That he offered his backers $2.30 was only logical, as he was facing off with Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), perfect in four starts over the course and 2000-metre distance, which was supposed to be the great equaliser and level the playing field. Romantic Warrior, off as the $1.50 jolly Sunday, got first run and turned for home with every conceivable chance, but Golden Sixty was all guts when push came to shove and was home a head to the good to win for the 24th time from 28 starts, including a narrow success in this event two years ago.

Sunday's game plan was a pretty straight-forward one–don't let Romantic Warrior out of your sights–and Vincent Ho followed those instructions to the letter, even having to get after Golden Sixty through demanding middle sectionals. Karis Teetan aboard the favourite tried to win the race 600 metres from home and the duo struck to the lead, even as Golden Sixty was poised to tackle him. While his customary turn of acceleration was noticeably and understandably less electric given the distance of the Gold Cup, Golden Sixty continued to knuckle down and grabbed Romantic Warrior a handful of strides before the winning post. Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) made the running into the straight and held gamely for third.

“He was very relaxed today, I even had to ask him a little to keep up today in the back straight and, of course, I had another great horse to follow through and ask for the full effort at the 200- [metre mark],” said Ho. “I just had to stay close with him and don't let him get away too far.”

Ho added, “To be honest, I expected the other horse would have beaten us but, of course, I just do my best on Golden Sixty without hurting him too much for the Champions Mile or if we go to Japan, so it's going to take time for him to recover, aged seven now. I just don't want to overdo it, but doing my best to [help him] perform at that level.”

It was an eighth Group 1 conquest for Golden Sixty, equaling the number achieved by Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock {Aus}) and his earnings now exceed an eye-watering HK$136 million. Next up could be the G2 Chairman's Trophy back over a mile on Apr. 9 into either the G1 Champions' Mile or the G1 FWD QE II Cup (2000m) Apr. 30. Though the G1 Yasuda Kinen in early June remains an option, Golden Sixty remains an outside chance to shoot for the older horse Triple Crown in the G1 Champions and Chater Cup over 12 furlongs May 28.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CITI HONG KONG GOLD CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-26, 2000mT, 1:59.98, gd/fm.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 126, g, 7, by Medaglia d'Oro
1st Dam: Gaudeamus (GSW-Ire, $179,846), by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Leo's Lucky Lady, by Seattle Slew
3rd Dam: Konafa, by Damascus
(A$120,000 Ylg '17 MMGCYS; NZ$300,000 '17 NZBRTR). O-Stanley Chan Ka Leung; B-Asco International Pty Ltd (Qld); T-Francis Lui Kin-wai; J-Vincent Ho Chak-yiu; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 2x Horse of the Year, Ch. Middle Distance Horse & Ch. 4yo-HK, 28-24-2-1, HK$136,530,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus; and Rainbow Connection (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), GSP-Aus. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Romantic Warrior (Ire), 126, g, 5, Acclamation (GB)–Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire). (300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 HRA '21 HKJUN). O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny Shum Chap-shing; J-Karis Teetan; HK$2,640,000.
3–Money Catcher (NZ), 126, g, 5, Ferlax (NZ)–Warren's Sister (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus). (NZ$13,000 Wlg '18 NZBMAY; NZ$60,000 2yo '19 NZBRTR). O-The Sunflower Syndicate; B-Haunui Bloodstock Ltd; T-Frankie Lor Fu-chuen; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 13-10, 1-2, 45-1.
Also Ran: Glorious Dragon (Ire), Panfield (Chi), Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), Ka Ying Star (GB). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.

So-Ho Team To Take Out the Classic Cup

Trainer Chris So celebrated the most important victory of his career when Super Sunny Sing (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}), ridden by Ho about 70 minutes after the Gold Cup, swept past Sword Point (Aus) (American Pharoah) in the dying stages to scoop the Hong Kong Classic Cup, the final local lead-up to the BMW Hong Kong Derby three weeks down the road.

Settled with about four rivals behind as Sword Point dropped over from his high draw to apply some pressure to all-the-way Classic Mile winner Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) and Jamie Kah, the 12-5 favourite was swung out wide and into the clear approaching the stretch. Sword Point, Group 2-placed in Australia for Chris Waller, claimed Voyage Bubble with about a furlong to race, but Super Sunny Sing was motoring home down the centre of the track and did his best running through the line with a final 400 metres in a slick :22.70. Galaxy Witness (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) earned a photo for third over Classic Mile runner-up Tuchel (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).

Super Sunny Sing is reportedly the first to win the Classic Cup while making his Classic series debut since the legendary Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) a dozen years ago.

