Hong Kong Racing: April Review of Jockeys and Trainers

The stars of Hong Kong once again shone bright on the big stage of a memorable FWD Champions Day, Joao Moreira made a successful return to the city and the trainers’ championship heated up again in April.

The SCMP analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a month to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride.

Who’s hot?

It was a huge month for champion jockey Zac Purton, who racked up 17 wins at a strike rate of 23.6 per cent to surge past 100 wins for a 10th consecutive season and move to within 14 of 2,000 career victories in Hong Kong.

Hugh Bowman was next best with nine wins, while Moreira made an immediate impact in his return to the city as Caspar Fownes’ stable rider with seven.

Harry Bentley also had a productive month with seven, while new apprentice Nichola Yuen Hang-yiu deserves special praise for starting her Hong Kong career with four wins from just 27 rides in April.

The exciting race for the trainers’ championship gained further momentum in April with Danny Shum Chap-shing, David Hayes and 13-time champion John Size leading the way with eight wins apiece.

Just two wins separate the top four, with Shum third on 49 and Hayes fourth on 48. Fownes boosted his tally to 50 – equal with Mark Newnham but behind him on seconds – with seven wins in April, while Tony Cruz also notched seven for the month.

Who’s not?

Keith Yeung Ming-lun and Dylan Mo Hin-tung were the only two jockeys who failed to ride a winner in April, though Mo once again had very limited opportunities.

James Orman, Lyle Hewitson, Matthew Poon Ming-fai, Ellis Wong Chi-wang and Matthew Chadwick each had one. Chadwick ended a frustrating streak of 159 winless rides with victory on Another Zonda at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Pierre Ng Pang-chi was the only winless trainer in April, with the transfers of stable star Galaxy Patch and two-time Sha Tin winner Sagacious Life further compounding his woes.

Win of the month

Ka Ying Rising lowered his own track record twice in April, continuing his record winning streak with freakish performances in the Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) and Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m).

The latter was another jaw-dropping display, with the David Hayes-trained champion stopping the clock at 1:07.10 despite the modest early speed in the race.

While he took a few strides to hit top gear in the straight, he unleashed his customary turn of foot to easily storm past his rivals, bolting in by four-and-three-quarter lengths.

Romantic Warrior’s 14th Group One success and fourth in the QEII Cup (2,000m) also deserves special praise, with Shum’s champion passing one of his biggest local tests with flying colours to beat Japan’s Masquerade Ball by a length.

Ride of the month

Moreira weaved his magic several times in his return to Hong Kong, but his winning ride on Family Fortune stood out as the best.

Taken back to last over the extended mile at the Valley, the Caspar Fownes-trained gelding edged forward one off the fence from the 700m as Moreira tried to make his move.

Pocketed behind a wall of horses early in the straight, Moreira bravely speared Family Fortune through a tight gap between two rivals approaching the 100m and the son of Derryn lifted to chase down Double Bingo to score by a short head.

Moreira’s wins on Decision Link and Mighty Commander were also outstanding rides, while Karis Teetan’s weaving ride on Irish import Nautical Force was another top performance.