Tag Archive for: Hong Kong

The Foxes camp have cunning plan to chase more foreign riches

/in /by

The Foxes could be set for more overseas action after a gallant fourth-place finish in the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin.

The Andrew Balding-trained colt is owned by King Power Racing and won the Dante at York last year before finishing fifth in the Derby and narrowly missing out on landing the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes.

This season, he had to wait until November to get his head back in front when winning the Listed Churchill Stakes on the all-weather at Newcastle, a run that set him up nicely for his Sha Tin foray.

In Hong Kong, he was drawn widest of all in stall 11 under Oisin Murphy, but still ran with great credit when passing plenty of his rivals in the home straight to claim fourth place behind local hero Romantic Warrior.

He takes home over £240,000 in prize money for his efforts and could gather more with further lucrative fixtures in warmer climes under consideration before the Winter Derby.

“We were really pleased with his run, he was drawn very awkwardly in stall 11 of 11, so we had no choice but to go back,” said Alastair Donald, racing manager to the owner.

“He had a lot of ground to make up on the leaders, with a kinder draw he would have been a close third, but he still won a lot of prize money and it was well worth the trip.

“He should have won a Group One in America, he was very unlucky there, he’s had a few reasons for his lesser runs this year, so it’s good to have him back to his best now.

“When he was in Saudi, he just wasn’t happy, but in Hong Kong he was relaxed and at his best, there are a lot of options for him now.

“There are potential races in Qatar and Dubai and then there’s also the Winter Derby. We’re just going to weigh up how he is over the next few weeks and then decide what the final plan for him is over the winter.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Luxembourg aiming to finish on a high in Hong Kong

/in /by

Luxembourg will try to end his career on a high when he lines up in Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin.

The five-year-old will take up stallion duties in the new year and bows out a Group One winner in each of his four seasons racing, with this year’s top-level strike coming in the Coronation Cup at Epsom back in May.

He has been unplaced in three subsequent runs, most recently when sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar, and moves up to 12 furlongs in the Vase this time after being beaten just a short head by Romantic Warrior in the shorter Hong Kong Cup last year.

Luxembourg (first left) with his Aidan O'Brien stablemates at Sha Tin
Luxembourg (first left) with his Aidan O’Brien stablemates at Sha Tin (HKJC)

O’Brien said: “We thought he ran a great race last year. He’s a very high-class horse. Last year he was coming home very well and he was just beaten on the line, it looked as if we’d had run him over a mile and a half it would have suited him.

“He ran a very good race in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, much better than you’d think. He’s off to stud after this. He’s been a great horse, big, strong and consistent. Obviously, he wasn’t always first string, but we’re looking forward to it, see what happens.”

O’Brien has previously won the race with dual scorer Highland Reel (2015 and 2017) and Mogul (2020) and he has another string to his bow in last year’s St Leger winner Continuous, although he has struggled to find his stride this season.

Continuous won last year's St Leger at Doncaster
Continuous won last year’s St Leger at Doncaster (Tim Goode/PA)

“Continuous is probably more forward than he’s been all year,” the trainer added.

“Things haven’t really worked for him yet this year but he is in good form, very happy with his work. A mile and a half and nice ground should be fine for him.”

The Marco Botti-trained Giavellotto and William Haggas’ Dubai Honour also line up, with Iresine and Marquisat running for French handlers Jean-Pierre Gauvin and Andre Fabre respectively.

O’Brien will be represented in the Longines Hong Kong Cup in which local favourite Romantic Warrior is a short price to claim an unprecedented third victory.

Yorkshire Oaks winner Content and Breeders’ Cup Turf fifth Wingspan line up for the Ballydoyle trainer in a race which also features Andrew Balding’s The Foxes and Spirit Dancer, who is hunting another big international prize for Richard Fahey and his ownership group that includes Sir Alex Ferguson.

Content claimed the Yorkshire Oaks in August
Content claimed the Yorkshire Oaks in August (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We had the choice of the races for Wingspan and we think the mile and a quarter will be fine for her,” O’Brien said.