“To get a horse to win this race makes me very happy and it relieves a lot of pressure now,” said So, who was an assistant to Caspar Fownes before going out on his own in 2013. “Today has proven that he should handle further distance, but let's see how he pulls up–if he's sound and happy, we target the Derby. We won't change too much on the programme and just keep him happy.”

A 26th stakes winner for Nicconi and first in Hong Kong, Super Sunny Sing was purchased by John Foote Bloodstock for A$48,000 at the 2020 Inglis Classic Sale. Foote also bought Galaxy Witness for A$160,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale that year. Red Centre's last listed produce is the 3-year-old Press Statement (Aus) filly Altrove (Aus), odds-on winner of a Class 1 handicap at Albury Feb. 2 and runner-up in a Class 2 this past Saturday.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP-LR, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-26, NH/SH4yo, 1800mT, 1:46.26, gd/fm.
1–SUPER SUNNY SING (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Nicconi (Aus)
1st Dam: Red Centre (Aus), by Rubiton (Aus)
2nd Dam: Land of Dreams (Aus), by Kenvain (Aus)
3rd Dam: Holograph (Aus), by Bletchingly (Aus)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (A$48,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Janice Wong Oi Ying; B-Miss J Henderson, Etak Thoroughbreds (NSW); T-Chris So Way-yin; J-Vincent Ho Chak-yiu; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 9-5-1-1, HK$10,908,900. *Formerly Axe Atkins (Aus). **1/2 to Too Many Reds (Aus) (Magic Albert {Aus}), MSP-Aus, $293,613.
2–Sword Point (Aus), 126, g, 4, American Pharoah–Jazz Song (Aus), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). (A$750,000 Ylg '20 MMGCYS). O-Li Chi Pong; B-Morning Rise Stud (Vic); T-Frankie Lor Fu-chuen; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$2,640,000.
3–Galaxy Witness (Aus), 126, g, 4, Star Witness (Aus)–Black Tulip (Aus), by Lonhro (Aus). (A$160,000 Ylg '20 MMGCYS). O-Winnie Law Wing Yin; B-Bird Rock Thoroughbreds (Vic); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Blake Shinn; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: HF, 2 1/4, NO. Odds: 12-5, 9-1, 17-1.
Also Ran: Tuchel (NZ), Flagship Warrior (Aus), Voyage Bubble (Aus), Bon's A Pearla (Aus), Sinba (Aus), Majestic Colour (Aus), La City Blanche (Arg), Sweet Encounter (NZ), Encounterd (Ire), Keefy (Aus), Beautyverse (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

The post An ‘Underdog’ Yet Again, Golden Sixty Claims Second HK Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

In a finish reminiscent of the 2014 BMW Hong Kong Derby, in which the longer-winded Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) got the better the more distance-limited Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) in the dying strides, Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) managed to reel in a very brave California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) to win the HK$24-million domestic centrepiece Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse. Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}), thrice placed at group level in New Zealand, parlayed a perfect inside trip into a third-place finish.

The speedy California Spangle, who was trying the metric mile and a quarter for the first time off a front-running tally in the Hong Kong Classic Cup over a furlong shorter last time, pinged the gates from stall 10 and did some work to cross down onto the fence, but settled nicely from there as they turned down the back. S J Tourbillon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) raced closest to the leader passing the 1200-metre point, while Money Catcher was allowed to drop in and Karis Teetan had the second-elect Romantic Warrior midfield and between horses at halfway.

Rocket Spade (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the 2021 G1 New Zealand Derby hero, loomed three wide outside of the pacemaker with three furlongs to race, but California Spangle was still going reasonably well and was the first to face the judge. Steered out into about the four path, the favourite was awkward for a stride or two, still in command, but Romantic Warrior was finding his best stride as he went on the attack outside of Mr Ascendancy (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}). Money Catcher boxed on further towards the inside, but the two Irish-breds came to settle it, with Romantic Warrior doing slightly the better work through the line. He is the first Northern Hemisphere-bred Derby winner since the aforementioned future Horse of the Year and four-times Group 1 winner Designs On Rome and is a first Derby winner for Teetan and trainer Danny Shum.

“He travelled a bit the first turn,” said the Mauritian. “I had a nice trail through until the straight and I must say I thought 'God, Zac's horse is going to be hard to get past.' This horse is a little horse, but he's got a big heart and I'm really thankful to everyone–the owner, Danny and his team.”

Shum, who saddled Playa del Puente (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) to a near-shocking defeat of Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in 2020, added: “He [Romantic Warrior] deserved to win the Derby, he is a very honest horse and very consistent. Karis did a great job, so I'm very happy. The second horse, California Spangle, also ran very good. The pace was strong and he was still fighting on the line.”

Shum said that the G1 FWD QE II Cup is next on the agenda for Romantic Warrior, a decision surely made easier given that there will be no invitees from overseas due to the pandemic. Tony Cruz will also target FWD Champions Day with California Spangle.

