Jockey Saffie Osborne is in exceptional form, securing 22 wins in the Flat jockeys' championship's first six weeks. With a strong performance and a profitable betting record, she is now targeting her first Royal Ascot winner, a pinnacle event in her sport.
Hong Kong's Apprentice Jockeys' School opens recruitment for its 50+ year program, attracting hundreds of hopefuls for 25 spots, following in the footsteps of local legends like Tony Cruz and Vincent Ho, with success stories like Britney Wong.
Jockey Zac Purton made history with 2,000 Hong Kong wins in May. Trainers' championship saw Caspar Fownes regain the lead. Notable wins include Tycoon Resource and rides by Purton on The Azure and Invictus Dragon.
Jockey Jerry Chau Chun-lok is set to increase his lead in the Tony Cruz Award standings at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. With a strong book of rides, including Emblazon, Chau aims to continue his successful season.
Zac Purton aims for his second Group One win in Queensland on Grafterburners in the Doomben 10,000, and later on Romantic Thor in Hong Kong's Champions and Chater Cup, seeking his third win in the feature.
Chester Cup provided fine finale after festival was saved by repairs after horses slipped in Thursday’s openerA Piece Of Heaven’s 7-1 success in the Chester Cup, the most popular and historic race of the year at the world’s oldest racecourse, was a fine way to round off the track’s May festival meeting on Friday, not least after a day when, for around an hour or so in early afternoon, the event had teetered on the edge of an expensive, embarrassing disaster.The odds that the middle day of Chester’s showpiece event would be abandoned, with around 15,000 spectators at the track for Ladies’ Day, seemed to be shortening at 2.30pm on Thursday, as a delegation of jockeys and trainers inspected the turf on the home turn. Continue reading...
Chester Cup provided fine finale after festival was saved by repairs after horses slipped in Thursday’s openerA Piece Of Heaven’s 7-1 success in the Chester Cup, the most popular and historic race of the year at the world’s oldest racecourse, was a fine way to round off the track’s May festival meeting on Friday, not least after a day when, for around an hour or so in early afternoon, the event had teetered on the edge of an expensive, embarrassing disaster.The odds that the middle day of Chester’s showpiece event would be abandoned, with around 15,000 spectators at the track for Ladies’ Day, seemed to be shortening at 2.30pm on Thursday, as a delegation of jockeys and trainers inspected the turf on the home turn. Continue reading...
Zac Purton reached 100 wins for the season while the trainers' championship remains tight between Danny Shum, David Hayes, and John Size. Joao Moreira made a successful return to Hong Kong racing, and Ka Ying Rising set new track records.
The 2026 Flat jockeys' championship promises to be a historic contest between 20-year-old Billy Loughnane and reigning champion Oisin Murphy. Loughnane, who would be the youngest champion in over a century, is available at 6-4 with William Hill while Murphy is 11-10 with Ladbrokes – an unusually split market reflecting genuine uncertainty. Murphy won easily last year with 143 winners to Loughnane's 108, but the young jockey has improved his strike-rate to nearly 21% in 2026 and possesses a relentless momentum that has marked his rapid rise since his first winner at 16 in late 2022.
The Flat jockeys' championship begins at Newmarket on Saturday with a genuine three-way contest for the first time since 2021. Twenty-year-old Billy Loughnane, seeking to become the youngest champion in over a century, faces reigning champion Oisin Murphy, who is bidding for a record-tying sixth title. Bookmakers are split on the favourite, with Murphy available at 11-10 and Loughnane at 6-4, reflecting the closest race in years. Loughnane has improved his strike-rate to nearly 21% in 2026 after a career-best 108 wins last season.