“Content can be keen and we think the pace of the race will suit her. She ran in America last time (sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf) and the pace wasn’t really fast enough for her. We thought going back will suit and get her relaxed.”

Docklands will wear blinkers for the first time in the Longines Hong Kong Mile after two Australian runs for Harry Eustace, having found Via Sistina a tough nut to crack in both the Cox Plate and Champions Stakes.

Eustace told Grosvenor Sport: “We are going to use the blinkers with him on Sunday for the first time in a race. Even though he’s coming here after what might look like middling runs on paper, we have reason to believe there’s more to come from him. Back to the mile, blinkers on, and with a top international jockey in Mark Zahra booked, we can’t wait for Sunday.

“I think he will be a good each-way bet. He always turns up, and for me, he ran two excellent races in Australia, and he hasn’t thrown in a dud yet. He’s a solid chance of running into the places.”

Eustace added: “There’s no doubt that he’s earnt a holiday after his travels! He’ll return to the UK after this run and understandably we’ll have our eyes firmly fixed on the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot again. We’ll see what we do after that, but it’s no secret that we’d love to come back to Australia. Fingers crossed for a big run on Sunday to round off what’s been one hell of a trip.”

Starlust goes for gold in the Hong Kong Sprint
Starlust goes for gold in the Hong Kong Sprint (HKJC)

Ramadan changed hands for €1.5million after winning at the Arc meeting and he makes what is likely to be his first and only start for James Ferguson, as he is due to continue his career in Hong Kong.

Breeders’ Cup winner Starlust represents trainer Ralph Beckett and jockey Rossa Ryan in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint but will have to contend with local sensation Ka Ying Rising.

Beckett said: “We’ve come to the conclusion that a flat track around a bend suits him best so the way it sets up here is ideal for him. He came out of Del Mar in good shape.

“Everything went his way that day at Del Mar, I’m well aware of that, but you’ve still got to get it done and he did. I think there’s a good chance he’ll run well on Sunday, but we shall see whether that’s good enough.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Hollie Doyle enjoys joint-second place in Hong Kong jockeys’ challenge

/in /by

Britain’s Hollie Doyle finished an honourable joint-second behind runaway winner Mickael Barzalona in the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Victory in the third leg on board Soleil Fighter earned Doyle 12 points and despite failing to score in any of the other three races, that was enough to see her finish best of the rest alongside New Zealand’s James McDonald.

However, French rider Barzalona was streets ahead on 30 points following wins on Sergeant Pepper and Aurora Lady in the first and fourth legs, plus a second place in race two behind McDonald’s mount Prince Alex.

Mickael Barzalona celebrates his Happy Valley success
Mickael Barzalona celebrates his Happy Valley success (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Ireland’s Colin Keane was fourth with 10 points thanks to a couple of placed efforts, while William Buick finished sixth in the table.

Doyle became the first female jockey to win a leg of the prestigious challenge event in 2020, when finishing tied for third overall, and was the IJC runner-up 12 months later.

The 28-year-old was clearly a favourite among the fans at Happy Valley and her supporters were celebrating when she scored by a neck on the David Haynes-trained Soleil Fighter.

“I think David gave me my first winner in the Longines IJC, so it’s nice to get him another one,” said Doyle. “The horse was very tough; he does need things to fall right, but they did.”

Hollie Doyle winning at Happy Valley on Soleil Fighter
Hollie Doyle winning at Happy Valley on Soleil Fighter (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Barzalona became the third French rider to lift the trophy following Christophe Lemaire (2009) and Olivier Peslier (1998 and 2006).

Going to post for the final leg, four other jockeys were in with a chance of at least matching his tally at that point, but he made sure of topping the table with a decisive victory on the Pierre Ng-trained Aurora Lady, despite having to start out wide from stall 12.

“Pierre was quite confident in Aurora Lady’s chances after he disappointed at Sha Tin last time when things didn’t work out,” said Barzalona.

