Fownes has Royal ready to ensure Ferraris is Pride of the Valley November 1, 2022 IT WAS good to see 20-year-old Luke Ferraris back in the limelight after steering long-standing maiden Smiling Time to victory at Happy Valley on Sunday. Ferraris, son of former Hong Kong-based trainer David Ferraris, was a big hit in his home country, with over 300 winners, two South African champion apprentice titles, and a Group [...]
Masterly Purton and Lor can wave Adios to title rivals November 1, 2022 PUNTERS need to check on the weather before placing their bets on the eight-race card at Happy Valley today. With squally showers and strong winds forecast throughout the day, surface conditions – normally good-to-firm – could change dramatically, especially if the rain gets into the ground ahead of racing. If that wasn’t bad enough, racing [...]
EP: 166 Wetherby, Ascot & Hong Kong October 28, 2022 The Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby is always a good early season contest – and this year looks like another fascinating renewal. The West Yorkshire Hurdle also takes place there on Saturday. Ascot stages a seven-race jumps card where the London Gold Cup is one of their feature races. City PM Racing editor Bill Esdaile [...]
Millard four-year-old makes for Compulsory viewing at Sha Tin October 25, 2022 IF EVER a horse looks like he has been ear-marked for a contest, it’s the Tony Millard-trained COMPULSORY, who seeks to score his first win in division two of the Chung On Handicap (12.45pm) over six furlongs. This son of American sire No Nay Never, whose family excels with all-weather performers, cost a lot of money [...]
A Can-do Purton capable of giving backers Super Win October 25, 2022 MIDWEEK racing in Hong Kong switches to Sha Tin today, with a nine-race programme on the dreaded dirt surface. Local punters are always sceptical when racing takes place on dirt, as there are so many imponderables to take into consideration, such as track condition, the draw, and whether races will suit front-runners or strong finishers. On [...]
EP: 165 Cheltenham, Doncaster, Newbury & Hong Kong October 21, 2022 The new jumps season gets underway at Cheltenham on Saturday, whilst we reach the end of the flat season with both Doncaster and Newbury staging Group races. Milton Harris produced Knight’s Salute to win a Grade 1 at Aintree last season and the Triumph Hurdle Trial winner returns to Prestbury Park for his seasonal reappearance. [...]
Cordyceps the One for Maia as he seeks third seasonal salute October 18, 2022 WITH his quiet style of jockeyship, Brazilian-born rider Ruan Maia has never really appealed to the excitable local bettors, especially in the all-action racing theatre of Hong Kong. There is no doubt though, that Maia, who was a two-time Champion Jockey in Macau and has ridden over 600 winners in South America and Asia – [...]
Hewitson’s Glory set to leave rivals raising Whyte flag October 18, 2022 FORMER 13-time Champion Jockey turned trainer Douglas Whyte and go-to jockey Lyle Hewitson are the team to follow when racing gets underway with an eight-race programme at Happy Valley on Wednesday. Whyte and his young pilot Hewitson have been a combination made in heaven since January. The pair recorded 27 wins before the season ended [...]
