Time for Whyte’s Me to claim first Hong Kong win October 25, 2024 THIS Sunday brings something different for racing enthusiasts in Hong Kong, when city track Happy Valley hosts its solitary weekend fixture of the season, with a cracking 10-race programme starting at the twilight hour of 4.45am. The feature race on the card, the Class Two Guangzhou Handicap (9.50am) over six furlongs, includes some of the [...]
Five no Gimme but has decent chance under Purton October 25, 2024 THERE doesn’t seem to be a race meeting in Hong Kong that goes by where reigning champion jockey Zac Purton does not ride a winner. In fact, the Zac-Man has visited the winners’ circle at nine out of the last 10 fixtures, and with 28 wins already the season, already looks to hold an unassailable [...]
Futurity rivals may struggle to Detain Gosden contender October 22, 2024 DONCASTER is the setting for the final Group One of the British Flat season this weekend, the William Hill Futurity Stakes (2.40pm). In recent years this mile contest has had a real impact on the Classics the following season, with three of the last five winners – Auguste Rodin, Mac Swiney and Kameko – all [...]
Drama can upset Skelton big gun in the Old Roan October 22, 2024 SUNDAY’S Old Roan at Aintree (1.50pm) is another clear indicator that the Jumps season is firmly kicking into gear, as we regularly see some of the best jumpers around use the race to start their campaigns. The great Kauto Star began his magical 2006-2007 Gold Cup-winning season with victory in the event, but also managed [...]
Ambitious Fownes can be Delighted by Capital’s Talent October 22, 2024 LOCAL racing enthusiasts can look forward to an eight-race programme under lights on the all-weather surface at Sha Tin in Hong Kong today. It has been mentioned on numerous occasions in the past that racegoers from the city always look upon racing on the dirt surface with a great deal of suspicion, with so many [...]
No Fluke about Newnham’s swift Hong Kong success October 22, 2024 THERE is just no stopping trainer Mark Newnham in only his second season in Hong Kong. The former assistant to legendary Australian handler Gai Waterhouse always looked like he was going to make his mark in the territory, judged on his first season exploits of 31 winners and, at present, is firing in winners left, right and [...]
Ka Ying Rising the one to beat in Sha Tin showdown October 18, 2024 BILLED in the city as the ‘Showdown at Sha Tin’, the Group Two Premier Bowl (9.10am) over six furlongs, is the main event on a highly competitive and entertaining 10-race programme in Hong Kong on Sunday morning. Present local champion sprinter California Spangle locks horns with new kid on the block, Ka Ying Rising, a [...]
Strong Patch of Wind can fill Sunstrider’s sails October 18, 2024 LOCAL bettors have had a good time of late with plenty of favourable results lining their pockets with cash and sending them home with smiles on their faces. That was until Happy Valley in midweek, when a series of surprise results including Perfect General and Healthy Healthy, who both had over £1 million bet on [...]
Cheval has the X Facteur on heavy ground October 15, 2024 SINCE being introduced in 2011, Ascot’s British Champions Day fixture has provided the chance to see many stars of the Flat season for a final time before attention turns to the Jumps. Recent rain has turned the Ascot going soft and with up to 17mm of rain forecast for Friday, the conditions could be attritional [...]
More rain the better for Iresine and Quantanamera October 15, 2024 SATURDAY’S feature race, the Group One Champion Stakes (3.55pm), sees an intriguing clash between the hugely exciting Economics and emphatic Royal Ascot winner Calandagan. The former broke through at the highest level in the Irish version of this last time, while the latter was the only one to ruffle City Of Troy’s feathers in the [...]