Tested by the travails of a challenging season, Jamie Richards combined with Zac Purton to end a frustrating run of outs at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (13 November) with a rare piece of good fortune before the last three races of the meeting were abandoned because of weather-related safety considerations.
By Daryl Timms
Fresh from a record-breaking Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington last week, James McDonald will reunite with Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior in Sunday’s (17 November) HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin after completing Australian riding commitments at Caulfield on Saturday (16 November).
The Shamexpress gelding was arrogant when capturing October’s HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) as 1.3 favourite in 1m 07.57s – the third-fastest winning time in history over 1200m on the Sha Tin turf course – by a cosy one and a half lengt
Paul Lally:
R1 4-3-9-1
R2 4-12-2-1
R3 4-12-8-6
R4 1-9-2-11
R5 2-11-9-1
R6 10-9-4-7
R7 1-3-10-7
R8 5-1-11-10
R9 5-4-8-2
Best Bet R7 N1 Triumphant More
Longshot R6 N10 Top Time
Play R4 QQP 1-2-9
Tom Wood:
R1: 4-5-1-2
R2: 2-4-3-1
R3: 4-8-10-12
R4: 9-1-2-8
R5: 7-9-11-1
R6: 9-3-7-5
R7: 1-3-10-7
R8: 5-8-7-11
R9: 4-8-5-2
In that race it was Young Emperor who powered to victory from draw eight as an unfancied 41/1 chance for trainer David Eustace and an in-form Luke Ferraris.
By Leo Schlink
Matthew Poon crowned 31st birthday celebrations in perfect style with a Sha Tin double capped by Green N White’s brilliant victory in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Panasonic Cup Handicap (1400m) on Saturday (9 November).
Maintaining hopes of claiming one of two remaining berths in the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley on 4 December, Poon continued an excellent season with victories aboard Ricky Yiu’s Green N White and David Hall’s Ka Ying Attack in the Class 4 Panasonic Smaller Multi-Split Air Conditioner Handicap (1200m).
By Leo Schlink
Chasing a sixth Class 2 Panasonic Cup Handicap (1400m) victory, master trainer John Size hopes a recent stint at Conghua will trigger a return to form for talented galloper Young Champion at Sha Tin on Saturday (9 November).
Previously successful in the Panasonic Cup with Electronic Unicorn (2001), Gem Of India (2005), Real Specialist (2012), Western Express (2017) and Lucky Express (2021), Size hopes Young Champion can strongly contend in the HK$2.84 million feature despite drawing barrier 14 in a field crammed with emerging talent.