Romantic Warrior was perfect in his first four starts–two in Class 4 at Happy Valley and a pair in Class 3 at Sha Tin–before dashing home to best California Spangle–who was ultimately done in by his widest draw–in the Hong Kong Classic Mile Jan. 30. Roles were reversed in the Classic Cup, as Romantic Warrior was never on the track from barrier 13, while California Spangle dictated terms from a low gate and easily accounted for Turin Redsun (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), with Romantic Warrior a gallant third.

Pedigree Notes:

Romantic Warrior was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for 300,000gns from the draft of David and Henrietta Egan's Corduff Stud at Tattersalls October in 2019 by a team headed up by legendary former jockey Mick Kinane and was prepared for the 2021 Hong Kong International Sale, postponed to June by the pandemic, but for many years held on the eve of the Derby. It was the only of the sale entries that Shum recommended to owner Peter Lau, who went to HK$4.8 million (£444,729/€517,894) for the gelding.

“I would like to thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club as well for bringing this horse into the International Sale,” Shum said. “Actually, the CEO [Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges] also said to me in the stable 'This is the right one', so we picked the same horse.

“Thank you to the owner Peter Lau for really supporting the ISG Sale. He always says, 'You can buy me a good horse, but don't buy me the wrong horse.'”

Other prominent graduates of the Hong Kong International Sale include three-time G1 Hong Kong Mile hero Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan), Mile hero The Duke (Aus) (Danehill) and 'TDN Rising Star' and multiple Group 1 winner Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), the 2017 Derby runner-up.

Romantic Warrior is the third foal from his dam, a daughter of Folk Opera, whose biggest racetrack success came in the 10-furlong GI E. P. Taylor S. at Woodbine and whose resume also includes a victory in the G2 Darley Prix Jean Romanet. With the Dubai World Cup meeting straight ahead, it is interesting to note that the sires of Romantic Warrior's first two dams each has a World Cup to their credit–Street Cry in 2002 and Singspiel in the weather-delayed second running of the race in 1997.

Folk Melody's last listed produce is a 2-year-old colt of this season named Operation Gimcrack (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who fetched 160,000gns from Bryan Smart Racing at last year's Tattersalls October Sale.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BMW HONG KONG DERBY-LR, HK$24,000,000 (£2,326,771/€2,772,061/A$4,131,331/US$3,067,112), Sha Tin, 3-20, NH/SH4yo, 2000mT, 2:00.23, gd.
1–ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Acclamation (GB)
1st Dam: Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Folk Opera (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire)
3rd Dam: Skiphall (GB), by Halling
(300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 HRA '21 HKJUN). O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny Shum C S; J-Karis Teetan; HK$13,680,000. Lifetime Record: 7-6-0-0, HK$24,815,400.
2–California Spangle (Ire), 126, g, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Zac Purton; HK$5,280,000.
3–Money Catcher (NZ), 126, g, 4, Ferlax (NZ)–Warren's Sister (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus). (NZ$13,000 Wlg '18 NZBMAY; NZ$60,000 2yo '19 NZBRTR). O-The Sunflower Syndicate; B-Haunui Bloodstock Ltd; T-Frankie Lor F C; J-Derek Leung K C; HK$2,400,000.
Margins: HD, 2 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 27-10, 7-5, 34-1.
Also Ran: Senor Toba (Aus), The Irishman (NZ), Turin Redsun (GB), Crossford (Ire), Fa Fa (NZ), Nordic Sky (Brz), Champion Dragon (Ire), Ima Single Man (Aus), Mr Ascendancy (Ire), Rocket Spade (Aus), S J Tourbillon (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

The post Romantic Warrior Leads Irish-Bred 1-2 in Hong Kong Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The winner of six of his eight local starts, California Spangle made all in the Feb. 27 Classic Cup, having endured a tough trip when second to Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the Hong Kong Classic Mile back in January. But jockey Zac Purton admits that the 10 hole is not exactly what the team had in mind.

“Unfortunately, we have a number of speed runners drawn inside us who are no doubt going to try and hold their positions,” Purton said. “If I fire him out of the gate from 10 at this start to get across, maybe it gives him that signal it's time to go and he might see that corner and think he's in a 1200-metre race. It could go horribly bad for us, it's a horrible draw for us– but it is what it is.”

Roles were reversed in the Classic Cup, when Romantic Warrior was trapped out deep from a double-digit draw for the entire trip and finished a brave fourth. The Hong Kong International Sale grad fared better this time around in pulling gate eight.

“Last time he did cover a lot of ground, he was the widest horse for the whole race and he still finished off nicely so this time we are in the middle of the track,” said jockey Karis Teetan. “So if we can get a good jump and get him in a decent position, I think he should run the distance no problem and I think he will show us his nice turn of foot this time.”

