Happy Valley specialist Caspar Fownes fired in a valuable double at the city track on Wednesday night (20 May) as the Hong Kong trainers’ championship developed into an increasingly congested battle.
Fownes had endured an uncharacteristic lean spell at the last three meetings before landing his 52nd and 53rd winners of a superb season in tandem with stable jockey Joao Moreira.
Danny Shum leads the standings on 54 wins, with Fownes second (53), Mark Newnham in third (52) and in-form Francis Lui rallying in fourth (50). David Hayes has 48, and defending champion John Size has 46.
Odds-on favourite Decision Link (121lb) justified strong market support to land the first section of the Class 4 Dandelion Handicap (1650m) for Joao Moreira and trainer Fownes.
“It was just unfortunate that in his last few runs, even when he won, he drew the widest gate,” Fownes said. “We’ve always felt he’d get to 1650m and he’d be at his best, so we’re happy to get that.”
The Fownes-Moreira axis claimed its second win of the night when The Heir (127lb) struck for the first time since the opening day of the 2025/26 season. In claiming the second section of the Class 4 Dendrobium Handicap (1200m), the six-year-old son of Impending ended a run of four placings with his second Hong Kong victory.
“He’s more than paid his way, and he’s run some nice races without getting his nose in front, so it’s nice to see that result for the owner,” said Fownes, who put his spell of 27 runs without a winner down to the conditions wrought by the onset of Hong Kong’s rainy season.
“We’ve had a couple of quiet meetings, but to tell you the truth, for me, the tracks have been atrocious. It’s no one’s fault – we’ve had no sun. But it’s been very on-speed bias.
“It was great to get back on the “A” course tonight. It looks like a proper Hong Kong track,” he added. “Hopefully, we get some sunshine over the next few weeks to help with the repair of the tracks.”
Group 1-winning sprinter Victor The Winner (116lb) ended an 843-day drought when he claimed his first win since victory in the 2024 G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) in the Class 2 Thistle Handicap (1200m) for trainer Pierre Ng – his third handler since he last made his way to the Winner’s Arch.
The speed-packed contest promised to be the highlight of the card, and it didn’t disappoint with a group of front-running horses blitzing their way through the opening sectionals. Under a driving effort from Angus Chung, the 118-rated galloper hung on to the line at 58/1.
Performance of the night honours went to fast-rising Tony Cruz gelding Tycoon Resources (134lb), whose extraordinary late dash from the rear of the field under Chung – who claimed a double on the night – delivered a second win from two runs for the eye-catching three-year-old in the Class 4 Ewo Challenge Trophy Handicap (1000m).
Cruz made it a double when Flying Wrote (123lb) stayed on gamely to claim the Class 3 Violet Handicap (1200m) under a fine ride from Jerry Chau.
Zac Purton moved to within five victories of his 2,000-winner landmark when Vivacious Win (122lb) stormed clear by five lengths for his maiden victory in the second section of the Class 4 Dandelion Handicap (1650m), allowing trainer David Eustace to celebrate his second winner this month.
“He’s been threatening to win for a little while,” the Englishman said. “He’s been a touch unlucky. Obviously, you don’t expect them to win as well as that, but he got a good draw, and the race set up nicely. There was good speed on early, and Zac judged the tempo of the race perfectly, and he put them to bed.
“I hope the handicapper doesn’t get too carried away. I didn’t think it was the strongest race on paper, and I think the pace early probably exaggerated the margin.”
King Alloy (128lb) claimed the first win of his career in the Class 5 Celosia Handicap (1000m) under Richard Kingscote. It took 16 attempts for the son of Cosmic Force to get his nose in front for trainer Jimmy Ting, but the four-year-old did so with aplomb, letting down nicely from 100 metres out to win by half a length.
Dylan Mo found some form at the right time with a patient ride to guide 24/1 chance Vulcanus (134lb) to a fifth Hong Kong win in the first section of the Class 4 Dendrobium Handicap (1200m) for trainer Me Tsui.
Mo will be aboard Winning Wing in Sunday’s feature, the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m).
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (24 May).