All singing and all Dancing for Fownes’ Code June 13, 2023 BE READY for the unexpected once again when Hong Kong racing gets under way with a midweek nine-race programme at Happy Valley. Over the past six weeks or so, unpredictable weather patterns of sweltering heat, followed by intermittent heavy rain and thunderstorms, have caused chaos for regular form book students, with surface conditions turning from [...]
Resurgent Man free to Hunt more success at the Valley June 13, 2023 FOR A trainer who was set to be put out to grass and retired by the end of the season, due to the maximum 65-year-old age rule, Manfred Man has seen his fortunes turn full-circle. His association with the current highest-rated sprinter in the world, Lucky Sweynesse, has seen the Hong Kong Jockey Club waver [...]
All systems go for Royal Ascot as Wellington trials well at Sha Tin June 13, 2023 HONG Kong-based trainer Richard Gibson has declared “it’s all systems go” for Wellington to embark on a Royal Ascot tilt next week after Hong Kong’s reigning Champion Sprinter cruised through a five-furlong turf trial at Sha Tin this morning. Preparing for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on 24 June, Wellington finished half a [...]
Wong set for another Winwin at Sha Tin June 9, 2023 FORMER HKJC graduate and claiming rider Ellis Wong could be set for a memorable day when arriving at Sha Tin for a 10-race programme on Saturday. Wong has already made his mark since joining the jockeys’ roster over a month ago, with two wins from just 15 rides, and is earning plenty of plaudits along [...]
Sage advice would be to go with Invincible June 9, 2023 TRAINER David Hayes has made no secret that he expects his highly-progressive three-year-old Lucky Encounter to complete a hat-trick in the Pok Fu Lam Country Park Handicap (1.10pm) over six furlongs. Hayes have been particularly bullish about the prospects of his Australian import, following his latest success when leading all the way, and beating Reward [...]
EP: 205 Haydock, Beverley & Hong Kong June 9, 2023 Haydock stages two Group 3 races, including the John of Gaunt Stakes on Saturday, plus a clash of the sprinters in the Achilles Stakes. In Yorkshire, two-year-olds feature at Beverley as we look forward to the Hilary Needler Trophy and the Two Year Old Trophy, both run over five furlongs. City AM Racing editor Bill [...]
The Punter Summary Podcast 10 June June 9, 2023 Here’s your chance to hear all of City AM racing editor Bill Esdaile’s best weekend tips in a short summary episode of ‘The Punter Podcast’ alongside Chris Barnett. The full weekend preview is also available on the City AM website. The Punter ‘The Punter’ has been City AM’s dedicated sports betting section for over a [...]
Fingers Crossed for a big-Sized Valley Reward June 6, 2023 ONCE again bettors on Hong Kong racing will need to keep a watchful eye on the weather when the midweek meeting at Happy Valley gets underway with a nine-race programme. With rain and thunderstorms forecast to hit the territory for 48 hours, starting on Tuesday, some gallopers arriving at the inner-city track could find themselves [...]
Turin Mascot could turn out to be Pierre Ng’s lucky charm June 6, 2023 SERIOUS form book students are once again faced by the dilemma of perennial place-getter Rocket Spade seeking to defy top-weight and record an overdue first Hong Kong win in the Sam Chuk Handicap (2.45pm) over nine furlongs. The former New Zealand Derby winner has had his supporters tearing their hair out with frustration this season, [...]
Take four outsiders to cause Derby shock June 2, 2023 WE ALL know that one man usually dominates the headlines in Flat racing, but if Frankie Dettori wins today’s Derby (1.30pm), then it really will be a story that not only takes over the back pages of tomorrow’s newspapers, but likely the front ones too. The Italian has pretty much won everything there is to [...]