Tag: happy valley

Two-Time Goffs Grad Impresses on Happy Valley Debut

Owner Edmond Yue Kwok-yin splashed out HK$7 million on the advice of trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing for a 3-year-old son of Starspangledbanner (Aus) at the Hong Kong International Sale, and the gelding made a small, but not insignificant first return on that investment with a handy career debut Wednesday evening at Happy Valley Racecourse.

Nordic Dragon (Ire) had made a favourable impression in a pair of barrier trials, winning one such event going 1200-metres around the city circuit Oct. 14 (video) and another when switched to the dirt track at Sha Tin Nov. 1 (video). Sent away as the 2.5 (3-2) favourite to open his account at first asking, the son of Rely On Me (Ire) (Kyllachy {GB}) was away alertly from barrier four and showed enough speed to head them off while racing one off the inside down the back straight. Clearly in front as they reached the turn, the bay professionally went about his business in the final 300 metres and stayed on strongly to graduate by 3 1/4 lengths (video).

Shum also trains Romantic Warrior, himself a $HK4.8-million acquisition out of the HK International Sale in 2021 who has since gone on to become one of Hong Kong's leading lights. His first-up victory in last weekend's G2 Jockey Club Cup at Sha Tin took his record to eight wins from nine starts and earnings approaching HK$43 million. Romantic Warrior can currently be found atop the markets for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup Dec. 11. Starspangledbanner is also the sire of California Spangle (Ire), recent runner-up to dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in the G2 Jockey Club Mile and second to Romantic Warrior in last year's BMW Hong Kong Derby.

“He's a nice horse and the sire is very suitable to Hong Kong,” Shum said. “He was very impressive. I will start him again here and let him get more confidence and then I'll move him to Sha Tin.”

Added Ho, the regular rider for Golden Sixty: “He's a lovely horse, the race was good. He broke from the gates and took a few strides to pick and travelled nicely by himself and he got the job done. He was very concentrated. He's a decent horse.”

Bred by Matty Smith and Cloneymore Farm and hailing from the female family of G1 Oaks d'Italia winner and G1 Moyglare Stud S. third Menhoubah (Dixieland Band), Nordic Dragon was purchased by Lynn Lodge Stud for €88,000 at the 2019 Goffs November Sale and was resold to the team at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, headed up by Mick Kinane, for £130,000 at the Orby Sale the following fall. Rely On Me is the dam of Nordic Dragon's yearling full-brother who was purchased for 62,000gns by JB Bloodstock from the Baroda Stud consignment during Book 2 of this year's Tattersalls October Sale.

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Doyle, Kah Among Headline Acts For Longines IJC

Nine of the finest jockeys representing six of the world's most important racing jurisdictions will take part in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) to be held at iconic Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Making her third appearance in the IJC, having finished second in last year's event, is England's Hollie Doyle, who set a new record for wins by a female jockey in a British calendar year in last term. The 26-year-old has put together another fine season in 2022 and earned her first victory in a European Classic when Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) won the G1 Prix de Diane Longines before adding the G1 Qatar Nassau S. for John and Thady Gosden. Doyle's husband, Tom Marquand, also jets in for the third time for the IJC.

Kah, also just 26, is the most successful female jockey in Australian history, with eight Group 1 wins to her credit and better than 1,100 victories overall. During the 2020/2021 season, Kah became the first to ride over 100 winners in a single Victorian metropolitan season, besting the record of Brett Prebble.

New Zealander James McDonald has gone close in the IJC previously, finishing second on two occasions and once third from six previous appearances. It's been another cracking season for McDonald in Australia, where his 14 Group 1 successes includes the G1 Cox Plate aboard Anamoe (Aus) (Street Boss). McDonald currently sits first in the Longines World's Best Jockey Award standings.

Zac Purton, the tearaway leader on the Hong Kong jockeys' premiership, is already a three-time winner of the IJC and its two-time defending champion. Ryan Moore has a pair of IJC trophies to his name and takes part in the world's richest event of its kind for a 16th time.

Completing the foreign-based contingent are IJC debuter Jye McNeil, currently riding on a short-term contract in Hong Kong; France's Mickael Barzalona; and Japan's Yuga Kawada, who piloted Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to a memorable victory in last year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup. The three remaining spots in the field of 12 will be filled by locally based jockeys, including the second and third on the jockeys's table and the leading 'homegrown' rider as of the conclusion of racing at Happy Valley Nov. 23.

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Euros Win Three, But Purton Defends Title In Longines IJC

European-based jockeys managed victories in three of the four races comprising Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island, but consistency was rewarded when Zac Purton–out of luck on the evening–had the last laugh, placing in all four legs to take home the HK$500,000 (£48,558/€56,739) first prize. Currently atop the jockeys' premiership in Hong Kong, Purton was winning the IJC for a third time in five years, having taken it in 2017 and again 12 months ago. He joins Frankie Dettori and Douglas Whyte as three-time winners of the IJC.