A course-and-distance winner–a rare commodity in this field–Senor Toba (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) gets the blinkers on for the first time from gate three. Trainer Caspar Fownes believes the gray can improve on his running-on fifth in the Classic Cup from barrier three, which has produced four Derby winners since 2000.

“We'll always take the stats if they're in our favour and if they're not in our favour, we'll try to change them,” Fownes said. “The horse is going to have the blinkers on for the first time, we took him to the gates this morning, he's starting to know how to jump better and know what we want of him.”

The Hong Kong Derby is carded as the eighth of 10 races Sunday at Sha Tin and jumps at 4.40pm local time (9.40am BST).

The post Diabolical Derby Draw for California Spangle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

A 300,000gns purchase by the Hong Kong Jockey Club at Tattersalls October in 2019 and later re-sold for HK$4.8 million at the unique Hong Kong International Sale, Romantic Warrior annexed his first three starts, each over six furlongs, and proved easily best when trying 1400 metres for the first time Jan. 16. The third choice for the Hong Kong Classic Mile a fortnight later, the bay worked out a good trip with Karis Teetan aboard for the first time and ran past long-time leader California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) for a half-length tally. He'll need to negotiate another 200 metres this time, but he has the full confidence of his jockey.

“Of course, it is in the back of our minds that he is stepping up in distance again but he's a progressive horse–I galloped him on Saturday [19 February] and he went really well, he is in good shape and I think the distance will be ok, because he can relax and he has a nice turn of foot,” the Mauritian said.

California Spangle was tasting defeat for just the second time in the Classic Mile, just failing to last after setting a decent pace. Matthew Chadwick was in the irons on the final Sunday of January, but Zac Purton–who is back on top of the jockeys' premiership–takes over this time around for trainer Tony Cruz.

The Irishman (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) tracked Romantic Warrior through in the Classic Mile and stayed on well enough to be third, with longshot Turin Redstar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) a further 1 3/4 lengths back in fourth. Twice placed at group level in Australia, the bay is bred on the cross over Zabeel (NZ) responsible for former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) and should have no queries where it comes to this trip and beyond.

Senor Toba (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) has acquitted himself nicely in the deep Class 2 waters locally, having finished third going a mile on International Day Dec. 12 before scoring over the Derby distance of 2000 metres Dec. 27. He was scratched lame out of an intended start Feb. 3, but whatever he does here should bring him on for the BMW Hong Kong Derby in a month's time.

The post Romantic Warrior Shoots For Six Straight In Classic Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), a graduate of the unique Hong Kong International Sale, took his record to five-from-five with a tough victory over pacesetting California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in Sunday's HK$12-million Hong Kong Classic Mile, the first of three legs of the 4YO Series in the jurisdiction. The Irishman (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) rallied from midfield to finish a clear third.

Winner of five of his six starts, California Spangle–the top-rated galloper in the field–crossed and cleared his rivals from barrier 13 and set a reasonable gallop, as Karis Teetan aboard Romantic Warrior made full use of the rail draw to scrape paint down the back from a centerfield position. California Spangle, trying a distance beyond 1200 metres for the first time, went for home traveling nicely, but Teetan threaded the needle on Romantic Warrior at the quarter pole and was poised behind the pacesetter in upper stretch. A touch one-paced into the final furlong, Romantic Warrior knuckled down to split rivals and was doing his best work through the line. California Spangle, the only member of this 14-strong field without a BMW Hong Kong Derby entry, easily held second from The Irishman, who finished well while no menace to the top two. Turin Redstar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a two-time winner and sixth in the Brittania H. at Royal Ascot for John and Thady Gosden last June when raced as Mithras, made good ground from well back to be an eye-catching fourth at cricket-score odds.

“He had the draw and I think it helped him,” Teetan said. “I just wanted to follow California Spangle and I knew he would take me into the race but when this horse got the clear run, he really let down and I think he's got a very bright future. Man, the last 100 metres, when he got a clear run, he gave me a really good feel.”