“He’s been unlucky a couple of times recently and given we were drawn wide, he told me to try to get forward, as long as they didn’t go mad early on. I trusted my horse and he didn’t let me down.”

 



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Keane chasing International Jockeys’ Championship success

/in /by

Irish champion jockey Colin Keane is thrilled to be heading back to Hong Kong to take part in the International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley for a third time.

Keane won a sixth domestic title in 2024, his fifth in succession, and backed it up with Group One wins on Babouche for his boss Ger Lyons in the Phoenix Stakes, White Birch in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and he was called up by David Menuisier to stand in for Oisin Murphy when Tamfana won the Sun Chariot Stakes.

He then went out to Del Mar to win on Lyons’ Magnum Force in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and is eagerly looking forward to the competition on December 4.

“I’m delighted to get the invitation to go back again for the international jockeys’ challenge after riding in it twice before Covid,” Keane said.

“It was a very unique experience, with the racetrack in the middle of the city and a great atmosphere and occasion. I rode a winner on my first ride there in the first challenge race in 2018 and was lucky enough to win another leg in 2019.

“It would cap what has been a brilliant year if I could win it this time – I will be hoping I get the luck of the draw with the horses I get in the four races.

“It’s a privilege to get the invite again to round off such a great year, being champion in Ireland again and riding the big winners for the boss, including another Breeders’ Cup success this month.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Giavellotto reported ‘in great form’ for Hong Kong adventure

/in /by

Oisin Murphy has been lined up to maintain his partnership with Giavellotto in the Hong Kong Vase on Sunday, December 8.

Marco Botti’s five-year-old entire enjoyed a fine season, winning the Yorkshire Cup in May and the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting.

He was last seen finishing third to Kyprios in the Irish St Leger but Botti has held the belief for some time that a strongly-run mile and a half could be the ideal scenario for his stable star.

“We had a chat with the owner and they are happy to take a chance. We’ve had a bit of time to freshen him up since the Irish St Leger, he’s in great form and he’ll take his chance,” said Botti.

“Last year, they had soft ground at the meeting, but he does want top of the ground, so hopefully it won’t be soft again.

“Oisin Murphy should be free to ride him, he’s in good order, he’ll do his last serious piece of work this week and then he’ll do something before he flies out next Friday.

“This year has been his best season. Maybe he wasn’t just quite at his best in the Irish Leger. I’m not saying he’d have won, Kyprios is the best stayer, probably in the world, so we take our hat off to him, but saying that, I just don’t think he was at his best for whatever reason.

“He came out of the race fine and we had enough time in between.

“The plan has always been to drop him back to a mile and a half, so Hong Kong looked the right option, a strong pace will suit him.”

Starlust was successful at the Breeders' Cup
Starlust was successful at the Breeders’ Cup (PA)

Other European interest in the Vase includes King George winner Goliath, who runs in the Japan Cup this weekend, Fantastic Moon and Iresine.

Due to take on Hong Kong’s superstar Romantic Warrior in the Cup is Richard Fahey’s globetrotter Spirit Dancer, Andrew Balding’s The Foxes and Aidan O’Brien’s Content.

Ralph Beckett’s Breeders’ Cup winner Starlust was supplemented for the Sprint, where he will meet much-hyped home hope Ka Ying Rising, while in the Mile, Lazzat, Ramadan and Docklands will meet Soul Rush.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Atzeni keen to build on successful first stint in Hong Kong

/in /by

Andrea Atzeni is ready and raring to go for his second season in Hong Kong after making a winning return to Newmarket during his brief visit to the UK.

There is a two-month summer break in the Hong Kong calendar and after some well-earned down-time, the Sardinian was back in the town he once called home to tune-up for his impending return to the Far East.

It was somewhat fitting that 12 months on from waving goodbye to British racing with a victory aboard Lezoo in the Hopeful Stakes, he once more ventured into the July course winner’s enclosure during his two-day busman’s holiday.

