Champion’s makes it five straight

Champion’s Way makes it five in a row.

By David Morgan – HKJC

Champion’s Way (126lb) maintained his unbeaten record as he claimed a fifth career win under Joao Moreira in the finale, the Class 2 Topaz Handicap (1400m).

But on rain-softened ground the task was not a straightforward one for the 1.8 favourite or his jockey. When the talented Good Standing (133lb) kicked clear at the top of the home straight, the John Size-trained rising star had work to do.

“He proved once again that he’s a really nice horse,” Moreira said after Champion’s Way had dug deep and raced past the Moore-trained rival to a length and a quarter success. “Every time that he’s put into a new situation he’s just coped with it. That proves that he’s got a good heart in him.

“You wouldn’t think he was coming to win at the 800 (metres), he was actually testing my fitness but when we approached the 300 (metres) I could feel like I was going to get there – to beat a good horse, too.

“And he was snaking around as well in the last 100 metres, he moved out and I wasn’t sure what he was going to do. It was tough to ride but an easy win in the end!”

Big Party (127lb) started the 1.7 favourite for section two of the Class 3 Ruby Handicap (1200m) but drifted to the stands’ side rail in the home straight and was unable to reproduce the impressive acceleration of his previous start. The Lor-trained galloper ran home fifth behind fellow three-year-old Mr Croissant (115lb).

The Chris So-trained winner fought gamely for Regan Bayliss to thwart the Purton-ridden Racing Fighter (130lb) by a neck.

“He keeps improving,” So said. “He’s a young horse and I don’t want to push him so he might have one more run this season and I think we’ll see the best of him in one year from now. He could be a Class 2 horse.”

Mr Croissant scores for Regan Bayliss.
Mr Croissant scores for Regan Bayliss.

Another young gun, the three-year-old Valiant Dream, took the Class 4 Crystal Handicap (1000m) for trainer Francis Lui and jockey Jack Wong, at only his second career start.

But a real old-timer got in on the act in race two when nine-year-old Laugh Out Loud took the Class 5 Amethyst Handicap (1200m) under Matthew Chadwick. Manfred Man’s charge – a Kembla Grange maiden winner in December 2012 – had the first of his 61 Hong Kong starts in June, 2013 and had not won since June 2017.

Man made it two on the day with Ever Laugh in the Class 3 Sapphire Handicap (1600m). Dylan Mo delivered the five-year-old late to score

Apprentice Alfred Chan kicked on down the straight to land the Class 5 Emerald Handicap (1800m) on the Caspar Fownes-trained Best Effort, making up for a neck defeat on the same horse two weeks ago. That took the rider’s win tally to three.

Vincent Ho teamed with Danny Shum and drove Lucky Hero (129lb) down an outside track in the home straight to win section one of the Class 3 Ruby Handicap (1200m), denying the So-trained Team Spirit (126lb).

Dashing Dart scored for Paul O’Sullivan and jockey Karis Teetan.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday, 17 April.

iRace
Author: iRace