Two days from Guineas Day at Longchamp, France-based fillies dominated antepost betting on the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, the 1000 Guineas, while the market favored shippers from Ireland and England in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, the 2000 Guineas.
Both races are one-turn miles, and the Longchamp course Friday was rated good to soft, with warm, dry weather forecast through Sunday.
By Leo Schlink
Hugh Bowman has described Fast Network as one of Hong Kong’s most progressive horses as Dennis Yip’s emerging talent squares off against a highly-competitive field in the Class 2 Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday (10 May).
Nearly two years have passed since the five-time Australian stakes winner Giga Kick finished first, making his appearance in Friday’s Group 1 Goodwood Stakes at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide all the more intriguing.
Giga Kick is best known for winning the $9.3 million Everest Stakes - the world’s richest sprint - at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in 2022. The victory was the last of a five-race winning streak at the beginning of his career. Giga Kick has since won two of 10 starts, including a head loss in the $13.3 million Everest Stakes last October.
By Leo Schlink
A double in tandem with Douglas Whyte at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (7 May) propelled Hugh Bowman to the 60-win milestone for the 2024/25 season – and closer to a season-best tally in Hong Kong.
Bowman’s brace on Whyte-trained Goko Win and Ivy League further cemented the Australian’s second placing in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship behind Zac Purton (104 wins), while Whyte improved his haul to 20 wins for the season.
Paul Lally:
R1 8-2-4-10
R2 12-3-4-7
R3 11-6-3-2
R4 4-5-9-2
R5 8-1-3-10
R6 2-12-3-10
R7 10-6-1-11
R8 10-12-11-7
R9 10-4-9-3
Best Bet R8 N10 10 Lucky Touch
Longshot R7 N10 Chill Master
Play Race6 QQP 2-3-12
Tom Wood:
R1: 1-8-2-3
R2: 12-4-6-3
R3: 8-4-10-11
R4: 4-2-3-9
R5: 10-4-3-1
by Declan Schuster
Loveisintheair is trending in the right direction and jockey Hugh Bowman hopes John Size’s three-year-old gelding can make further headway when he lines up in the Class 4 The France Galop Cup Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (7 May).
Across three starts, the chestnut has finished sixth, fifth and most recently third, and Bowman – a winner of 58 races in Hong Kong this season – has faith the youngster possesses the right tools to furnish into a quality racer and ascend the city’s handicap.
by Leo Schlink
Progressive four-year-old Bundle Award might have earned a start at Group 1 level after displaying impressive staying talent with victory in the HK$4.2 million G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (4 May) for trainer John Size and jockey Zac Purton.
Triumphant at 1400m and 1800m at Sha Tin this year, Bundle Award (123lb) handled the rise to 2400m with aplomb to defeat Noisy Boy (121lb) by a short head in 2m 29.72s after a stirring battle, with Winning Dragon (125lb) third, three-quarters of a length away.
Happy Valley Selections
(Wednesday, May 07, 2025)
Race 1: #5 Tradition, #8 Harry’s Hero, #2 Podium, #3 The Khan
Race 2: #12 Ace Talent, #3 Day Day Victory, #4 Ragnarr, #6 Ruby Sailing
Race 3: #11 Perfect Pairing, #3 Serangoon, #8 Management Folks, #6 Rosewood Fleetfoot
Race 4: #2 Goko Win, #4 Majestic Delight, #3 Smart Fighter, #9 Good Prospect
Race 5: #4 Mighty Commander, #10 Amazing Award, #1 Setanta, #5 Flying Wrote