Romantic Warrior was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for 300,000gns from the draft of David and Henrietta Egan's Corduff Stud at Tattersalls October in 2019 by a team headed up by legendary former jockey Mick Kinane. He is the third foal from his dam, a daughter of Folk Opera, whose biggest racetrack success came in the 10-furlong GI E. P. Taylor S. at Woodbine and whose resume also includes a victory in the G2 Darley Prix Jean Romanet. Folk Melody's last listed produce is a 2-year-old colt of this season named Operation Gimcrack (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who fetched 160,000gns from Bryan Smart Racing at last year's Tattersalls October Sale.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
HONG KONG CLASSIC MILE-LR, HK$12,000,000 (£1,149,106/€1,381,100/A$2,200,825/US$1,539,981), Sha Tin, 1-30, NH/SH4yo, 1600mT, 1:33.80, gd.
1–ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Acclamation (GB)
1st Dam: Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Folk Opera (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire)
3rd Dam: Skiphall (GB), by Halling
1ST STAKES WIN. (300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 2yo '21 HKJUN). O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny Shum Chap-Shing; J-Karis Teetan; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0, HK$10,415,400.
2–California Spangle (Ire), 126, g, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony Cruz; J-Matthew Chadwick; HK$2,640,000.
3–The Irishman (NZ), 126, g, 4, Tavistock (NZ)–Zeranti (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ). (NZ$170,000 Ylg '19 NZBJAN). O-Edmond Lee Man Bun; B-Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan; T-Francis Lui Kin-Wai; J-Vincent Ho Chak-Yiu; HK$1,380,000.
Margins: HF, 1 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 39-10, 18-5, 34-5.
Also Ran: Turin Redsun (GB), Ima Single Man (Aus), Sight Spirit (Aus), Setanta (Aus), Lucky With You (Aus), Blaze Warrior (Aus), Rocket Space (Aus), Master Delight (Aus), Fa Fa (NZ), Cobhfield (Ire), Packing Victory (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

WATCH: Romantic Warrior makes it five on the trot in the Classic Mile

The post Acclamation’s Romantic Warrior Remains Perfect In Classic Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

South Africa's three-time champion jockey was one of three riders taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital after his mount Amazing Star broke down and fell, bringing down three other horses who were unable to avoid him.

Zac Purton, who suffered four fractured ribs and a broken nose, and Yuichi Fukunaga (broken collarbone) were also hospitalized while Amazing Star and Naboo Attack had to be put down. The fourth jockey involved, Karis Teetan, was unscathed.

Hewitson, 23, suffered a fractured hip, sustained cuts to his elbow and head trauma but said there were “no issues to worry about”.

He said: “I'm in no pain at all just lying in my hospital bed. I only feel pain when I need to adjust or move as it refers straight to/from my pelvis area where the fracture is.

“The doctors are happy with it saying it's a convenient fracture that will heal without surgery and without issues. I've got some stitches on my left elbow as well. My CT scans on my head are stable. I just need some rest and rehab now.”

Hewitson's news was welcomed by Purton, Hong Kong's four-time champion jockey, who admitted he had initially feared for his colleague.

“It was an awful incident,” he said, speaking to Australian broadcaster Andrew Bensley. “I was worried for Lyle Hewitson because he was the first one to go in front of me. When he hit the ground, he just lay there like a pancake.

“He didn't bounce at all and that's normally a pretty bad sign when that happens, whereas I was able to roll a little bit. Even though I was in a bad spot, and a bit of pain, I was a little bit worried about how Lyle hit the ground. Because I was in so much pain I couldn't go over to see him or check on any other riders.”

Purton was optimistic about his own situation and said he hoped to leave hospital on Monday.

He said: “I feel pretty good. I've got four fractured ribs, three on one side, one on the other. I have a fractured nose, which probably doesn't mean anything because it was always a bit wonky anyway and I have a bit of a sore wrist so I'm waiting to get an MRI on that. I am pretty lucky really.”

Purton, who was riding the favorite Lucky Patch, said there was no way of avoiding Amazing Star.

“I had nowhere to go and I had no time to react, it happened that quick,” he said.

“I was quite close up behind him. When he went there was only one place for me to go and that was straight over the top of him. The two horses following us as well had no option either. They were in that running line and the domino effect happened.”

He added: “I have a really big haematoma on my right biceps and I have a mark on my right wrist where there is an imprint of a shoe so the horse has stepped on my bicep then my wrist and that's where I felt the pain initially.

“Then I've got another mark on my left thigh muscle where I must have been hit or stepped on. Then I have the ribs where the horse has either kicked or squeezed me to the ground. I was winded quite badly and I have a bang mark on my right foot.”

Fukunaga, who was riding Pixie Knight, has been released from hospital and returned to Japan. Pixie Knight was reported to have suffered a fracture to his left front knee.

This story was reprinted with permission by Horse Racing Planet. Find the original piece and more content here.

The post Jockeys Recovering From ‘Awful Incident’ During Hong Kong International Races appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The third-roughest chance in a field of seven, Panfield bounced well and settled in the one-by-one position, outside of Glorious Dragon (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and on the back of Exultant as Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) led at a walking pace passing halfway. Ridden quietly into the final three furlongs by Karis Teetan, Panfield came three deep into the lane, went by Exultant with a bit less than 300 metres to travel and dug deep as the Joao Moreira-ridden Columbus County took a run at him late. It was a first Group 1 winner for trainer Tony Millard since the outstanding Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) took out the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup in 2013.