Hollie Doyle made IJC history in 2020, becoming the first woman to win a leg of the series when booting home favored Harmony N Blessed (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}) for trainer David Hayes. Her partner, Tom Marquand, got the evening off on a winning note Wednesday–also for the Hayes yard–producing $35 (5-2) favourite Awesome Treasure (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) from a handy spot in the nick of time to earn 12 points, while Purton set a searching gallop aboard Circuit Seven (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) before weakening late to third (video).

Doyle, who finished in a tie for third last year, was centrestage again in the IJC, putting $209 chance (19-1) Viva Hunter (NZ) (El Roca {Aus}) on the speed from gate 12 before just holding off a late dive from Purton and Glorious Lover (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) (video) in leg two. Ryan Moore was an unlucky third astride $3.90 pick Ai One (NZ) (Shocking {NZ}).

“I thought I had been headed home,” Doyle told the HKJC notes team. “[Winning] is just as good if not better [than last year]. It's good to have a crowd here, it lifts the atmosphere and I'm blessed to have had the luck I've had. It's very special to win against the world's best jockeys and it's a huge honour for Tom and I to be asked back here.”

 

 

James McDonald has been in cracking form in Australia over the past month, riding no fewer than 10 winners during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, including the big race aboard Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}). The New Zealander, second when making his IJC debut in 2011 and third in 2014, tossed his hat into the ring in Wednesday's third leg, coming from what appeared to be a hopeless position at the midway point of the extended-mile race before knifing through late with 8-1 Invincible Missile (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) to just touch off Purton and Amazing Plus One (Ire) (Shamardal) in another rousing finish (video).

There were as many as seven chances entering the fourth and final leg of the championship, but none of the leading lights managed to strike a decisive blow, as Elon (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) came with a stinging rally from the back of the pack beneath Mickael Barzalona to post a 12-1 upset (video). It was Purton yet again on the losing end of a photo, but his runner-up effort secured the IJC on 22 points. Marquand, Doyle, McDonald and Barzalona finished in a tie for second place on 12 points.

“I came here a little bit worried about the quality of horses I was riding and knew that I was going to need things go my way and luckily I was able to get some nice runs on them and give them their chances,” Purton said. “It was a bit frustrating I kept getting beaten in those photos, but I suppose that makes for good racing and a good competition. The points added up, it's very satisfying.”

Hayes took home an HK$200,000 bonus as leading IJC trainer for his victory with Awesome Treasure and a pair of thirds to finish with 20 points, eight clear of a group of four fellow trainers on 12 points.

 

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Moore, McDonald Lead International Cast For Longines IJC

Eight high-profile overseas jockeys will join four Hong Kong-based riders to compete for the HK$500,000 top prize in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship to be held at the iconic Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island Wednesday, Dec. 8.

Ryan Moore is set to jet in to make a 15th appearance at the IJC, having dead-heated for the spoils with John Murtagh and Christophe Lemaire in 2009 before winning the title outright 12 months hence. Moore, who has finished on the podium four times since his most recent victory, currently sits atop the Longines World's Best Jockey standings, having partnered this season with the likes of G1 Prince of Wales's S. victress Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}); St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), four times a Group 1 winner this term; treble Oaks winner Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}); and G1 Cheveley Park S. hero Tenebrism (Caravaggio), to name only a few.

New Zealand-born, but Sydney-based James McDonald comes into the IJC in flying form, as he rode a record-setting 10 winners during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, including the main event aboard Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), one of four top-level scores. McDonald is the clear leader for the jockeys' premiership in both Sydney and New South Wales.

Yuga Kawada is Japan's second-leading jockey by number of winners (trailing only Lemaire) and is winning with 28.3% of his rides, a remarkable strike rate on the very competitive JRA circuit. He helped make history for the island nation at the Breeders' Cup meeting, guiding Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to a slashing landmark success in the GI Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar. He also booted home 46-1 gamble Danon Kingly (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in this year's G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo.

Hollie Doyle and partner Tom Marquand make a return visit to Happy Valley this year. Doyle made a bit of history of her own at the 2020 IJC, becoming the first female rider to win one of the legs to finish in a share of third with Alexis Badel. The couple were fifth and third, respectively, in this year's British Flat Racing Jockeys' Championship.

South Africa's Lyle Hewitson makes his IJC debut this year, having recently secured a third South Africa Champion Jockey title in the 2020/2021 season.

Other foreign invitees include: IJC debuter Damian Lane (Australia) and Mickael Barzalona (France).

Defending champion Zac Purton and his arch-rival Joao Moreira–winner of the 2012 IJC when representing Singapore–fly the Bauhinia flag and will be joined by the highest-ranked rider in Hong Kong as well as the leading homegrown rider.

The four races that comprise the IJC are worth HK$6.2 million and each of the races–two Class 3 handicaps and two in Class four–is set to receive a 20% boost in prize money for the event. Trainers will also be incentivised to enter their horses, as a total of HK$350,000 will be split among the three trainers whose horses accumulate the most points.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has gained approval from the HKSAR government to host the IJC and the weekend's Longines Hong Kong International Races with stringent COVID-related protocols in place.

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