There is no Hong Kong news for Tuesday, May 5, 2009Monday, March 23, 2009 Moore hails Beadman's HK Derby winning genius Posted @ 08:44:00 EST Winning trainer John Moore recalled the legendary tactical moves of his father's heyday as Australia's greatest-ever jockey after Darren Beadman brilliantly stole the HK$16 million Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin yesterday, reports the Racing Post in HK.It says: "Dad used to do that, take a race by the scruff of the neck and Darren has produ
There is no Hong Kong news for Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Moore hails Beadman's HK Derby winning genius
Posted @ 08:44:00 EST
Winning trainer John Moore recalled the legendary tactical moves of his father's heyday as Australia's greatest-ever jockey after Darren Beadman brilliantly stole the HK$16 million Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin yesterday, reports the Racing Post in HK.
It says: "Dad used to do that, take a race by the scruff of the neck and Darren has produced a George Moore ride here today," said Moore after greeting his third winner of the Derby, after taking it with Makarpura Star in 1995 and Viva Pataca three years ago.
"He looked up and saw that his main danger, Thumbs Up, had gone forward and he's nullified that advantage by going around them. That was the ride of a lifetime."
Beadman's lightning decision to tack up behind outsider Galaxy Treasure and improve his position to be in front of Thumbs Up midrace instead of towards the rear, where he had settled, turned the race into a one-act affair and Collection spread his rivals out over many lengths at the finish with a powerful display.
"The pace was very muddling and I had to play the cards that were dealt to me, but I had great confidence in the horse," said Beadman.
"I've probably enjoyed this win more than most of even the big races I've won - John worked very hard to get me back here riding, I owe him a great deal and to win the Derby for him - to Hong Kong people it's such a prestigious race - is just such a great thrill."
The classic was a victory for a lot of careful planning, a calculated gamble by Beadman and the Jockey Club's introduction of trainer syndicates in recent seasons.
Moore put together a syndicate of seven, including one of his regular owners Matthew Wong Leung-pak and Bernie Yu Shui-san, a relation by marriage to casino magnate Stanley Ho Hung-sun for whom Moore won with Viva Pataca.
Monday, February 23, 2009
James Winks lands Group One winner in Hong Kong
Posted @ 11:09:00 EST
James Winks was swept to cloud nine on the broad back of 50-1 chance Dim Sum in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize and as darkness fell on Sha Tin last night, there was no sign of his coming down any time soon, reports Murray Bell of the Hk Racing Post.
He says: Winks, 25, declared he had just achieved "every jockey's dream" of landing a Group One race in Hong Kong and the Melburnian's reaction was euphoric as he lived out that dream alongside champion trainer John Moore during the presentation ceremony for the HK$4.5 million feature.
Winks, who had won two Group Ones in Australia, emerged triumphant in a battle of tactics where his major rivals - Enthused (Douglas Whyte), Sacred Kingdom (Olivier Doleuze) and Green Birdie (Christophe Soumillon) - all had legitimate excuses.
"This is just amazing," said a stunned Winks after posing for photos with Moore and the Sprint Prize silverware. "Just being here is a great experience but to win a race like this, so soon, is way beyond anything I had expected.
"I got those two early winners here but then the last few weeks have been a struggle. But they tell me that happens to everyone when they get to Hong Kong and to just keep going and something will happen. Well today something incredible happened and I can't thank John and the owners, the Pong family, enough for giving me this opportunity."
Moore, who completed the Group One double with Dim Sum some 35 minutes after Viva Pataca had won his second Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, also expressed heartfelt thanks to owner David Pong Chun-yee and his grandmother, the devout fan Cynthia Pong Hong Chu-siu.
"When my father first came to train here in the early 1970s, Mrs Pong was one of our first clients and she has been a staunch supporter ever since," Moore said. "She's an icon in racing and there will never be another like Mrs Pong - congratulations to her, she puts so much in and deserves everything she gets. I hope winning another Group One for her today has topped it all off and repaid her, in part, for all the support she has given the Moore family over four decades."
Ironically, David Pong also won the Chairman's Sprint Prize three years ago with Billet Express at odds of 24-1 at the expense of a proven performer in Scintillation and a virus-debilitated Silent Witness.