“At the 700 [-metre mark], I knew this horse would go right through the line because he literally dropped down a gear and started to motor home,” Teetan said. “[But] you know when Joao comes next to you in a race, you know you've got a hard battle. In those big ones, he's come next to me a few times and he's got the better of me and I was like 'C'mon, Joao, not today,' and it pays off.”

Panfield is the first Hong Kong stakes winner for his Ashford Stud-based stallion, whose only other locally based runner Hongkong Great (Chi), also a three-time Group 1 winner in Chile, recently set a new track record for the extended mile on dirt and may target important main-track races overseas.

WATCH: Panfield outlasts Columbus County in the Champions & Chater

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
STANDARD CHARTERED CHAMPIONS & CHATER CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000 (£1,093,684/€1,267,086/A$1,991,998/US$1,545,829), Sha Tin, 5-23, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:25.25, gd/fm.
1–PANFIELD (CHI), 126, c, 4, by Lookin At Lucky
1st Dam: Esterina (Arg), by Orpen
2nd Dam: Escoradita (Arg), by Johnny's Prospect
3rd Dam: Escorada, by Mari's Book
O-Yue Yin Hing; B-Agricola Taomina Ltda; T-Tony Millard;
J-Karis Teetan; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Chi,
12-6-1-1, HK$13,334,190. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Columbus County (NZ), 126, g, 5, Redwood (GB)–Spirit of
Sandford (NZ), by Kilimanjaro (GB). (NZ$33,000 Ylg '17
NZBFEB). O-Mr & Mrs Hamen Fan Shi Hoo, Alex Fan Chen Yen
& Christina Fan Chen Mun; B-D W Mayers & Mrs S J Taylor;
T-Caspar Fownes; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,640,000.
3–Exultant (Ire), 126, g, 7, Teofilo (Ire)–Contrary (Ire), by Mark
of Esteem (Ire). O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau
Hing; B-Ballygallon Stud; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton;
HK$1,200,000.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 2. Odds: 17-1, 11-5, 7-5.
Also Ran: Butterfield (Brz), Glorious Dragon (Ire), Russian Emperor (Ire), Packing Waltham (Fr), Time Warp (GB).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

Courier Wonder Lives Up to Expectations…

Courier Wonder (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) announced himself as a potential G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint horse Sunday afternoon, taking full advantage of the race's handicap conditions to win the G3 Sha Tin Vase at Sha Tin. He remained perfect in five runs as the prohibitive favourite.

Rousted along early, the 3-year-old dropped into a perfect position, racing with cover on the circle–at times a touch keenly–and was angled out into the three path at the quarter pole. Joao Moreira had to get busy on his mount to get past Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), but he gained command and held off Stronger (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) while in receipt of 12 pounds from that rival. Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), also carrying 130 pounds, got home well for third.

“I'm very excited [for next season], he's the type of horse that everyone dreams to have,” Moreira said. “In the straight, I pulled him out and he dashed home as he always does–good horses like him give jockeys an amazing feeling. When we first started turning, he got a bit lost and wanted to run out today, shying away from the other horses, but as we progressed he started to relax, which is fantastic.”

Trainer John Size indicated Courier Wonder is done for the season, with a prep towards December's international races meeting in the offing.

A full-brother to last month's G1 Doncaster Mile runner-up Icebath (NZ), Courier Wonder is the fifth stakes winner–all at group level–for his late sire (by O'Reilly {NZ}). Fabulist is the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Tivaci (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and produced fillies by Sacred Falls in 2019 and 2020.

WATCH: Courier Wonder makes it five straight in the Sha Tin Vase

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
SHA TIN VASE H.-G3, HK$4,000,000 (£318,554/€370,119/A$583,102/US$450,791), Sha Tin, 5-23, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.16, gd/fm.
1–COURIER WONDER (NZ), 118, g, 4, by Sacred Falls (NZ)
1st Dam: Fabulist (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus)
2nd Dam: Fontaine (NZ), by Centaine (Aus)
3rd Dam: Water Garden (Aus), by Bellwater (Fr)
1ST STAKES WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. (NZ$150,000 Ylg '19
NZBJAN). O-Mr & Mrs Chadwick Mok Cham Hung; B-Waikato
Stud Ltd; T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,495,000. Lifetime
Record: 5-5-0-0, HK$7,029,000. *1/2 to Nowyousee (NZ)
(O'Reilly {NZ}), SW-Sin, $441,970; Just Fabulous (NZ) (O'Reilly
{NZ}), GSP-NZ; full to Icebath (NZ), G1SP-Aus, $1,675,812.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Stronger (Aus), 130, g, 4, Not A Single Doubt (Aus)–Star Pupil
(Aus), by Starcraft (NZ). (A$1,050,000 Ylg '18 INGEAS).
O-Cheung Hon Kit, Joanna Cheung Wai Size & Jonathan
Cheung Yu Shing; B-Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd & Planette
Thoroughbred (NSW); T-Douglas Whyte; J-Vincent Ho;
HK$770,000.
3–Sky Field (Aus), 130, g, 4, Deep Field (Aus)–Laravissante (NZ),
by O'Reilly (NZ). (NZ$175,000 Ylg '18 NZBJAN). O-Kwan Shiu
Man, Jessica Kwan Mun Hang & Jeffrey Kwan Chun Ming;
B-M Ryan (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Blake Shinn;
HK$402,500.
Margins: 3/4, HF, NO. Odds: 15-100, 24-1, 18-1.
Also Ran: Duke Wai (NZ), Computer Patch (Aus), Voyage Warrior (Aus), Rattan (NZ), Fat Turtle (Aus), Wishful Thinker (Aus).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

