By Declan Schuster
There was a time when Keith Yeung contemplated retirement, but on Sunday afternoon (22 March) at Sha Tin, he’ll take a ride for one of Hong Kong’s most successful trainers in the race that everyone in the city wants to win.
On track for one of his best seasons yet, a resurgent Yeung will partner Juneau Pride in the HK$26 million 149th BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) for 13-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer John Size. It is a unique chance that came as a surprise to the 37-year-old.
In the 13th instalment of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Road to the Derby series, we dial in on the make-up of the field for the city’s most prestigious race and look at how the 14 runners have come to stand on the edge of glory.
Barring any mishaps, the field for the 149th HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin this Sunday (22 March) is set, with all the biggest names from this season’s four-year-old crop featuring.
By Leo Schlink
Preparing to partner Sagacious Life in the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) next Sunday (22 March), Karis Teetan hit peak form with a double at Sha Tin on Sunday (15 March) as six other participants – Keith Yeung, Harry Bentley, Chris So, John Size, Francis Lui and David Hall – figured prominently.
Gaelic Warrior raced near the front for the first three miles of Friday’s Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup. The last part of the race, covering a little more than a quarter-mile, was not a contest.
Gaelic Warrior drew away to win by eight lengths under jockey Paul Townend, the widest margin of victory since A Plus Tard scored by 15 lengths in 2022.
Friday’s Gold Cup was not without tragedy, however. Envoi Allen, a popular 12-year-old gelding who won 10 Grade 1 races in 31 starts, collapsed and died after finishing ninth of 10.
By Paul Ryding
A crop of talented young horses, building on impressive last-start wins, takes centre stage at Sha Tin on Sunday (15 March) with Frankie Lor’s four-year-old Smart Golf, now 17 points advanced from his starting mark, leading the way.
The Australian-bred gelding powered to a second win of the season (from four starts) at Sha Tin three weeks ago, prevailing by two and a quarter lengths, carrying top weight in a Class 4 1200m contest.
Little Paradise and Stormy Grove top an exciting list of 14 selected runners for next Sunday’s (22 March) HK$26 million 149th BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin – the ultimate test for Hong Kong’s up-and-coming horses seeking once-in-a-lifetime glory in the final leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which in 2026 carries even more prestige in the Year of the Horse.
Paul Lally:
R1 1-6-7-12
R2 7-9-5-8
R3 1-7-5-2
R4 4-5-3-1
R5 2-5-9-12
R6 5-6-10-12
R7 12-2-13-1
R8 2-7-1-4
R9 7-5-6-3
R10 3-2-4-6
R11 11-2-8-4
Best Bet R10 N3 Red Sea
Longshot R5 N2 Super Love
Play R6 QQP 5-6-10
Tom Wood:
R1: 9-1-12-2
R2: 8-9-7-5
R3: 5-1-2-9
R4: 3-4-1-7
R5: 4-2-10-5
R6: 10-6-4-12
R7: 1-2-6-7
R8: 7-2-5-1
R9: 6-5-3-2
R10: 8-3-4-2
R11: 2-7-11-8
If a third time trying something is a charm, what on Earth is the fifth?
On Thursday at Cheltenham Racecourse in western England, the 11-year-old gelding Home By The Lee made his fifth consecutive appearance in the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle, and won the three-mile race for the first time in an upset.
Home By The Lee paid $64.20 in American pools, the eighth choice in a field of 10.
By Leo Schlink
Caspar Fownes’ quest for a fifth Hong Kong trainers’ championship continued to gain momentum with a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (11 March) as he stretched his lead to five wins over nearest rival David Hayes.
