The Hong Kong trainers’ championship continued a season of constant fluctuation as Mark Newnham reclaimed the lead in the battle for 2025/26 title honours from Caspar Fownes at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (29 April) to crown a glorious month.
Having saddled Invincible Ibis to victory in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in March, Newnham claimed his first Hong Kong Group 1 trophy with My Wish’s triumph in the FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 April).
And with Armor Golden Eagle’s (123lb) success in the Class 3 Jeju Handicap (1650m) under eight-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton, Newnham moved to 50 wins for the season and vaulted back to the top of the standings with more second placings than Fownes.
Danny Shum (49) and David Hayes, who improved his tally to 48 with a double, are also pressing for championship honours along with Francis Lui (43) and John Size (41).
Purton needs only 14 more wins to become the first jockey to post 2,000 victories in the city after scoring on Honest Witness, Giant Ballon and Armor Golden Eagle, who collected a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million after sweeping to a three-and-three-quarter length margin.
“It was a good night, they (trebles) help, nice way to finish,” the Australian said. “He (Armor Golden Eagle) drew the right gate (four), had the right run and he was quite soft on the line. He was a bit lost when he got there, but there’s more there.”
Triumphant after Ka Ying Rising’s G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) victory on Sunday, Hayes fired in a double to maintain hopes of a third Hong Kong trainers’ championship.
He combined successfully with Harry Bentley for the 11th time this season with Dashing Maurison’s (134lb) bold display in the Class 5 Daejon Handicap before Honest Witness (129lb) strolled to a four-and-three-quarter length win in the third section of the Class 4 Yeongcheon Handicap (1200m) for Purton.
Hayes applied blinkers for the first time to Dashing Maurison and the gear change produced the desired result.
“I really felt this horse (Dashing Maurison), if he concentrated, would be too good for the horses in Class 5. He definitely went through it (rain-affected ground), so if it rains in the back part of the season, it’ll be good for us. I think he’s probably got another win in him this season,” Hayes said.
Douglas Whyte took training honours on the night with a treble with Find My Love, Gameplayer Elite and Giant Ballon to move to 20 wins for the season.
The 13-time Hong Kong champion jockey was delighted after Hong Kong International Sale graduate Giant Ballon (124lb) collected an ISG Bonus of HK$1 million for landing the Class 3 Busan Handicap (1200m).
“We’ve only had five runners, three winners, a fourth. It’s been a great night. The Valley has always been a special place for me, more so as a trainer than as a jockey. It’s vibrant, tactical, and leaves no room for error,” Whyte said.
Bentley continued an excellent season by completing a double aboard Whyte-trained Gameplayer Elite (125lb) in the Class 4 The Korea Racing Authority Trophy Handicap (1200m) after Find My Love (129lb) slotted his fourth Hong Kong victory with success in the first section of the Class 4 Yeongcheon Handicap (1200m) under Hugh Bowman.
Formerly trained by John & Thady Gosden in England, where he was known as Find, the seven-year-old relished the Good to Yielding conditions.
“He’s dour and he’s honest. He’s on a good and competitive rating (54), so there was a lot in his favour tonight,” Whyte said of the Frankel gelding. “He wants 1400m but he also doesn’t – he’s in between distances. I think the cut in the ground and the barrier draw (gate two) certainly served it up to him.”
Cody Mo’s Super Goldendragon (121lb), another Hong Kong International Sale graduate, broke through for his first win at his sixth start with a strong display in the Class 4 Daegu Handicap (2200m) under Derek Leung. Sent off at 87/1, the Kitten’s Joy gelding finished stoutly in the rain-affected ground to down Double Win (129lb) and Joyful Prosperity (123lb).
Matthew Chadwick returned to the winners’ list when Me Tsui’s Another Zonda (131lb) held on grimly in the Class 4 Incheon Handicap (1650m).
“It was a good performance and he ran to his form,” Chadwick said. “He went pretty hard, considering the track and, the 500m I just made the decision to go and get them off the bit and if it worked, it did and if it didn’t it – this time it did work.
Luke Ferraris posted his 30th win of the campaign after coaxing the best out of Bottomuptogether (125lb) in the Class 2 Seoul Handicap (1000m) for Frankie Lor.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (3 May) with the HK$4.2 million G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m).