The National Jockeys’ Championship is increasingly becoming a one-horse race, with Craig Zackey holding a commanding lead of 215 winners, 46 clear of defending champion Richard Fourie. Thursday’s eight-race meeting at Vaal Racecourse presents another excellent opportunity for Zackey to extend that advantage.

Zackey’s first standout ride comes in Race 3 aboard Princess Of All, a filly who has repeatedly threatened to win without delivering. Trained by Lucky Houdalakis, she has finished second in two of her last three starts, including over this course and distance. Against modest opposition over 1000m, she appears to have every chance to finally break through.

Race 7 features one of the strongest bets on the card in Dimako’s Jet. The lightly raced daughter of Ideal World returns from a 14-week break after two consecutive wins over 1800m, including a decisive course-and-distance success. Blinkers have transformed her, and despite a four-point ratings increase, she still appears ahead of the handicapper. Trainer Weichong Marwing has placed her carefully, and Zackey looks set to complete at least a double.

While Zackey dominates the title race, Jeffrey Syster could provide punters with attractive value.

In Race 4, veteran sprinter Jet Cat appeals as a solid each-way prospect. The 10-year-old remains competitive and was far from disgraced when fourth over the same course and distance last time. Racing off the same mark, another honest effort could see him in the finish once more.

Syster’s strongest winning opportunity may come in the final race aboard Scarlet O’Hara. The Stuart Pettigrew-trained filly caused a surprise when winning her maiden at 25-1, and subsequent runs suggest that success was no fluke. She has held her own in stronger company and now drops in class over 1800m off a reduced rating, making her a major contender.

Although Thursday’s Vaal meeting lacks feature-race glamour, it offers several appealing betting opportunities. Yet the main storyline remains Zackey’s relentless pursuit of a first national title. With momentum firmly on his side and a powerful book of rides, he looks well placed to tighten his grip on the championship even further.

Trainer Candice Bass continues to dominate the Cape racing scene and her progressive gelding Marcus Aurellius looks ready to reward supporters when he lines up in Race 7 over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday.

The improving runner has taken significant strides with each outing and arrives off a strong second to Future Free over 1600m last month. That form received a major boost when Future Free finished third behind La Pulga in the Grade 3 Legal Eagle Stakes. Earlier form behind the rapidly progressive Sommerstern also reads well, underlining the quality of opposition Marcus Aurellius has faced. Blinkers appeared to sharpen him considerably last time and, with stable jockey Aldo Domeyer returning to the saddle, he rates a leading chance.

A major threat could come from Ferryman, now trained by Eric Sands after switching from the Andre Nel yard. He made an immediate impact by winning on stable debut and comes from the same family as stars Rainbow Bridge, Golden Ducat, and Foudre. With Craig Zackey booked, Ferryman looks capable of further improvement despite stepping out of maiden company.

Stablemate Rockanrollin also has claims and could earn a placing if continuing his gradual progress.

Earlier on the card, Bass and Domeyer may strike in the opener with Sparkling Star, who was narrowly beaten as favourite last time and sets the benchmark among the raced runners.

Race 2 sees another Bass runner, Blackbird, looking to improve on a promising debut behind Rich Man’s World, who has since franked the form with a Grade 3 victory. Blackbird showed inexperience that day and should come on sharply.

Race 3 appears wide open, with Hilton Heads narrowly preferred after three consecutive fourth-place finishes. Protector Of Peace, The Big Bang, and Caesar’s Ransom are among several with chances.

In Race 4, Masteronthemoon looks well placed to score after shaping well over unsuitable distances recently. Dropping back to 1800m with Richard Fourie aboard could prove ideal.

Bass again holds strong claims in Race 5 with Backinthefastlane and Super Viking, while Somebody Somewhere appeals in Race 7 after a solid post-maiden effort.

The finale could go to Black Erika, who has shown improving form and may finally break through under Zackey for the in-form Adam Marcus stable.

The Hong Kong racing season has moved into its final quarter, and there’s plenty on the line between now and the concluding meeting on 15 July, with nothing currently commanding more attention than the mouthwatering battle for the trainers’ championship.

There are five trainers within eight wins of the pace-setting Mark Newnham’s 52 victories, with Caspar Fownes and Danny Shum sitting on 51 successes and David Hayes (48) and John Size (44) also lurking.

Veteran Francis Lui is also among the chasing pack after amassing 45 winners through the season’s 69 meetings so far.

While Lui admits “it won’t be easy” to prevail, he is no stranger to coming from behind to claim championship success after winning four of the final five races of the 2023/24 season to pip Pierre Ng to the title by one win.

Lui sat five wins adrift of Ng after 69 meetings of the 2023/24 season, and while it came down to the final day and he had to orchestrate one of the all-time great finishes to snare victory, he believes this year’s task is greater still.

“Last time I was only in competition with Pierre, but this time as many as five other trainers can win it. They are all so close and I’m sure they will have plenty of winners,” he said.

“Of course, I will try hard to win my second premiership but it won’t be easy.”

While Lui started the season slowly, he warmed up through October and November before a quiet December gave way to a fruitful start to 2026, with January (10 winners), February (eight) and March (10) his biggest months of the campaign so far.

 April was tougher going for Lui; he banged in a timely double late on last Sunday’s (3 May) Sha Tin card, grabbing the final two races with Baby Sakura and Turquoise Velocity to begin May on a high.

