the saddle for all of Mugen’s wins.
There are ample clues in the race records of the Japanese colts Energico and Eri King that they will be well-suited to start at 1 7/8 miles for the first time in Sunday’s Grade 1 Kikuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse.
They were both around 3-1 in early betting on Friday.
Energico has won 3 of 4 starts since last October, and has been raced sparingly this year. Energico won a Grade 2 race at 1 1/2 miles at Tokyo Racecourse in April, but missed the Grade 1 Japanese Derby on June 1.
By Paul Ryding
Alexis Badel believes the improving Fast Network has the credentials to compete in elevated Group 2 company on Sunday (26 October) when he steps out in HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl (1200m) at Sha Tin, with the handicapper lending a helping hand.
The Frenchman partnered the Dennis Yip-trained five-year-old to a thrilling G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) victory three weeks ago, and said he can continue his impressive form on the 1200m course at Sha Tin, where he has won two of four outings.
By Declan Schuster
Zac Purton’s storied career surpassed yet another milestone on Wednesday (22 October) at Happy Valley, as Hong Kong’s all-time leading jockey captured his 1,900th win in the city aboard Talents Supremo (126lb) in the Class 5 Success Handicap (1200m).
Just four days after landing the G1 The Everest (1200m) – the world’s richest race on turf worth AU$20 million (approx. HK$101 million) – with Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2024/25) Ka Ying Rising in Sydney, Australia at Royal Randwick, Purton, 42, was proud to reach the landmark with trainer Danny Shum.