However, the victory was not enough to convince Atzeni to extend his UK stay, having no regrets about his decision to pack his bags for pastures new, and determined to build on a successful first year in Hong Kong, which saw him ride 48 winners and finish fourth in the jockeys’ championship.

Andrea Atzeni was a winner during his brief UK visit
Andrea Atzeni was a winner during his brief UK visit (Adam Morgan/PA)

“It’s a yearly contract and I’ll try to stay in Hong Kong as long as I can, but England has been home to me for 17 years, so it is always nice to come back here,” said Atzeni after guiding Richard Spencer’s Run Boy Run to victory.

“I’ve really enjoyed Hong Kong. I didn’t really know what to expect because it was new to me and it’s a different way of life.

“It definitely improves you tactically as a jockey, as you need to be very tactically aware, and the club is brilliant and the prize-money is unbelievable. It’s a no-brainer for any jockey at any stage of their career to up sticks to Hong Kong.

“I managed to adapt to it and I had to – if I wanted to stay there for a long time, I had to adapt to their style of racing as quick as I could and try to get some results quickly, and it worked out quite nicely.

“Although I have been there for a full season, time went quite quickly, like anything does when things are going well and you are enjoying it.”

Andrea Atzeni has enjoyed his first season in Hong Kong
Andrea Atzeni enjoyed his first season in Hong Kong (Tim Goode/PA)

On paper, going from the daily grind of the British fixture list to the twice-weekly Hong Kong schedule may sound like a breeze to the untrained eye.

But Atzeni explained there is plenty of unseen work behind the scenes that has to take place during a relentless 10-month period where the competitive and high-value nature of the action demands full attention.

“In Hong Kong, we race for 10 months, it is very full on – it is very competitive and very intense,” continued Atzeni

“You do need a bit of a break, as you don’t get any breaks during the season, you race every week. You get five days off during Royal Ascot but other than that, it is full on and it is nice that the Hong Kong Jockey Club allows us a summer break.

“When I arrived in Hong Kong, I didn’t know what to expect, it was all new to me and it was a different style of racing to what I was used to. Everything was different but luckily I adapted quite quickly and I was very lucky to have a good season.

“There’s a lot of work behind the scenes which people don’t really know, as although we only race two days a week, a lot goes on behind the scenes.

“We don’t have agents, so you have to book your own rides and do your own handicaps and try to choose the right horses. It’s very competitive and there is never a lot between the horses, so it is not easy, but I think I’m getting used to it.

“It will only help me, as I have a lot more knowledge now than I did when I first went over there and hopefully it will be another good season.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Appleby breaks Hong Kong duck with Rebel’s Romance

/in /by

Rebel’s Romance provided Charlie Appleby with a first winner in Hong Kong when claiming the Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin.

The globetrotting six-year-old had previously prevailed in England, the UAE, Germany, America and Qatar, most recently landing the Dubai Sheema Classic.

This was his fifth triumph at elite level and a 13th career victory overall from 19 starts.

Racing over a mile and a half, William Buick settled odds-on favourite Rebel’s Romance in second place behind Moments In time but made a forward move on the turn for home and forged ahead with 300 metres left to run.

The result was never in doubt from there on and the son of Dubawi finished two lengths clear of late-surging runner-up Five G Patch.

Blue Point was Appleby’s only previous runner in Hong Kong when finishing last in the 2018 Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

Charlie Appleby at Chester
Charlie Appleby at Chester (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’m delighted and firstly I’d like to thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club for all their help and support since we’ve been here,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.

“I’m delighted for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin. It’s always been on our bucket list to try and win a race in Hong Kong and I’m just delighted we had the right horse.

“He managed to win the UAE Derby as a three-year-old, but he’s a big frame of a horse and unfortunately he went very weak.

“Since he’s been back on turf, we’ve not looked back. He obviously had a bit of a chequered year last year, in our preparation for the Sword Dancer he had a little mishap (unseated rider) and it just took him a while to get his confidence back.