After the races, Winks fielded congratulations from a number of jockeys, but the one with the best parallel story was Brett Prebble. "This will be the turning point for you," Prebble told him. "In my first season, I fluked picking up the ride on Precision and we won the Group One Champions & Chater Cup, but that one win was the difference between me staying here and going home."
Olivier Doleuze claimed barrier one and at least two bouts of interference stood between victory and defeat for comeback sprinter Sacred Kingdom.
Stewards looked at early interference to Sacred Kingdom from River Jordan (Darren Beadman) and severely reprimanded Beadman, warning him "while the stewards accept competitive riding, he must exercise care to ensure his riding does not place him in breach of a significant Rule of Racing".
Sacred Kingdom's next start is expected to be a return bout against Good Ba Ba in the Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on March 15.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Kildare dishes out the medicine in Hong Kong
Posted @ 19:26:00 EST
The New Zealand-breeding industry celebrated its sixth stakes success in Hong Kong this season on Saturday, when the talented O'Reilly galloper Kildare (NZ) stepped up to the challenges of group racing, and scored the biggest win of his career in the HK-3 Chow Fook Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1000m) at Sha Tin.
Heading into the race with a three-win from eight starts formline, Kildare (NZ) dented the reputations of some of Hong Kong's most successful and seasoned campaigners including the Gr.1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Sprint winner Inspiration, the Gr.1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup winner Joyful Winner, and the former Gr.1 winner in New Zealand, Nightlign (NZ).
Trained by Derek Cruz the New Zealand-bred four-year-old cut out the 1000m sprint in a slick time of 56.80, prevailing in the feature race of the card by a half-head margin from fellow NZ-bred galloper Enthused (NZ) (Centaine).
Two starts prior Enthused (NZ) had won the Gr.3 Hong Kong International Sprint Trial and subsequently ran fourth in the Gr.1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Sprint.
"You can call it whatever you like -- Premier class, Group class or whatever -- but today these are the big boys and Kildare has really made a name for himself now." trainer Derek Cruz said.
Recognising his new stable stars talent, Cruz will now set Kildare (NZ) for the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint over 1000 metres on February 1, the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series.
Prior to his sale to the Cruz stable, Kildare (NZ) won his raceday debut as a three-year-old in New Zealand. He was originally owned by Bruce and Maureen Harvey of Ascot Farm, and was trained by Yves Seguin.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Cruz gets sentimental as Bullish Luck, and Felix, depart
Posted @ 12:47:00 EST
Trainer Tony Cruz could be forgiven for thinking this holiday season resembles the end of an era now that stable stalwart Bullish Luck's retirement from racing coincides with the departure from Hong Kong of Felix Coetzee, his former retained jockey and close friend.
While those involved at the sharp end of Hong Kong racing are not known for their sentimentality, Cruz says he will nevertheless feel a pang of nostalgia when he watches the former Horse of the Year parade one last time at Sha Tin on New Year's Day, the occasion of his tenth birthday.
"It will be strange not having him around since he's been with us for so long - I've had him for six seasons and it's been privilege to train one as good and as genuine as him," said Cruz reflecting on the horse that exits the stage as the second highest moneyspinner in local history at HK$63m.
"He was very sound, never missed any big races and he took us all over the world. He never ran a bad race and gave us so many highlights. The day he beat Silent Witness a short head in the Champions Mile stands out, as does his win in the Yasuda Kinen - he was so impressive that day. Even on his last start in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup he was still very competitive against some of the best horses in the world. We'll miss him but he has earned a long and happy retirement."
Bullish Luck won five Gr.1 races in his career, including two successive Champions Mile (2005, 2006) victories and the Yasuda Kinen (2006) in Japan. He was also a narrow and unlucky runner-up in the 2004 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup and placed third in the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race, as an eight-year-old in March 2007.
Brett Prebble was in the saddle that night in Nad Al Sheba and described the son of Royal Academy as "easily the best miler I have ridden."
Recalling his Champions Mile and Yasuda Kinen double that sealed Horse of the Year honour in 2006, Prebble said: "He had very rare acceleration, nothing like I've ever experienced on a miler.
