By Paul Ryding
The advantage lies with championship leader Mark Newnham as the Four-Year-Old Classic Series gets underway with Sunday’s (1 February) HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin.
The Australian handler, who currently holds a narrow one-win lead at the top of the trainers’ standings, goes into the weekend’s feature with four of the 14 runners prepared in his yard.
By Declan Schuster
Maxime Guyon captured Hong Kong racing’s ultimate glory when he won the 2011 Hong Kong Derby (2000m) aboard former champion Ambitious Dragon, and this Sunday (1 February) at Sha Tin, the elite French rider takes his shot at landing the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) aboard Top Dragon for trainer Chris So.
By Declan Schuster
Amazing Kid (130lb) has found his rhythm, and jockey Andrea Atzeni is optimistic the John Size-trained speedster can complete a hat-trick of wins in Wednesday night’s (28 January) first section of the Class 4 Lockhart Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley.
During his familiar mid-season surge, Size has returned eight wins in January after slotting six in December. He trails the championship-leading Mark Newnham by 13 wins with 20 for the campaign as he chases a record-extending 14th training title.
Mark McNamara:
R1: 7.5.4.1
R2: 4.8.3.2
R3: 5.3.1.2
R4: 3.1.6.5
R5: 10.11.12.5
R6: 1.2.6.5
R7: 6.3.1.12
R8: 4.1.10.12
R9: 10.11.12.1
Best Bet: R2 N4 Thunder Blink
Value: R5 N10 Take Action
Play: R2 Q/QP 3.4.8
Nick Child:
R1: 2-4-7-1
R2: 8-4-10-3
R3: 3-1-5-7
R4: 1-5-3-6
R5: 11-12-2-1
R6: 11-5-2-7
R7: 6-3-5-1
R8: 1-8-12-6
R9: 10-12-4-7
By Declan Schuster
Jimmy Ting is putting a long-term goal to the test this Sunday (1 February) at Sha Tin, and the trainer remains hopeful the opportunity presented can become his greatest success.
Little Paradise is that chance. An explosive son of Toronado, the five-time winner has risen from Class 4 to Class 2 across eight starts, and takes aim at the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) – the opening leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – a race Ting earmarked after his debut win over 1200m at Sha Tin on 30 March, 2025.
In the sixth instalment of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Road to the Derby series, Manfred Man’s Patch Of Cosmo is in the spotlight after returning from injury with a striking victory at Sha Tin recently.
With just days until the first leg of the prestigious 2025/26 Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) this Sunday (1 February) – and with the 149th HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March on the horizon, Patch Of Cosmo has stamped himself as one of the city’s leading four-year-olds after brushing off a tendon injury.
When Voyage Bubble went out to win the Stewards’ Cup a year ago at Sha Tin Racecourse, the best horse in Hong Kong had departed Hong Kong.
Romantic Warrior this week last winter won the Jebel Hatta at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, then went to Saudi Arabia and lost an epic battle with Forever Young in the Saudi Cup. Back in Dubai, Romantic Warrior – sapped from his Saudi Cup – took a narrow loss in the Dubai Turf.
Bhupat Seemar for the last few seasons has trained a large portion of the best dirt horses in Dubai, a dynamic on full display Friday at Meydan Racecourse, where Seemar’s four-bagger included victories in the featured Al Maktoum Challenge with Imperial Emperor and in the UAE 2000 Guineas, won by Six Speed.
Both horses are headed toward a start on the Dubai World Cup card, Imperial Emperor in the World Cup itself, Six Speed in the UAE Derby.
Paul Lally:
R1: 8-11-6-4
R2: 4-12-1-10
R3: 8-5-4-2
R4: 1-2-8-9
R5: 7-3-5-2
R6: 1-3-2-4
R7: 2-1-7-10
R8: 1-2-5-8
R9: 4-7-5-8
R10: 4-14-13-3
R11: 2-1-12-7
Best Bet: R10 N4 Happy Index
Longshot: R7 N2 Forza Toro
Play: R9 QQP 4-5-7