“He’s a gelded son of Dubawi and loves his travels. He’s a professional now and prefers being on a plane rather than in his stable!”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Dubai bidding for Hong Kong honours

/in /by

William Haggas’ Dubai Honour heads the British challenge as he bids for the FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin’s Champions Day meeting in Hong Kong on Sunday.

The six-year-old is no stranger to the track, having run there twice before, finishing fourth in the Hong Kong Cup in 2021 and third in this contest last season.

After his Sha Tin performance, he ran twice more last term, coming home well beaten in both the Coral-Eclipse and the Champion Stakes before heading off on a winter break.

He returned to action in the Listed Magnolia Stakes at Kempton at the beginning of the month and prevailed by three lengths to prepare himself for his journey east.

“I thought he did well to win at Kempton, he won well and I thought it was a fair race,” Haggas said.

Dubai Honour winning the Magnolia Stakes
Dubai Honour winning the Magnolia Stakes (Adam Davy/PA)

“He beat (Friday’s Sandown Group Three winner) Okeechobee, who is a fair horse, and he’ll be going there a fresh horse, which is important. Also, it’s raining there, which is in his favour.

“In truth, he probably wants a mile and a half on that track because he is just not quick enough, but he’s been there twice before and he’s run well. The problem we’ve got is the local horses are very difficult to beat.

“It’s difficult to explain how we choose the ones to travel. You just get an idea. They have to be a certain age, with the younger horses it’s hard going east – but it’s good fun.”

Romantic Warrior, winner of the contest for the last two years, returns for Danny Shum and James McDonald and there is another notable Hong Kong-based runner in Dennis Yip’s Massive Sovereign.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien until the end of last season when known as Broadhurst, the bay son of No Nay Never has since been gelded and won both starts at Sha Tin so far – including the Hong Kong Derby.

“My horse is just at the start and I’m excited with this race,” Yip said. “I think he will show you something. I think soft ground will be no problem for him.

“I feel he keeps improving. Last Friday, he trialled at Happy Valley, he really enjoyed the trial and finished very strong.

“After the trial, he finished all the feed and I think now is the right time for his performance to be very good.”

There is British representation in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize as George Boughey’s Believing is set to line up for owners Highclere Racing.

The filly is a four-time winner, with both the Listed Flying Fillies’ Stakes and the Group Three Prix Texanita on her CV, and at Group One level last season, she was beaten only three-quarters of a length in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Believing will be ridden in the six-furlong event by British-born and Hong Kong-based jockey Harry Bentley, who said: “Ideally, we’d jump and sit close to the pace, if we can sit in a box-seat position, we’d be very happy.

“Hopefully she jumps clean and gets away into a nice position.

“It’s obviously a Group One, so naturally they’re always strong races and hard to win, but she’s Group One-placed and her form has been solid throughout her career, so I’m hoping for a good performance and she definitely deserves her place in the line-up.”

The FWD Champions Mile has been dominated by Golden Sixty in recent years and the race could be the scene of his swansong performance as he bids for a fourth consecutive victory.

The eight-year-old gelding has an exceptional record at Sha Tin, having won 26 times from 30 runs, gaining connections over £16million in prize-money with his remarkable consistency.

“The barrier draw isn’t a worry, only the weather will be. Now, he’s very professional and he looks after himself,” said trainer Francis Lui.

“I think his condition has come up just in time.

“He’s shown us already what he can do. I’m happy and Vincent (Ho, rider) is happy. He’s brought a lot of fun for us, the whole team.

“There won’t be another one like him.”

Challenging him for the title is Archie Watson’s Brave Emperor, a prolific globetrotter who has provided owners Middleham Park Racing with Group victories in Qatar, Italy, Germany, France and Sweden.

Hong Kong is now his latest foray and there he will be joined by regular rider Luke Morris, who said: “He’s acquitted himself extremely well wherever he’s been. He’s gone from strength to strength and I’ve been delighted with his progress.

“Since we put the blinkers on, he’s improved dramatically and every time we give him a test he steps up to the mark, so he’s very much deserving of his shot at the top level.