In the Champions Mile I got a strong cart into the race there and at the top of the straight I gave him just one click and off he went. It felt like he had the race settled in one stride. But he was even better in Tokyo. I'm honoured to have been part of his story."
Thursday, November 27, 2008
HK international races set new benchmark
Posted @ 11:44:00 EST
By MURRAY BELL of the HK Racing Post
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races set a new benchmark yesterday when 38 trainers from 10 foreign jurisdictions declared to bring their horses to compete at Sha Tin on December 14.
The so-called turf world championships have never looked stronger, in terms of depth and spread of representation, with Jockey Club executive director of racing Bill Nader (pictured) expressing full confidence that each of the four Group One features would see capacity fields of 14 horses face the starter.
A total of 39 overseas horses will jet in from around the planet for the HK$62 million extravaganza, with the first one having already arrived, 2007 Breeders' Cup Mile hero Kip Deville from America.
From humble beginnings in the early 1980s, the Cathay Pacific International Races is now the biggest sporting event in Hong Kong.
The event also broke new ground last night with four American-based trainers confirming for the big day, including five-time Eclipse award-winning handler Bobby Frankel and the Hall of Fame horseman Neil Drysdale, who took the Kentucky Derby in 2000 with his first runner in the race, Fusaichi Pegasus.
Frankel, the champion trainer of America in 2002 and 2003, will start Brazilian-bred front-runner Out Of Control in the HK$20 million Hong Kong Cup, while Drysdale will have Artiste Royal in the same feature.
"This year we have met with an unprecedented level of interest from world-renowned horsemen - and an exceptional count of 38 trainers are participating from five continents," said Nader.
"And we can guarantee championship line-ups, given the presence of Breeders' Cup heroes, classic winners, defending titleholders and a whole host of Group One stars from far and wide."
The club's international racing manager, Mark Player, said the way so many top horses had performed at Sha Tin in past Decembers, and then recaptured form the next year elsewhere on the world stage, had changed the thinking of many overseas owners and trainers.
"The Hong Kong International Races is not just an end-of-year event but is now being highlighted as a key target of the racing programme for a large number of the world's top horses," Player explained.
"From last year, for example, the form of Doctor Dino and Marchand d'Or has been a great advertisement for Hong Kong.
"[Vase winner] Doctor Dino has taken that top-class form all around the world, while Marchand d'Or has emerged from his sixth placing in the Hong Kong Sprint to become the very best sprinter in Europe."
Three of the 39 horses have engagements to complete overseas this weekend before making the journey to Hong Kong. They are Purple Moon and Sixties Icon (Vase, 2400m) - who are both slated to run in Sunday's Japan Cup in Tokyo - and the Australian speed demon Apache Cat (Sprint, 1200m).
Apache Cat, the winner of five Group One races in succession last season, is set to confront the ageing, globetrotting warrior Takeover Target over 1,200 metres at Ascot, Perth, in the Winterbottom Stakes. His trainer, Greg Eurell, says that he must run either first or second to take his chance in Hong Kong.
The host nation will be very strong again, fielding 17 horses across the four races including Horse of the Year Good Ba Ba in the Hong Kong Mile and the brilliant Viva Pataca who will make his third attempt to wrest the Hong Kong Cup.
Caspar Fownes ultimately decided to run Green Birdie in the Sprint rather than the Mile, while Jackpot Delight sidestepped the in-form Viva Pataca in the Cup to concentrate on the Hong Kong Vase instead.
Hong Kong's champion trainer John Size will have three runners taking part - Enthused in the Sprint, Armada in the Mile and Sight Winner in the Cup.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Size's Kiwi bred Enthused takes Sprint trial at Sha Tin
Posted @ 11:29:00 EST
Australian bred sprinter Sunny Power and the Kiwi bred Catbird gelding Green Birdie had to settle for the minor placings in the HK International Sprint Trial HK Gr 2 at Sha Tin on Sunday with another Kiwi bred in Centaine five year-old Enthused scoring a narrow victory, reports Breednet.com.au.
It says: The John Size trained sprinter surged late to hold a narrow margin of a nose over the fast finishing Sunny Power with Green Birdie just a neck away in third, the clock stopped at a slick 1:08.20.
