By Declan Schuster
Galaxy Patch will get the chance to secure consecutive victories in Sunday’s (19 October) HK$5.35 million G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin, a rare feat achieved only by Beauty Generation (2017 & 2018) and California Spangle (2022 & 2023).
Delacroix and Ombudsman were a neck apart when first and second in the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park in England in July, and separated by 3 1/2 lengths when the order of finished was reversed in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York in August.
Consider Saturday’s Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot to be the 2025 series decider between the accomplished pair with one important caveat – the French shipper Calandagan is on a two-race winning streak, adores Ascot, and has outstanding credentials of his own.
Not even dubious social media rumors can hamper Ka Ying Rising’s status as the odds-on favorite in Friday’s Group 1 Everest Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia.
The 2024-25 Horse of the Year in Hong Kong, Ka Ying Rising will start away from Hong Kong for the first time in the $13.09 million Everest Stakes at six furlongs, the world’s richest sprint.
by Declan Schuster
Lo Rider (125lb) took a big step towards confirming his potential with a dazzling first-up win last month, and on Wednesday night (15 October) Caspar Fownes’ four-year-old Harzand gelding is aiming to repeat the dose in a quality HK$3.12 million Class 2 Lei Yue Mun Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley.
by Leo Schlink
David Hayes is hopeful Tomodachi Kokoroe can complete a remarkable journey by gaining a start in the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in December after the evergreen galloper clinched the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Shing Mun Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (12 October).
By Paul Ryding
Caspar Fownes needs a strong showing from one of the leading lights of his stable in Sunday’s (12 October) feature race at Sha Tin, as he looks to stop Mark Newnham pulling away in the trainers’ championship race.
The 58-year-old handler fields two runners in the Class 2 Shing Mun Handicap (1200m): Dancing Code (130lb), owned by Cantopop icon Aaron Kwok, and Sky Trust (121lb), a last-start winner.
Gewan rebounded from a disappointing fourth in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse on Sept. 13 to record a 24-1 upset in Saturday’s Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes for 2-year-old colts and fillies at Newmarket Racecourse in England.
Gewan was always near the front in a field of nine in the seven-furlong race. Ridden by James Doyle, Gewan (who paid $51.30 in American pools) took the lead with a quarter-mile remaining on the straightaway course and won by three-quarters of a length over Gstaad, the 7-5 favorite.
