Thu, 09/11/2025 - 14:12

Luke Middlebrook's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, September 14, 2025

Sha Tin Selections
(Sunday, September 14, 2025) 

Thu, 09/11/2025 - 13:51

Delacroix will go his best distance in Irish Champion Stakes

Focusonracing.com
Delacroix took the measure of star older rival Ombudsman in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, a race run at same 10-furlong distance as the Irish Champion Stakes.

At 1 1/4 miles on turf, Delacroix has been almost unbeatable this year, leaving the 3-year-old a deserving favorite in Saturday’s Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland.

Delacroix, trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore syndicate, won two Group 3 races for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles in Ireland in the spring before he finished ninth as the 2-1 favorite in the Group 1 English Derby at 1 1/2 miles on June 7 at Epsom Downs in his only start at the distance.

Thu, 09/11/2025 - 13:49

Storming Dragon, Wrote A New Page strike early in DBS x Manulife Million Challenge as Richards shines again

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Storming Dragon, Wrote A New Page strike early in DBS x Manulife Million Challenge as Richards shines again

By Leo Schlink

Jamie Richards’ stable stocks continued to rise at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (10 September) after the New Zealand trainer slotted his second double in two meetings as Storming Dragon claimed joint leadership of the HK$1.5 million DBS x Manulife Million Challenge.

Fresh from a brace at the season-opening fixture at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 September), Richards struck with Storming Dragon and To Infinity to erase the memories of a challenging 2024/25 campaign when he saddled 21 winners.

Tue, 09/09/2025 - 10:25

Jerry Chau back in action at Happy Valley as DBS x Manulife Million Challenge starts

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Jerry Chau returns victorious with Embraces at Happy Valley.

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.

Mon, 09/08/2025 - 09:35

Luke Middlebrook's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Selections for Wednesday's racing program from Happy Valley.
Racing returns to Happy Valley with Wednesday's program.

Happy Valley Selections
(Wednesday, September 10, 2025)

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 19:14

South Korea: Diktaean, Self Improvement earn Breeders' Cup berths

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.

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 14:46

Aventure's win in Prix Vermeille fails to clear Arc de Triomphe picture

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.

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 12:02

Sha Tin shines despite challenging weather with perfect start to 2025/26 racing season

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Season Opening Meeting Opening Ceremony group photo.

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).

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 11:58

Ka Ying Rising romps to 13th straight win as Zac Purton slots five-timer

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Zac Purton eases down champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising.

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.

Sat, 09/06/2025 - 11:50

Ka Ying Rising impresses Zac Purton ahead of HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Zac Purton reunites with Ka Ying Rising on Sunday (7 September).

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.