"I was exactly where I wanted to be early on. In the straight he got to the front a bit quicker than I wanted but he fought on very gamely. As we hit the line I thought I had missed the nod so I was delighted to see I had been wrong," said winning rider Felix Coetzee.
A $40,000 purchase for Aquanita Racing from the Windsor Park Stud draft at the 2005 NZB Select Yearling Sale, Enthused started his racing career in Australia with Robert Smerdon under the name of Let's Migrate.
He won two of four starts in Victoria between January and March in 2007, scoring at his last appearance at Caulfield over 1200 metres when he defeated subsequent dual Group One winner Sirmione by a length.
Since being transferred to John Size, Enthused has won five of 15 starts and placed a further eight times, never finishing further back than fifth.
Looking forward to the Group One HK International Sprint in December, trainer Size added: "He has come up to the mark this preparation and has run well in each of his starts and he has certainly built himself a nice platform to go into the international meeting.
ÔÇ£He has certainly earned the right to be there. He's a horse with very good character and he likes to fight out a finish. I'm just hoping he can get a good draw like he had today in the Sprint to help travel nicely."
Already a stakes-winner of the Sha Tin Sprint Trophy HK Gr 3, Enthused has an Australian pedigree despite his NZ suffix being by Waikato Stud's highly successful Aussie bred sire Centaine from the Aussie bred Jugah (USA) mare Free as a Bird, a full sister to Group One AJC Doncaster Handicap winner Soho Square.
This is also the family of brilliant sprinting filly Innovation Girl and Group Two VRC Sires Produce Stakes winner Incumbent, so with many members of this female family at stud in Australia the win of Enthused is of particular interest. (by Tara Madgwick)
Monday, November 17, 2008
Whyte equals own record tally with Sha Tin blitz
Posted @ 16:39:00 EST
Champion jockey Douglas Whyte was in assertive mood, landing a four-timer and equalling his own record tally as he took the Jockey Challenge for the seventh time in his past eight attempts, writes Alan Aitken in the Racing Post.
His report states: With the new Jockey Challenge format of betting in the run until race six, Whyte was already down to a price of 1.06 when the pool closed, even though the Durban Demon's day was just half over.
Big Profit opened Whyte's afternoon with trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing before he linked with John Size to claim the fifth (Perfect Match), seventh (Unique Jewellery) and last (Brilliant Chapter) races.
Brilliant Chapter's performance echoed his previous two victories, reeling off a brilliant sprint at the end of 1,200m to give his rivals nowhere to hide. "He's a transformed horse and has a phenomenal turn of speed," said Whyte.
"I went back today and I followed One World because I thought he was one of the other chances, but by the turn he was no more use to me. I've dropped him in a breath and gone and yet he's still kept on to finish second in the end."
Size said the way Brilliant Chapter finishes his races off doesn't preclude the possibility he may run further but he's happy to keep him to 1,200m for now.
"He's running consistently and keeps repeating performances as he goes up the ladder and that's a very good sign for the future," Size said. "But I don't really want to test his stamina until I have to.
"He's a bit of a light horse, there's not much of him and his constitution isn't terribly tough so while he can sprint under no stress, I'll just let him do that."
Unique Jewellery was the other Dream Team winner to catch the eye, winning his fifth race from seven starts in impressive style and the well-bred four-year-old is steaming on to what ultimately looks a Derby campaign next spring.
"His record says four wins at 1,400m so on paper he's not a 2,000m horse, but since he began racing he's been able to follow the speed and remain relaxed, so if he can do that as he goes in distance then I'm sure there'll be plenty of pressure to go towards the Derby," Size said.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Olivier set for more at Sha Tin on Sunday
Posted @ 11:22:00 EST
Olivier Doleuze has limbered up and is ready for some proper action as the build-up towards the feature races begins, and an upset win in today's Jockey Challenge at Sha Tin should be a perfect scene-setter for the flamboyant Frenchman, reports Murray Bell of the Racing Post (www.racing.scmp.com).
He says: Doleuze is a huge talent, as his wins in the last two editions of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile and his unprecedented series of feature mile victories last term on Good Ba Ba suggest. Race after race, Doleuze is the man for the high-pressure occasion.
