by Declan Schuster
Riding high after a monumental success in South Korea on Sunday afternoon (7 September), Jerry Chau returns to Hong Kong racing on Wednesday (10 September) at Happy Valley aiming to kick on with the same momentum which resulted in an unlikely G3 Korea Sprint (1200m, sand) triumph on Self Improvement.
Diktaean and Self Improvement produced upset wins in Group 3 stakes at Seoul Racecourse in South Korea on Sunday to earn automatic berths for Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
Diktaean (6-1) won the $1.16 million Korea Cup at 1 1/8 miles by a length over 6-1 Changcheng Glory, an Iowa-bred gelding by Mor Spirit who is based in Hong Kong.
Ramjet finished third as the 13-10 favorite. Earlier this year, Ramjet finished sixth in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia and ninth in the $12 million Dubai World Cup.
The results of the Arc trials on Sunday at Longchamp, as well as an upset Saturday in England, confirmed what appeared to be the case before Sunday: Depending on your framing, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 5 is coming up unusually murky or especially weak.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has hailed the 2025/26 season-opening meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 September) as “the perfect start of the season” with the victory of Ka Ying Rising in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m).
By Leo Schlink
Zac Purton has declared Ka Ying Rising’s outstanding win in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 September) the equal-best of the champion sprinter’s stunning career.
Extending his unbeaten streak to 13 wins, Ka Ying Rising brushed aside quality opposition under 135lb to triumph in 1m 07.63s – marginally outside his own track record of 1m 07.20s – despite being eased down by Purton as the gelding swept to his 14th win in 16 starts for David Hayes.
By Leo Schlink
Zac Purton believes Ka Ying Rising is stronger and more mature as the world’s highest-rated sprinter bids for a 13th consecutive win when he resumes in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 September).
Attempting to become the first horse to win the opening-day feature twice, Ka Ying Rising will use the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup as a launch pad to the AU$20 million (approx. HK$100.34 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on 18 October.
Whirl might not be the best 3-year-old filly currently trained by Aidan O’Brien, but she’s the star of the Sunday card at Longchamp.
The annual preview program for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe includes three Arc preps: The Group 2 Prix Foy for older horses, the Group 2 Prix Niel for 3-year-olds, and the Group 1 Prix Vermeille, for fillies and mares. Whirl is set to face five foes in the 1 1/2-mile Vermeille, for which she was an odds-on favorite with British bookmakers as of Friday.
By Declan Schuster
Francis Lui and Manfred Man will have eyes on Hong Kong and South Korea this Sunday (7 September) when both trainers seek their first overseas wins as the 2025/26 racing season gets underway at Sha Tin.
Hong Kong Champion Trainer in 2023/24, Lui saddles Copartner Prance (115lb) and Divano (115lb) in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) in Hong Kong, while Chancheng Glory represents the stable in Seoul’s G3 Korea Cup (1800m, sand).
By Leo Schlink
Fresh from an impromptu riding cameo in Great Britain, Harry Bentley hopes to spark a successful start to the 2025/26 Hong Kong season when he partners Victor The Winner in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 September).
Pitted against fellow Group 1 winners Ka Ying Rising and Lucky Sweynesse, G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) winner Victor The Winner will jump from barrier eight for Bentley and trainer David Eustace, having won the 2023 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup for Danny Shum and Karis Teetan.
