By Leo Schlink
Mark Newnham hopes Winfield can emerge as a leading HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series prospect when the dual Brazilian Group 1 winner makes his Hong Kong debut in the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Leighton Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (4 January).
By Declan Schuster
Pierre Ng is confident Sagacious Life (130lb) can propel his advance towards the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series when the trainer’s highest-rated prospect lines up in Sunday’s (4 January) HK$3.12 million Class 2 Leighton Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin.
A first-up winner in Hong Kong after arriving from Brazil as a Group 1 triumphant, the Leslie Lui-owned Sagacious Life makes his third start after finishing an unlucky sixth on 30 November, when he was briefly blocked at a crucial stage in the home straight.
By Leo Schlink
Karis Teetan extended a deepening affinity with the HK$4.2 million G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Thursday (1 January) when the Mauritian pocketed his fourth victory in the race by piloting David Hayes-trained Storm Rider to a thrilling victory.
Teetan had previously triumphed in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup on Fifty Fifty (2018), Champion’s Way (2021) and Patch Of Theta (2025), while Hayes’ most recent success in the race was with Schubert in 2000.
By Declan Schuster
Tomodachi Kokoroe (135lb) is enjoying his best season to date and Harry Bentley is hopeful the speedster can maintain his positive trajectory in Thursday’s (1 January) HK$4.2 million G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin, although the British rider is tempering his expectations with the contest’s highest-rated horse.
Paul Lally:
R1: 3-10-8-14
R2: 8-1-4-11
R3: 1-6-10-2
R4: 6-5-1-10
R5: 6-5-11-1
R6: 1-10-3-5
R7: 6-1-2-8
R8: 7-4-1-3
R9: 2-7-3-4
R10: 14-3-9-8
R11: 1-12-7-9
Best Bet R11 N1 Circuit Grand Slam
Longshot R10 N14 Very Grateful
Play R8 QQP 1-4-7
Entering his third training season in Hong Kong, Australian trainer Mark Newnham is enjoying his most successful spell yet. He closed out his debut campaign with 31 wins, before adding another 44 in 2024/25. As of the end of December in the 2025/26 season, Newnham sits in the second spot of the trainers’ premiership with 26 wins. At the Sha Tin meeting on 20 December, he celebrated his 100th Hong Kong victory when rising four-year-old star Invincible Ibis stormed home.
By Declan Schuster
Light Years Charm (132lb) has always shown plenty of aptitude and Thursday’s (1 January) HK$4.2 million G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin shapes as a timely and suitable opportunity for the five-year-old to enhance his standing.
Seeking a first Group race win, Light Years Charm has progressively earned a 107 rating across 12 appearances in Hong Kong – highlighted by five wins over Thursday’s course and distance – for trainer David Eustace and owners Zhao Guoming & Xiao Bing.
There can be no doubt about Lovcen’s affection for races at 1 1/4 miles in Japan.
After winning at the extended trip in his debut for first-time starters at Kyoto Racecourse on Nov. 9, Lovcen won his second start in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama on Saturday.
Lovcen returned $71.70 in American pools.
Ridden by Kohei Matsuyama, Lovcen closed from the middle of the field of 16 to win by three-quarters of a length over 8-1 Forte Angelo.
By Leo Schlink
Frankie Lor continued a meteoric rise when Salon S triumphed impressively to deliver the trainer’s 500th Hong Kong victory before Numbers emerged as a serious BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) contender at Sha Tin on Sunday (27 December) on a momentous afternoon for the quietly-spoken horseman.
