Chris So hopes rising star Hong Lok Golf (127lb) can eventually ascend to elite company after the gelding’s impressive victory in the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Cheung Sha Handicap (1650m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (11 June).
Making his Happy Valley debut after stringing together five wins from six Sha Tin starts, the Grunt four-year-old dug deep under Harry Bentley to overhaul Steps Ahead (123lb) by a short head in 1m 38.44s.
Having started the season on a mark of 52 in Class 4, Hong Lok Golf showed trademark application – and versatility – in adapting to Happy Valley’s unique contours to triumph at Class 2 level for the second time in two starts.
“I was worried about coming to Happy Valley for the first time, but I thought the horse could be flexible – he can lead, sit off the pace or come from behind – so it was worth the try,” So said.
“Every time he gives you a surprise – he’s such a tough horse and never gives up, he always hits the line strongly. I hope he can be a Group 1 horse in time.”
So is yet to formulate immediate plans for one more start in a wonderful campaign for Hong Lok Golf.
“I don’t think we’ll go for the Group 3 (Premier Plate Handicap, 1800m on 22 June), there is a mile race on July 13 at Sha Tin that we can maybe look at, but we’ll see how he pulls up and what the owner thinks,” So said.
Bentley, took his 2024/25 tally to 28 wins with a double after also scoring on Smiling Emperor, said: “This horse (Hong Lok Golf) is just so tough and he really goes to the well. He’s a jockey’s dream, really.
“The pace was a bit sedate, perhaps, for him early on. We got a lovely run through following Steps Ahead but the straight here is a bit on the short side for him and it blunts his staying power, where Sha Tin really suits him with the long straight.
“Chris and his team have done a really good job in keeping him in tip-top shape until now.”
Bidding to reclaim his throne as ‘King of the Valley’, Caspar Fownes fired in a double at Happy Valley to edge three wins clear of Mark Newnham as this season’s leading trainer at the city circuit.
The most successful Hong Kong trainer in history at Happy Valley with 626 wins, Fownes leads the 2024/25 standings with 25 wins to lead Newnham (22) with only three meetings remaining this season at the venue after striking with Autumn Delight and Capital Legend.
The four-time Hong Kong champion trainer struck with Autumn Delight in the second section of the Class 4 Tai Hang Tung Handicap (1200m) under Andrea Atzeni before apprentice Ellis Wong fired in his eighth victory since the start of May when Capital Legend finished powerfully to claim the first section of the Class 4 Tai Kok Tsui Handicap (1650m).
Referring to his stable’s surging Happy Valley form, Fownes said: “That was the plan all along, so long may it continue.
“It’s nice when you can get a result with horses that have a lot of problems. The owners have been very patient and now they’re starting to get the rewards. I think this horse (Autumn Delight) hopefully will improve and win another race before the season finishes.”
Fownes singled out Wong for his ride on Capital Legend.
“The pace was on so it was good. We knew he was going to finish strong. The kid’s (Wong) riding very well, he was patient and the horse picked up well,” Fownes said. “He’s got a good record backing up and he’s a horse that’s got a few issues, but it’s nice to have a good result for the owner.”
Ricky Yiu’s Smart City broke through at his 16th Hong Kong start with runaway success under Karis Teetan in the second section of the Class 4 Tai Kok Tsui Handicap (1650m) before the Mauritian sealed a double with Definitive’s win for David Eustace in the Class 3 Sheung Shui Handicap (1650m).
Douglas Whyte’s Glory B charged to victory for Lyle Hewitson in the first section of the Class 4 Tai Hang Tung Handicap (1200m) before Antoine Hamelin celebrated his 34th birthday in style when Hong Kong International Sale graduate Nordic Dragon posted his sixth course and distance win with success in the Class 3 Cheung Sheung Handicap (1200m).
James Orman slotted his eighth victory of the season when Me Tsui’s Candlelight Dinner sped to the front and easily claimed the Class 4 Sheung Wan Handicap (1000m).
“He put the writing on the wall last time and he was too good today,” Orman said. “It’s hard to get winners, but it’s good to get them when I can. Slowly, I’m just start to break in a little bit, but I’m enjoying it.”
Jimmy Ting struck with Smiling Emperor (134lb) in the Class 5 Tai Wo Ping Handicap (1650m) under Bentley in a thrilling finish. With four horses in winning contention inside the last 20 metres, Capitalist three-year-old Smiling Emperor prevailed by a short head with a nose separating runner-up Windicator Family (134lb) from Beau Gosse (115lb).
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Saturday (14 June).
By Leo Schlink
