By Leo Schlink

Ricky Yiu is hopeful Dragon Joy can take a crucial step towards emulating the feats of decorated stablemate Voyage Bubble when the emerging talent contests the Class 3 Rose Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (16 February) against several other HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) aspirants.

Yiu has ambitious plans for Dragon Joy after the gelding’s eye-catching last-start 1600m victory at Sha Tin on 12 January against a string of Four-Year-Old Classic Series contenders including Markwin, Sky Heart, Silvery Breeze and Mickley.

Paul Lally: 
R1 2-4-5-6 
R2 4-2-1-9 
R3 1-8-10-4 
R4 14-1-4-3 
R5 1-2-10-11 
R6 12-2-8-13 
R7 12-4-2-1 
R8 7-2-8-10 
R9 4-12-7-6 
R10 6-4-2-1 
R11 7-3-5-13 
Best Bet R9 N4 Colourful King 
Longshot R7 N12 Midori Giant 
Play R3 QQP 1-8-10 

Sha Tin Selections
(Sunday, February 16, 2025 )

The battle for the Hong Kong trainers’ championship continued to intensify at Sha Tin’s all-dirt meeting on Wednesday night (12 February) as David Hayes moved to the top of the standings with a double and Caspar Fownes took overall honours with a treble.

Hayes vaulted into the championship lead with the wins of Precision Goal and Falcon Court, leaving the dual Hong Kong champion trainer with 30 wins – one clear of Danny Shum (29) and Pierre Ng (29) - while Fownes moved into ninth place with the victories of Daily Trophy, Charming Steed and Capital Delight.

By Declan Schuster

Mask Rider (131lb) scored a super impressive first-up win in Hong Kong last month and tomorrow night (Wednesday, 12 February) the Justify gelding is aiming to repeat the dose in a quality Class 3 Shui Chuen O Handicap (1200m) under Keagan De Melo at Sha Tin.  

Hong Kong’s midweek programme features nine races – all on dirt. De Melo steps from gate two against 11 rivals, including Dragon Air Force (117lb) – a winner of his last two starts – in the HK$1.86 million contest.

Paul Lally:

R1 6-3-12-9
R2 5-10-2-4
R3 12-7-3-4
R4 3-9-1-8
R5 4-3-2-6
R6 1-8-12-4
R7 4-8-9-7
R8 9-12-2-3
R9 11-1-13-7

Best Bet R8 N9 Mojave Desert
Longshot R3 N12 Gimme Five
Play R9 QQP 1-11-13

Mark McNamara:

R1 3.12.6.7
R2 4.9.2.10
R3 7.4.9.3
R4 8.9.3.7
R5 6.7.4.5
R6 1.8.2.12
R7 8.4.7.1
R8 9.3.2.10
R9 11.13.7.1

Best Bet R5 N6 Fortune Warrior
Longshot R4 N8 Snowalot
Play R5 Q/QP 4.6.7

Luke Ferraris continued a blistering form surge with success aboard veteran sprinter Lucky With You in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 TVB Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (9 February), leaving the young South African jockey with three feature victories in 10 days.

Buoyant after wins in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on My Wish at Sha Tin on 31 January and the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Tsun Yip Handicap (1650m) on Mr Ascendency at Happy Valley on Wednesday (5 February), Ferraris continued a stunning season with Lucky With You’s triumph.

Sha Tin Selections
(Wednesday, February 12)

Race 1: #6 Ever Smart, #3 Modest Gentleman, #2 Island Golden, #8 Fung

Race 2: #12 Wind Speeder, #4 Sonic Boom, #9 Cheer For South, #5 Speedy Smartie

Race 3: #7 He Was You, #9 Hinokami Kagura, #10 Yeah Buddy, #1 Sunny Darling

Race 4: #3 Reliable Profit, #7 Viva Chaleur, #2 Red Majesty, #9 Forever Folks

Race 5: #2 Bowser, #4 Looks Outstanding, #3 Riding High, #7 Vulcanus

By Declan Schuster

Brett Crawford will become the latest trainer from South Africa to ply his trade in Hong Kong after receiving a licence to compete in the city for the upcoming 2025/26 racing season.

Crawford, 53, follows the likes of former South African-based handlers Tony Millard (709 Hong Kong wins) and David Ferraris (460) by switching tacks to Hong Kong as he was welcomed at Sha Tin this morning (Friday, 7 February) by Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Andrew Harding, at a press briefing.  

By Leo Schlink

Hugh Bowman is optimistic Raging Blizzard has quality to cope with a rise in grade when John Size’s in-form sprinter bids for a third successive victory when tackling the HK$3.72 million Class 1 TVB Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (9 February).