Thursday, October 8, 2015
Oxford Charley on right path to break through
All that Sean Woods-trained stayer Oxford Charley needs to do is maintain something like his consistent form this season and the five-year-old will win an open Class Four that represents the final...
Arpinati puts forward classic credentials
The classic picture has had a couple of topsy-turvy weeks with Luger's heart irregularity and a straightforward defeat for Divine Calling, but one galloper who put his hand up in a positive way on...
Relief for David Hayes after colic crisis in Melbourne
After enduring a soap opera by remote control, trainer David Hayes was relieved to finally have Longines Hong Kong Cup aspirant Criterion on his scheduled flight from Australia yesterday.
Moreira's five-star show a roller-coaster experience
Yesterday had a bit of everything for Joao Moreira: a first ever five-timer in Hong Kong that booted him nine clear of absent arch-rival Zac Purton in the jockeys' championship, an agonising short...
Yip gets his Wish as Divine is proven to be a mere mortal
One bubble burst but another resurfaced as Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained All You Wish was back to his very best in the Chevalier Cup and left few excuses for the current boom horse, Divine Calling...
Sparkling Lui has the best of both worlds
Top jockeys Joao Moreira and Douglas Whyte carved up the programme at Sha Tin with eight of the 10 winners and trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai was playing both sides of the fence, snatching an early...
Full Talent breaks Gibson's losing streak - just
There was just enough to swear by as Full Talent and Derby hopeful Arpinati hit the line together at Sha Tin yesterday, but this time it was not trainer Richard Gibson doing the swearing.
Unfancied Melody plays a sweet tune on debut
Punters weren't impressed by the trials of John Size's first-starter Country Melody, but there was a time when the trainer wasn't that impressed with the...
Epiphaneia streaks clear in the Japan Cup
QE II Cup fourth Epiphaneia returned to form in scintillating style yesterday with a dominant victory in the Japan Cup, denying champion mare Gentildonna the chance to become the first horse to...
Kochanwong ready for return to dirt
Master Kochanwong was given an all-weather track blow out on Friday at Sha Tin to prime the smart sprinter for a return to his favoured dirt surface next Sunday.
New steward set to arrive at Hong Kong Jockey Club after resignation of Philip Dingwall
Melbourne-based stipendiary steward, Gerard Bush will join the Hong Kong Jockey Club panel from February next year following the resignation of Philip Dingwall.
Why an all-encompassing world championship event in racing is impossible
Earlier this week, the UK Racing Post's Sam Walker wrote in his weekly "World Class" column that Hong Kong was likely to miss the best horses for...
Bespoke Collars made to measure at next start
Bespoke Collars did enough in a brief campaign last term to suggest he will pay his way and the Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained gelding showed on Wednesday night that he has returned well for...
Neil Callan cleans up with double, but misses a third at Happy Valley
Jockey Neil Callan continued a long-standing hot streak, while Sean Woods led in a much-needed winner, but it was a case of glass half empty as each could have finished with more at Happy Valley...
Old Cirrus hopes for sixth time lucky
Approaching nine years of age but with another stellar season behind him, Cirrus Des Aigles makes a sixth trip to Sha Tin chasing a career-capping win in the HK$25 million Longines Hong Kong Cup,...
'Vintage year' for local Mile aspirants, led by Able Friend
The Group One Longines Hong Kong Mile has emerged as the toughest of the four international day features to win for visitors, but it has not stopped Japan throwing four runners at the HK$23...
No Kanaloa but Japan can still rule world sprinters
There may be no dominant force like Lord Kanaloa in this year's Group One Longines Hong Kong Sprint, but a trio of Japanese entrants will attempt to give the country a third win in as many years...
Flintshire headlines European quest to regain Vase
A clever Zac Purton ride last year saw Hong Kong steal the HK$16.5 million Longines Hong Kong Vase from the visitors for the first time since 1998, but the presence of headline stayer Flintshire...
Millard calls on Moore for Ambitious Dragon, Golden Harvest
Trainer Tony Millard has called on the world's hottest jockey Ryan Moore, who will replace Gerald Mosse on Ambitious Dragon when the two-time Horse of the Year lines up in next month's Hong Kong...
Hong Kong Cup field: Cirrus aims to make it sixth time lucky
In the richest of the four features, the HK$25 million Longines Hong Kong Cup, rising nine-year-old Cirrus des Aigles returns for his sixth trip to Sha Tin after another stellar season.
Hong Kong Mile field: Able Friend to lead resistance against Japanese
A total of four Japanese-trained runners will try their luck in the HK$23 million Longines Hong Kong Mile, in which Able Friend's recent one-sided victory in the prelude should make him a short-...
Hong Kong Sprint field: No Kanaloa but trio can lord over rivals
There may be no Lord Kanaloa this year, but three Japanese runners headline a world championship of sorts in the HK$18.5 million Longines Hong Kong Sprint, where seven internationals take on seven...
Hong Kong Vase field: Arc runner-up Flintshire leads the pack
Last year, Hong Kong stole the $16.5 million Longines Hong Kong Vase from the visitors for the first time since 1998, but the prospect looks less likely this time around, with a list of foreign...
Returners on song in Sha Tin dirt trial
A couple of horses coming off long breaks put in lively trials at Sha Tin yesterday to indicate a return may not be far away as Golden Addiction and Albiceleste ran one-two in a slowly run 1,200m dirt heat.
A warmer autumn results in fast times
Unseasonably warm weather has decided the eternal battle of the Bermuda and the rye, which is why we had such quick times at Sha Tin's prelude meeting on Sunday.
All about Runningrailitis on international trial day
Sunday's preludes at Sha Tin were all about running rails - at least one rail anyway, in the wash-up of a day on which things seemed to become simultaneously clearer and more confusing, whether it...
Size can be Content with progressive types
Sunday at Sha Tin might have been focused on the international preludes, and they were spectacular in a number of ways, but the support races felt just like old times as John Size led in two...
Moore eyes Dominant for rich Sydney carnival
Trainer John Moore plans to add stayer Dominant to his armoury for Sydney's rich autumn racing carnival in April with the A$1.6 million (HK$10.72 million) Sydney Cup, 3,200m at Royal Randwick, his...
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