The post Panfield Ascends To New Heights in Champions & Chater Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Three of the six jockeys that will fly the flag for Hong Kong are past winners of the IJC, including Joao Moreira, who was based in Singapore when he defeated now arch-rival Zac Purton to scoop the top prize in 2012. There is a home-field advantage, the ‘Magic Man’ believes, but he is taking nothing for granted.

“There’s no doubt it’s going to be a very interesting jockeys’ challenge,” Moreira said. “I have no doubt local jockeys have the advantage of riding every day on the city track, but don’t forget these jockeys are coming over here, they are high quality jockeys and they are able to adapt very quickly, understand and pick up from everybody, even watching replays. Luck is going to play a lot of luck in this game.”

Among Moreira’s best chances should come in the second leg of the competition aboard Royal Racer (Aus) (Dreamscape {Aus}), whose three career victories have come around the city circuit and who was ridden by Moreira to a course-and-distance success Nov. 25.

Karis Teetan won his first HKIR race in 2018 when steering Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) to victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, and he defeated Ryan Moore to win last year’s IJC. The Mauritian is looking forward to defending his title and says his victory put added wind in his sails.

“I would say winning the challenge helped me even in Hong Kong, more owners have seen me on the big stage and trainers have noticed, even now and it’s a big challenge and of course to win it was something really special,” said Teetan, currently third in the local jockeys’ premiership behind Moreira (49) and Purton (28) with 25 winners.

Also representing Hong Kong are Neil Callan, Vincent Ho and Alexis Badel.

Moore, who rides Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in Sunday’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, looks to add to his 2010 IJC title and is joined by the in-form duo of Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle. The latter has landed one of the plum rides in any of the four IJC legs, as she was selected at random to guide the David Hayes-trained Harmony N Blessed (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}) in the final race of the series. The 4-year-old led every step of the way to break his maiden at first asking as the $2.50 (3-2) favourite going 1200 metres at Sha Tin Nov. 22.

The remaining visiting riders include Mickael Barzalona, two-time Breeders’ Cup winner Pierre-Charles Boudot and William Buick.

The Wednesday program at Happy Valley commences at 6.30pm local time (10.30am BST, 5.30am US Eastern time) with the first of the IJC races set to jump at 8.10. Click for the HKJC form guide.

The post Longines IJC Gets HKIR Week Rolling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The exciting line-up includes four previous winners of the world's most sought-after jockey challenge, including Zac Purton and Joao Moreira, both multiple champions on the world's most intensely competitive circuit. Purton and Moreira will both be chasing a second LONGINES IJC victory, as will last year's IJC victor and fellow Hong Kong-based rider Karis Teetan, while Ryan Moore returns to the spectacular city circuit seeking a record-equaling third IJC title.

The HK$800,000 (about US$100,000) LONGINES IJC is a four-race competition for 12 elite jockeys, and this year's edition features six overseas riders and six based in Hong Kong, all battling for the HK$500,000 (about US$65,000) top prize, the most lucrative jockeys' challenge winner's check in the world.

Also among the exciting overseas cast are Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle. The British duo, aged 22 and 24 respectively, sealed third and fourth place in the 2020 British Flat Racing Jockeys Championship, and will join the contest for the first time as two of world racing's most rapidly ascending stars.

Marquand's G1-winning exploits in Europe and Australia over the last 12 months have seen him become one of the most in-demand young riders on the planet. His major wins include a G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes success aboard globetrotting star Addeybb at Ascot, as well as back-to-back G1 triumphs aboard that horse in Australia.