“He’s had a nice break since Qatar and once we knew he could perform on a fast surface, the Champions Mile was always on the radar, so he’s been prepared perfectly. We’ve got him exactly where we want him.

“Sunday’s race will be right up there alongside the best races in the world and if he were to go and win, and knock Golden Sixty off his perch, it would be a remarkable feat.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Vincent Ho prevails in battle for International Jockeys’ crown

/in /by

Vincent Ho saw off the challenge of some of the best riders in the world to win the International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley in Hong Kong.

Ho, best known for his association with local superstar Golden Sixty, who will be back in action at the weekend attempting to win the Hong Kong Mile for a third time, needed victory in the last leg on Tomodachi Kokoroe to seal the title having finished third in the first two contests.

The likes of Ryan Moore, Tom Marquand, Hollie Doyle and Zac Purton were also in action, but Ho sealed victory with a half-length success aboard David Hayes’ charge.

“Of course I’m very happy, I didn’t know about the score so it’s great,” said Ho.

“I’m pleased to have a winner. When the horse changed legs today, he came home very well.

“I was lucky to get some good draws today and of course it is a privilege to join all the top jockeys here, I enjoy racing against them.

“It’s good to have a home-grown jockey win it to inspire more upcoming jockeys.”

Ho took the title with 20 points, with Purton second on 18 and Rachel King, once racing secretary for Clive Cox in the UK and now a multiple Group One-winning jockey in Australia, third on 16.

King won the first leg on Oversubscribed and said: “I had to pinch myself halfway up the straight as the horse just travelled into it and if anything, I thought I might have got there a little bit too soon.

“He was a beautiful ride, he showed me around the track and it was a perfect start.”

Moore, who won the second leg on M Unicorn, said: “It’s always a real pleasure to be asked to ride here, I love to ride at Happy Valley, it’s a fantastic week. It’s great to have a winner but I appreciate being here.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Luxembourg ready for Romantic Warrior battle

/in /by

Aidan O’Brien is looking forward to taking on home favourite Romantic Warrior in Sunday’s Hong Kong Cup.

Luxembourg has not been seen since almost upsetting stablemate Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes.

That form looks red-hot, with Auguste Rodin having won the Derby at Epsom and the Irish equivalent before subsequently triumphing in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

However, in Romantic Warrior, who travelled to Australia to win the Cox Plate recently, he faces a stern rival.

Luxembourg (right) went down narrowly to Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes
Luxembourg (right) went down narrowly to Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes (Damien Eagers/PA)

“He was second in the Irish Champion Stakes and then he had a foot bruise, this was a race we had our eye on with him,” said O’Brien.

“It’s going to be great, hopefully we have him right and well and hopefully we’ll be able to gauge those mile-and-a-quarter races all over the world. We’re looking forward to it.

Asked about taking on last year’s winner Romantic Warrior, O’Brien said: “He’s obviously a very good horse, Romantic Warrior, we totally respect every horse and he is very good.

“It’ll be interesting. I think it’ll be a nice race to watch and it’ll be an even-run mile and a quarter I’d imagine. Hopefully he’ll run well.”

Warm Heart was an impressive winner at Royal Ascot in June
Warm Heart was an impressive winner at Royal Ascot in June (David Davies/PA)

The Ballydoyle handler will have four runners on the card with Aesop’s Fables in the Sprint and Cairo in the Mile, while Warm Heart holds very strong claims in the Vase.

She did not win her maiden until May 7 but went on to land the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, the Yorkshire Oaks, the Prix Vermeille and went down narrowly at the Breeders’ Cup to Inspiral over 10 furlongs.

Due to the sex allowance, Ryan Moore will get down to 117lb (less than 8st 4lb) to ride her.

“He always got on very well with her and I think he’s looking forward to it,” said O’Brien.

“She has a nice weight pull, she’s well in and is a very consistent filly. It looks like she’s a little bit better maybe at a mile and a half, Rachel (Richardson) rides her out and she’s very happy with her. She looks very well.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

O’Brien ‘looking forward’ to Luxembourg in Hong Kong

/in /by

Luxembourg is set to lead a four-strong team for Aidan O’Brien into battle in this year’s Longines Hong Kong International races at Sha Tin.