Today's Ladies' Purse fixture is a curtain raiser to the big races coming up, and Doleuze has a good prospect on which to mount a successful Jockey Challenge - emerging four-year-old Deferential.
This quality chestnut is a member of the Caspar Fownes string, and he looks to be a real improver, showing the benefit of the maturity that one extra year of patience and development has brought him.
Deferential won the Group Two Todman Slipper Trial at Rosehill as a two-year-old and for what that means in terms of class, think about champion sprinters Fastnet Rock and Absolute Champion, who fought out the race two years earlier.
Just like Absolute Champion did when he came to Hong Kong, Deferential found it too hard competing against older horses in Class Two while still a three-year-old. And Fownes, with so many years of experience, knows not to push the issue with such horses.
But a top first-up run this term strongly suggests Deferential has turned the corner and may soon become another feature winner in the familiar blue and white livery of The Duke's owner, Eddie Lau Jnr.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Marwing 'not concerned' over Ricky's slow season's start
Posted @ 17:27:00 EST
While the Moore-Beadman partnership is soaring after four meetings, with each leading their respective premiership table, returned expatriate Weichong Marwing is far from concerned about the quiet start being made by his retaining trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fie, reports the HK Racing Post.
It says: Marwing left Happy Valley on Wednesday night without a winner from 14 rides in the season to date, but his positive attitude was very much intact, urging fans of the Yiu yard to have a little patience and keep the faith.
"Yes, it has been a slower start to the season but I'm not concerned in the least," Marwing said. "Ricky has a lot of nice horses coming to hand but they are not quite there yet. There's not a lot to be gained working horses hard in the heat at this time of the year - Ricky knows what he's doing."
Marwing formerly rode for the Singaporean training maestro, Ivan Allan, who won three trainers' premierships and multiple editions of every Group race in a decade of dominance before his retirement in 2004, and the South African riding ace noted the parallels.
"Ivan was a genius trainer but he would never gallop his horses hard until the heat of summer had passed," Marwing recalled. "Ivan's horses might have needed their first or second races when they resumed in the new season, but once they were fit they had a superb foundation and won plenty of races as the season progressed. I think it's a similar thing with Ricky now."
Yiu and Marwing will combine with four runners this Sunday, and perhaps the best chance is Rocket Force in the final event, the Chun Shek Handicap (1,600m).
Rocket Force, who won two out of three on softer tracks in New Zealand before his sale to Daniel Lam Ka-kuen, has only raced three times here and two of them were encouraging.
Rocket Force has not raced since June 8 when third to Triumphant Diamond over 1,800m at Sha Tin. On that occasion he was fourth past the post but elevated to third on objection.
The gelding trialled satisfactorily when fifth to Super Fantasy on September 2 and has had five steady gallops since.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Stewards quiz Beadman over tactics on UK horse
Posted @ 22:04:00 EST
Stewards grilled jockey Darren Beadman over tactics on Eyshal at Sha Tin after the British import continued the march of the John Moore yard in the Kwangtung Handicap Cup (1600m), reports the HK Racing Post.
It adds: Moore landed his third treble in as many meetings, with Sunny Golf (Beadman) following up Eyshal's victory thirty minutes later, but the stipes quickly called for an explanation after Beadman went forward on Eyshal who had been a backmarker in seven previous runs.
"They've had Darren in but anyone looking at that race today would have said that there was no pace in it and we had decided to make some more use of Eyshal today - with or without Plan Ex," Moore said. The late scratching of short-priced favourite Plan Ex after he had reared up in the gates was the opening sensation of the event, with the Jockey Club forced to refund HK$35.6 million of bets on the gelding, and it certainly made the task easier for Eyshal.
"They've only gone a working gallop then dashed home - he was going to be hard to beat sitting outside the leader," Moore said.
"That wasn't necessarily where we thought he would be, but we planned to come out, be more purposeful despite the wide barrier, then get across behind horses if the leaders kicked up under Eyshal.
"They didn't and Darren was able to get over. The horse has been taking a positive position in trackwork and enjoying it and enjoyed it again today."
Beadman said that the moderate tempo probably contributed to the win in more than the simple mathematics of sectional times, and the task those behind faced in running him down when he was finishing the race off in under 22 seconds for his last 400m.