Doyle, meanwhile, following a spectacular British season, will become only the third female rider – after Emma-Jayne Wilson in 2007 and Chantal Sutherland in 2009 – to take part in the IJC.   Her total of 129 (as at 18 November) wins for the calendar year is a record for a female rider in Britain, while her headline-grabbing double on Champions Day at Ascot included a first G1 victory aboard Glen Shiel in the British Champions Sprint Stakes.

Leading homegrown rider Vincent Ho will join Moreira, Purton and Teetan representing Hong Kong. The 30-year-old ace enjoyed a personal best season last term with 67 wins, including a clean sweep of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series aboard the brilliant Golden Sixty. He also notched a first G1 success as Southern Legend edged Beauty Generation in a thrilling edition of the FWD Champions Mile.

Last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winning jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot heads back to Hong Kong in outstanding form. He is poised to complete his third French championship and is buoyant from two more G1 successes at the recent Breeders' Cup in Kentucky.

Godolphin's leading man William Buick is another who is riding at the top of his game and will arrive in Hong Kong at the end of a year highlighted by three G1 successes aboard the world's highest rated horse Ghaiyyath, while Mickael Barzalona became one of the youngest riders ever to win the Derby when Pour Moi won at Epsom in 2011 and added another Classic success to his record this year when Andre Fabre's Victor Ludorum won the French 2000 Guineas.

The final two spots on the 12-rider roster for the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship will be filled by the next two jockeys – who are eligible for selection – with the most wins on the Hong Kong jockeys' championship table. This announcement will be made following the Happy Valley race meeting on Wednesday, 25 November.

Visiting riders will undergo multiple COVID-19 tests before travelling to Hong Kong and upon arrival will go straight into their designated accommodation under strict quarantine to ensure no contact with the community. They will also be under continuous medical surveillance by the Club's Chief Medical Officer – including daily COVID-19 tests and twice daily temperature checks – and on IJC night at Happy Valley, the visiting riders will occupy a separate jockeys' rooms away from the Hong Kong-based riders.

Mr. Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Racing, said: “This year's LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship has all the factors in place to be a classic edition. We have a fantastic line-up of gifted riders, and a young duo in Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle competing for the first time will add even greater excitement to what is always a thrilling contest.

“The Hong Kong Jockey Club has succeeded again in putting together an outstanding cast of riders and we are looking forward to a great night of sport set against the backdrop of one of the most iconic racecourses in the world.”

“We are so pleased that, with strict protocols in place, the event can be a truly international occasion. The prize money increases, which make this year's edition the richest yet, further reinforcing the prestige associated with the event.”

Further prize money increases and incentives 

The LONGINES IJC remains the most prestigious jockey challenge in the world and the most lucrative for the winning rider.

The four races are worth a combined HK$6 million in prize money, which represents a 20 percent increase for the designated races. Meanwhile, a total prize fund of HK$800,000 in bonus money for the most successful riders will be split three ways, with the winner set to receive HK$500,000 and second and third HK$200,000 and HK$100,000 respectively.

In addition, trainers have an added incentive to target their horses at IJC races this year thanks to a new bonus scheme which will pay HK$200,000, HK$100,000 and HK$50,000 respectively to the three handlers who achieve the highest number of points across the four races, using the same scale as employed for the jockeys.

The four-race competition works on a points-based system with 12 points for a winner, six points for second place and four points for a third. The ranking of each jockey will be determined by the total number of points earned over all four races and the IJC champion will be the jockey with the highest accumulated points.

The Club has developed a new model to increase the probability of a more even distribution of winning chances.

Rides in previous IJC competitions have been allocated by a random ballot taking each jockey's minimum riding weight into account. However, this year's edition will feature a new process of allocating rides with a model having been developed which is designed to make the contest as competitive as possible and to reduce the risk of individual riders, being dealt a particularly strong or weak hand.

The minimum riding weight for IJC races remains at 116lb with a maximum of 2lb overweight allowed. If there are more than 12 entries for a race, the Club's handicappers will use their discretion to give preference to horses who have shown reasonable recent form. This will form the basis for a process in which each rider will be allocated four rides based on an estimated average of each horse's chance as supplied by the Club's Jockey Challenge odds-compiling team.

The odds-compiling team will assess the credentials of every runner in advance and, without knowing who will ride each horse, will submit their final assessments once the barrier draw is made on the morning of Monday, 7 December.

In the case of a dead-heat for any of the first three placings, points will be added and then divided by the number of horses involved. In the IJC, substitute jockeys are eligible for points and if a countback is required it will go back to fourth place. Homegrown jockeys with 2lb or 3lb claims are eligible for selection for the IJC but there will be no claiming allowance in the four IJC races. Apprentice jockeys do not qualify for selection.

List of invited jockeys for 2020 LONGINES IJC

The post Tom Marquand, Hollie Doyle Among Rising Stars Invited To International Jockeys’ Championship appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post