The lightly raced pair look capable of winning again this season, as do the undefeated Hot Delight and the in-form Gold Patch.

“I have quite a few horses who can win more races but I can’t say that I am confident of winning the premiership,” Lui said.

“It’s very close. It all depends on how they run. I will take it step by step. To have so many trainers fighting it out is great competition.”

Hot Delight and Gold Patch are among Lui’s 10 runners at Sha Tin this Saturday (9 May), with the former looking to make it four wins from four starts in the Class 2 Sai Wan Shan Handicap (1200m) and the latter chasing a hat-trick in the Class 3 Lei Yue Mun Park Handicap (1200m).

Amazing Partners in the Class 3 Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Handicap (1600m) is another in-form Lui galloper heading to Sha Tin this weekend, while the handler will be eager to see what debutants Almighty Warrior, Spirited Steed and Winalot can produce.

Trainers’ Ranking (Top 6) – As of 7 May, 2026

Champions Season has reached a crucial stage as trainers begin fine-tuning their paths toward the Hollywoodbets Durban July, balancing form with the challenge of securing a favourable handicap weight. Saturday’s WSB 1900 at Hollywoodbets Greyville could once again provide key July clues.

Peter Muscutt saddles Isivivane, still on the fringe of the July field but likely to secure a berth with victory here. While his recent wins have come on the polytrack, he has a favourable draw and workable weight.

Champion trainer Justin Snaith fields several major contenders. Native Ruler carries top weight and has little to lose ratings-wise, while stablemate Regulation, ridden by stable jockey JP van der Merwe, receives a significant weight advantage. Betting support may prove revealing. Snaith also unleashes Legal Counsel, who finished strongly behind Questioning last time and should improve for the run.

Of greater interest are Note To Self and Eight On Eighteen. Note To Self was runner-up to top filly Wish List in the Cape Derby and a bold showing would strengthen his July claims, though it could result in a ratings increase. Eight On Eighteen, runner-up in last year’s Durban July behind The Real Prince, makes his local debut after an underwhelming Cape campaign. He may need the outing but possesses the class to feature prominently.

Candice and Tammy Dawson saddle classy three-year-old Trust, winner of the Dingaan’s and never out of the money in six starts. His performance will provide a strong measure of the current three-year-old crop. The Ultimate King, from the Paul Peter stable, also enters calculations after a narrow defeat to Fire Attack when fitted with blinkers for the first time.

The Pick 6 opener, a Conditions Plate, has shrunk to seven runners, four from the Snaith yard. Likely pacemaker Okavango has been excellent in front-running efforts, including a brave second in the Premier’s Champions Cup. He benefits from Mickaella Michel’s 1.5kg allowance and already sits high enough in the July weights to avoid a harsh penalty.

Elsewhere, Mocha Blend, winner of the Summer Cup, represents Frank Robertson and receives weight from most rivals, making her a serious contender. Lightly raced Ascalon Dancer, a recent maiden winner, also commands attention in a high-quality contest loaded with Durban July implications.

The Hong Kong racing season has moved into its final quarter and there’s plenty on the line between now and the concluding meeting on 15 July, headlined by what Caspar Fownes has described as “the most exciting trainers’ championship ever”.

Rarely has the fight for the trainers’ premiership been so evenly poised so deep into a campaign, with Fownes and Mark Newnham level in the lead on 50 winners and Danny Shum (49), David Hayes (48), Francis Lui (43) and John Size (41) in striking distance.

Fownes is no stranger to premiership success, bagging the title on four previous occasions, and he revealed just how much he is relishing the fight for a fifth crown.

“I’m really enjoying it. I’m enjoying the competition, and I’m so glad there’s six guys fighting it out. The pressure is constant, and I’m just enjoying the fact it’s game on and everyone is having a go,” he said.

“I would say it’s the most exciting trainers’ championship ever. When you’ve got that many in the hunt – normally a couple clear out from the rest and fight it out – it’s really up for grabs.”

Fownes, who last took the title in 2020/21, finished third last season with 52 winners and is confident he has a nice spread of young horses on the up and older horses on the right ratings.

“I’ve got many winners left. I’m not going to let my competitors know what they are but I’ve got quite a few that can win two or three,” he said.

“I’ve just got to see if there are enough to get done what I want to get done – I want to win a fifth title. I’m in for the fight.

“I’m happy where I’m sitting. I’m sure someone will overtake me and I will overtake them and it will go back and forth and people will have a run. It’s going to be hard fought and it’s really exciting.”

Fownes has had a consistent season, starting strongly with seven winners in each of September and October and really putting his foot down with nine victories in December.

He kept things ticking over with half a dozen winners in February and March, and he has reeled off seven successes in April, thanks to a little help from none other than the “Magic Man”, Joao Moreira.

Moreira wasted no time after coming on as Fownes’ retained rider in early April, steering home a four-timer for his new boss at Happy Valley on 8 April to add another layer to the title race.

“It’s great to have Joao on board and I really want to win it this year. It would mean a lot. I’m focused and I’m putting everything into it,” Fownes said. “I’m working hard and I just hope I can get it done.”

Fownes saddles up nine runners at Sha Tin this Sunday, including Joy Of Spring in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m) and Kaholo Angel in the Class 2 Members Cup (1600m).

Trainers’ Ranking (Top 6) – As of 30 April, 2026