Zac Purton hailed David Eustace’s horsemanship after Light Years Charm (129lb) continued impressive progress with victory in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Tuesday (1 July).
Sold for A$3,750 (approx. HK$18,500), the Rubick gelding (129lb) took his Hong Kong earnings to HK$9.2 million from only nine starts in the city with a third successive win after withstanding a ferocious late challenge from Mickley (117lb) to prevail by a head in 1m 21.11s.
Previously trained by Brett Dodson in Australia where he raced as Bretsal, the four-year-old won a maiden in Lismore – Purton’s birthplace – before transferring to Eustace as 64-rater, Light Years Charm has risen to 93 in the handicap with four wins, a second and two thirds at Sha Tin.
Settling second last, Light Years Charm forged to the outside of the 12-horse field entering the straight as veteran Healthy Happy (133lb) and Gustosisimo (124lb) disputed the lead before taking over inside the final 150m as Mickley threatened late.
“It was pretty straight forward, he got out of the gates okay for him and he was in a lovely rhythm the whole race, handled the ground really well and he was just able to come into it with a nice-timed run,” Purton said. “He had to stave off the challenger the last 100 metres, he did a really good job to keep sticking his head out.
“David has done an exceptionally good job with him to bring him this far in his first season and they did a good job to find him – he came out of Lismore. It was well spotted by the agents.”
Ellis Wong continued a searing form run to post his 50th Hong Kong win with We Are Hero’s (127lb) triumph in the HK$1.86 million Class 4 Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup Handicap (1000m) as Manfred Man dominated with a treble.
Following on from his 26 wins last season, Wong has thrived since May and the apprentice produced another fine display on Man’s We Are Hero, who emerged powerfully from the midfield to deny Alsonso (117lb) by a short head in 56.07s.
“He felt good. I expected the horse to run well. He’s always good over 1000 metres. The horse is honest and the pace was not too quick. He travelled really well for me today and the last 200 metres, I was actually confident already,” Wong said.
Man also featured when Pearl Of Pangs finished stoutly under Derek Leung to land the Class 4 Riding High Together Handicap (1600m) before Keith Yeung drove Yuen Long Elite clear in the Class 3 Better Future Handicap (1600m).
Man’s three-timer propelled the veteran to 43 wins for the term – one short of his best seasonal total of 44, posted in 2022/23.
“Three winners for me is a big day,” Man said. “I think I can break my record.”
James Orman posted his first Hong Kong double with the wins of Wonderstar and Pakistan Legacy.
Wonderstar gave Orman his 10th victory of the term, saluting in the Class 4 Serving The Community Handicap (1200m) for Me Tsui to give the much-travelled galloper the distinction of winning in three different jurisdictions – Australia, Macau and Hong Kong.
Triumphant in a Bairnsdale Maiden in Australia in 2023, the Starspanglebanner gelding won four more races in Macau before transferring to Sha Tin. Rated 82 on debut in Hong Kong, the six-year-old dropped in grade to Class 4 and, after two recent seconds, claimed a deserved victory today.
Orman then guided Chris So-trained Pakistan Legacy to success in the Class 3 Sportsmanship Handicap (1200m) as the gelding earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million. Unbeaten in two starts in Australia, where he raced as The Reluctant Star for Tom Conlan, Pakistan Legacy broke through at his sixth Hong Kong start.
“First double – pinching myself really,” Orman said. “I thought he was a good chance. He’s been running well, he had blinkers on. The race didn’t really work out how I was expecting, he did a good job. It’s a good thrill to build a bit of momentum. Hopefully I can keep it rolling.”
John Size struck in the Class 4 Uncompromising Integrity Handicap (1400m) with Spirit Of Peace (131lb), who was given a seamless ride by Brenton Avdulla before holding off impressive first-starter China Win (127lb).
David Hall’s Gold Tack broke through under Purton in the Class 5 Racing Goes On Handicap (1800m), triumphing at his 30th attempt, before Luke Ferraris ended a frustrating run of minor placings and slotted his first win since 8 June when Jimmy Ting’s Amazing Galaxy controlled the Class 4 World-Class Leadership Handicap (1000m) from the front.
“Despite the bad barriers we’ve been getting, it’s good to get on the board. It’s nice to end a dry month and start off July with a winner. I’m really pleased for Jimmy, the horse is in good form and he won with a bit of authority,” Ferraris said after notching his 45th victory of the season.
Meaningful Dragon made a fine return to racing with success in the Class 4 Continuous Development Handicap (1400m) for Francis Lui and Antoine Hamelin, prevailing at his first start since undergoing knee surgery in December.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Saturday (5 July) with Chairmen’s Day.
By Leo Schlink
