By Leo Schlink

Clinging to hopes of a late-season miracle, David Hayes has not conceded in the battle with John Size for the 2024/25 Hong Kong trainers’ championship, but admits his faint chances of landing a third title hinge on a string of favourable results at Sha Tin on Sunday (13 July).

Trailing Size by six wins with only two meetings and 20 races left in the season, dual Hong Kong champion trainer Hayes will saddle nine runners across nine races at Sha Tin this weekend, while 12-time champion Size has 12 starters engaged in 10 races.

Two race meetings remain in the 2024/25 Hong Kong racing season and fans are invited to join the festivities at Sha Tin Finale Race Day this Sunday (13 July).

Starting at 4pm as part of the Summer Series of twilight fixtures, with gates set to open at 2pm, the day at Sha Tin features exciting racing action, live music, exquisite culinary offerings and mega prizes in a lucky draw, where ten winners will share in HK$1 million *.

“Sha Tin Racecourse Delights: Season Finale Grand Lucky Draw”

Sha Tin Selections
(Sunday, July 13, 2025)

By Leo Schlink

Preparing to join Karis Teetan in the Shergar Cup at Ascot next month, Hugh Bowman slotted a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (9 July) to soar past 70 winners for the season and reach a Hong Kong personal-best.

Bowman, 44, netted a race-to-race double to open the card with Notthesillyone for Mark Newnham and Douglas Whyte’s Shinkansen – both geldings triumphed by a short head – to eclipse the 69 victories he posted last season when he finished second to Zac Purton in the jockeys’ championship.

Antoine Hamelin will depart Hong Kong’s riding ranks at the end of this season and the talented jockey is grateful for his experience and excited ahead of future endeavours as he gears up for a return to where it all began as a fresh-faced teenage apprentice in France.

“I’m glad to have the experience here. I am taking everything I can take from here. I’ve learnt so much and I am glad for that. Thank you to The Hong Kong Jockey Club for giving me the chance to come to Hong Kong,” Hamelin said.

Happy Valley Selections
(Wednesday, July 09, 2025)

Race 1: #11 Ace Talent, #1 Colonel, #6 Modest Gentleman, #10 Happy Tango
Race 2: #3 Courier Magic, #4 Windicator Family, #6 Shinkansen, #12 Beau Gosse
Race 3: #1 Jolly Ruler, #7 Flowing Riches, #2 California Deeply, #5 Tactical Command
Race 4: #10 Day Day Victory, #1 Lean Master, #2 Happy United, #9 Happy Boys
Race 5: #11 Meepmeep, #3 Prince Alex, #1 Capital Legend, #2 Glorious Journey

Woodshauna, coming from last of nine under Christophe Soummilon, split rivals with a furlong remaining and came out atop a four-horse blanket finish in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat on Sunday at Deauville Racecourse in France.

John Stewart’s Resolute Racing made a timely purchase, buying Woodshauna earlier this month, the colt winning his first Group 1 in his first start for his new owner. Woodshauna remained in the yard of Francis-Henri Graffard, who trains an outsized number of the best horses in France these days.

By Leo Schlink

Already assured an eighth Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, Zac Purton slotted a quartet at Sha Tin on Saturday (5 July) as Derek Leung narrowed the gap to Matthew Poon in a tightening battle for the Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong’s leading homegrown rider.

Purton took his Hong Kong career tally to a record-extending 1,872 wins after the Australian struck on Mr Energia and Magnifique for David Hall, Igor Stravinsky for Tony Cruz and David Hayes-trained Fortune Boy to have 132 wins for the campaign – 64 clear of nearest pursuer Hugh Bowman (68).

Delacroix bounced back from his ninth-place finish as the Derby favorite and landed a thrilling renewal of the Eclipse Stakes on Saturday at Sandown Racecourse in England.

That Delacroix won the Group 1 Eclipse over 1 1/4 miles came as no real surprise: He was, after all, Derby favorite for a reason. The way in which he won – that was the surprise.