By Scott Burton

It says plenty for the prestige attached to the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) that reigning champion Mickael Barzalona can place last year’s wire-to-wire success among his highlights for the last 12 months.

In a dazzling 2025, Barzalona has scored maiden victories in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m), G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2392m) and G1 Japan Cup (2400m), while adding win number two at both the Breeders’ Cup and in the G1 Champion Stakes (2000m).

Sha Tin Selections
(Sunday, December 07, 2025)

By Leo Schlink

Caspar Fownes accelerated a familiar title push with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (3 December) as the four-time Hong Kong champion trainer edged to within three wins of Mark Newnham at the top of the standings.

Fownes struck with Perfect General (132lb) in the Class 4 American Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1200m) under Vincent Ho before Joy Of Spring (129lb) triumphed under Ellis Wong in the Class 3 High Island Handicap (1800m) to leave Fownes with 20 wins for the season – three shy of Newnham (23) and one ahead of David Hayes (19).

Nearing 100 career wins in Hong Kong, championship-leading trainer Mark Newnham is hoping to convert on Wednesday (3 December) at Happy Valley when Lunar Dash (135lb) takes his place in the second section of the Class 4 Tai Tam Handicap (1200m).

Expatriate trainer Newnham has adapted to Hong Kong racing easily, posting 98 winners in the city after arriving ahead of the 2023/24 season. He saddles seven chances tomorrow evening, led by lightly-raced sprinter Lunar Dash’s pairing with Zac Purton.

Happy Valley Selections
(Wednesday, December 03, 2025)

Calandagan, Europe’s 2025 Horse of the Year, is pretty good far from home, too.

On Sunday, Calandagan became the first foreign-based horse to win the Grade 1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan in 20 years with a thrilling victory over the domestic star Masquerade Ball.

The two were separated by a head after running 1 1/2 miles in course-record time of 2:20.30. The previous mark of 2:20.60 was set by Almond Eye in the 2018 Japan Cup.

By Leo Schlink

Returning to top form in emphatic fashion, Hong Lok Golf continued Harry Bentley’s bountiful string of lucrative wins this season with success in the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (30 November).

Hong Lok Golf (129lb) enhanced an imposing record to seven wins from 10 starts – all under Bentley – as Chris So’s consistent galloper took his earnings over HK$10 million by defeating Soleil Fighter (121lb) and Steps Ahead (123lb) in 1m 34.02s.

The Kentucky-bred colts Arcadia Cafe and Magna Victor, both expensive purchases at American auctions, are two of the three leading contenders in Saturday’s $197,000 Cattleya Stakes for 2-year-olds at Tokyo Racecourse, the first of four stakes in the country’s qualifying series for the 2026 Kentucky Derby.

They are part of a field of 12 in the one-mile race led by the Japanese-bred Into Mischief colt Satono Voyage, the only two-time winner in the field.

Paul Lally: 
R1: 2-10-5-11 
R2: 7-10-12-8 
R3: 3-2-6-10 
R4: 7-1-9-4 
R5: 8-6-11-1 
R6: 3-7-6-1 
R7: 4-12-3-14 
R8: 6-4-13-2 
R9: 6-12-11-9 
R10: 7-12-1-6 
Best Bet: R5 N8 The Golden Knight 
Longshot: R6 N3 Metro Power 
Play: R10 QQP 1-7-12 

By Paul Ryding

Douglas Whyte says his exciting import Shanwah can improve with a step up in distance at Sha Tin on Sunday (30 November) and justify his inclusion in the field for the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).