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.

Sha Tin Selections
(Sunday, October 26, 2025) 

Paul Lally:

R1 2-11-10-12

R2 9-11-8-5

R3 6-7-11-3

R4 7-3-5-11

R5 6-2-1-3

R6 5-2-4-9

R7 8-4-11-5

R8 5-11-9-2

R9 8-6-1-4

Best Bet R6 N5 Colourful King

Longshot R3 N6 Happy Park

Play R8 QQP 5-9-11

Tom Wood:

R1:       2-10-8-1

R2:       3-9-2-8

R3:       3-1-11-7

R4:       6-3-4-12

R5:       6-1-12-2

R6:       5-9-2-4

After describing Ka Ying Rising’s win in Saturday’s (18 October) G1 The Everest (1200m) as “the biggest moment of his career”, Zac Purton will chase another landmark on Wednesday night (22 October) as he searches for an astonishing 1,900th Hong Kong win with seven rides at Happy Valley. 

Happy Valley Selections
(Wednesday, October 22, 2025)

By Paul Ryding

My Wish underlined his mounting HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) credentials with a scintillating performance to scoop the HK$5.35 million G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) on Sunday (19 October).

The five-year-old remained on course for his long-term target at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 14 December as he continued his rise through the grades under trainer Mark Newnham, after scooping his second Group prize of the season.