The son of Camelot notched a third victory at Group One level in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in the spring and was last seen going down narrowly to his dual Derby and Breeders’ Cup-winning stablemate Auguste Rodin when bidding for back-to-back triumphs in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September.

With a minor setback subsequently ruling Luxembourg out of an intended tilt at the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot, he has made the trip to the Far East to contest the Hong Kong Cup on December 10.

O’Brien said: “We were training him for the Champion Stakes in England and he got a foot bruise. It just held him up for a couple of weeks, so that’s why didn’t go there.

“Obviously it was a great run in the Irish Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter, he’s versatile we think and he likes nice ground. We’re looking forward to him.”

While the Hong Kong Cup is one of the few major international prizes to so far elude the master of Ballydoyle, he has a far better record in the Hong Kong Vase, with Highland Reel striking gold in both 2015 and 2017 and Mogul providing him with a third success in 2020.

This year’s representative in the mile-and-a-half event is Warm Heart, winner of the Yorkshire Oaks and the Prix Vermeille at the highest level earlier this year before going down by a neck to Inspiral in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita.

“We were debating what we’d do, I suppose either of them could have gone either way, but we just felt it was a very good run in the Irish Champion Stakes from Luxembourg,” O’Brien told the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

“Warm Heart ran over 10 furlongs in America, but she’d won her two Group Ones over a mile and a half.

“She’s been very progressive, she’s thrived physically, loves nicer ground, she’s tactically quick and she doesn’t surrender. She’s been unbelievable really.”

The O’Brien raiding party is completed by the Hong Kong Mile-bound Cairo, who was second to prolific stablemate Paddington in the Irish 2,000 Guineas earlier in the year, and Aesop’s Fables, who would not be winning out of turn if plundering the Hong Kong Sprint, having finished third in the Prix de l’Abbaye and the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on his two most recent starts.

“We were hopeful Cairo would get into Hong Kong, but he had to have a run and we were delighted with him (when third in a Listed race at Leopardstown in October),” O’Brien said.

“He obviously got a bit tired, the ground was very soft and wasn’t ideal, but his run before when he was second to Paddington was on nice ground and we’ve been very happy with his work since.

“He think he’s progressed plenty. We always thought and hoped he could be a horse that could go on to a lot of those races all over the world.

“Aesop’s Fables has been progressive all the time. We put the blinkers on before France, we were delighted there and then he ran a stormer in America.

“He’s a big horse, maybe he just took a bit of time to get the hang of it. His best two runs were over five furlongs, but he looks like he’s been coming home well in both runs. There’s every chance he should be OK over six, but we’ll learn a lot more about him.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Bentley banned for two months in Hong Kong

/in /by

Harry Bentley has been handed a two-month suspension and fined HK$300,000 by the Hong Kong Jockey Club after pleading guilty to improper conduct.

In a two-day stewards’ inquiry conducted last week, Bentley admitted to breaching rule 155 under the rules of racing in Hong Kong, which relates to misconduct, improper conduct or inappropriate behaviour.

The HKJC found that the 31-year-old did engage in improper conduct due to “inappropriate communications in respect to information about horses he had ridden in trackwork, barrier trials or races with persons who were not the registered owners or nominators of such horses, using a private mobile telephone provided by such persons”.

The governing body also ruled that Bentley agreed to accept a payment from a person who was not the nominator of a horse in relation to a race he had ridden in, as well as providing false or misleading statements at an interview conducted on October 31.

In determining the penalty, the stewards took into consideration Bentley’s guilty plea and the nature and circumstances of the breach, including that the evidence established that he did not receive any payment.

The stewards also recognised Bentley’s personal and professional circumstances at the time of the offence and his unblemished record in relation to similar offences.

The rider’s suspension commences on November 3 and will expire on January 3.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Highfield Princess team opt for Hong Kong trip

/in /by

John Quinn has confirmed Highfield Princess will sidestep a trip to the Breeders’ Cup in favour of a tilt at the Hong Kong Sprint in December.

The popular mare won three times at Group One level last season – landing the Prix Maurice de Gheest, the Nunthorpe and the Flying Five Stakes – before rounding off her campaign with a creditable fourth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland in November.

She was beaten in her first three starts of this season and had to make do with the runner-up spot behind the Breeders’ Cup-bound Live In The Dream when defending her Nunthorpe crown in August, but was last seen adding to her top-level tally in the Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp a fortnight ago.

Highfield Princess returned to her very best in the Prix de l'Abbaye
Highfield Princess returned to her very best in the Prix de l’Abbaye (Ashley Iveson/PA)

Connections considered a possible second tilt at Breeders’ Cup glory, but Highfield Princess will instead be readied for a first assignment in the Far East.

“All being well, we’re going to go to Hong Kong with her,” said Quinn.

“It gives the mare a bit longer, which is probably the main thing. It’s six furlongs in Hong Kong and the ground can be rattling hard in America – at Santa Anita it can be like the road. We just thought all in all we’d plump for Hong Kong.

“She’s come out of the Abbaye well, she’s in great nick so we’re happy. We just want to keep her in good form and have her in good nick and we’ll give it a twirl.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Andrea Atzeni off the mark in Hong Kong

/in /by

Andrea Atzeni enjoyed the first win of his new Hong Kong venture when Mega Bonus landed a valuable Happy Valley handicap.

The Italian rider made the move to Hong Kong in search of further opportunities after the Ebor meeting at York, gaining an initial six-month licence which will last until February 12.

After four rides the jockey registered the first win of this stint in a new jurisdiction as Mega Bonus, trained by Ricky Yiu, took the £120,000 Tao O Handicap by a length and a half.

Atzeni said: “I landed my first ever win in Hong Kong here at Happy Valley eight years ago, so it’s a nice feeling to be back, and to bang in a winner at only the second meeting of the season feels good.

“A massive thank you to Ricky, who has been very supportive from the minute I arrived.

“He’s been using me a lot in barrier trials and gallops, so it’s nice to get my first winner for him.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Ascot winner Waipiro to continue career in Hong Kong

/in /by

Royal Ascot winner Waipiro will continue his career in Hong Kong, trainer Ed Walker has announced.

The three-year-old has made huge strides in four starts this term, winning a Newmarket novice in April before going on to finish second in the Lingfield Derby Trial and a respectable sixth in the Epsom Classic itself.

Dropped back to 10 furlongs for the Group Three Hampton Court Stakes last week, Waipiro posted his best performance to date when triumphing by a cosy two and a half lengths from Exoplanet.

A half-brother to Waikuku, a multiple Group One winner in Hong Kong, Waipiro will not run again for Walker and will be campaigned towards the Hong Kong Derby in March for owners the Siu family.

“He will continue his career in Hong Kong, unfortunately,” said Walker.

“Obviously the Siu family, who own him, have lots of horses in training in Hong Kong.

“The reason I have horses for the Siu family, and they are such great supporters, is to produce horses for Hong Kong.

“He is the perfect horse for the Hong Kong Derby. Mr Siu tries to buy one or two horses for the Hong Kong Derby every year and why would you not take Waipiro and try and buy another one?

“Every owner in Hong Kong wanting a European horse for the Derby would want Waipiro.

bet365 Craven Meeting – Day 3 – Newmarket Racecourse
Waipiro (second left) was also a winner at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

“He’s the perfect horse, he loves fast ground, he’s got a high cruising speed, huge talent, 10 furlongs – he’s the right horse for the job.”

He added: “His half-brother which they owned, Waikuku, was a Group One winner in Hong Kong, having finished runner-up in the (Hong Kong) Derby in 2019. There was always a good chance they would take him to Hong Kong.

“He’ll probably win a lot more prize money in Hong Kong than he would in Britain.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns