A cursory glance at the 2022/23 Hong Kong trainers’ championship again reveals the timeless value of enduring skill and experience.
After 50 meetings and 473 races, the top seven places in a congested battle for this season’s title are occupied either by previous winners of the championship – John Size (41 wins), Ricky Yiu (37), Frankie Lor (35), Tony Cruz (32) and Caspar Fownes (28) – or by handlers with vast expertise – Francis Lui (31 wins) and Danny Shum (30).
As an 11-time champion, John could break the tie he currently shares with George Moore to stand alone as Hong Kong’s most successful trainer in terms of championships. With seven winners since the start of February, John steadily built a seven-win lead – until Ricky’s four-timer at the weekend.
Along with John, Tony, Francis and Manfred Man, Ricky has been licensed to train beyond his 65th birthday based on previous achievements and also satisfying relevant performance criteria in the future and his recent results certainly validate the extension.
The common refrain among our jockeys and trainers is that it is a challenge to win even one race in Hong Kong, let alone multiples – and the difficulty of winning four races at a single meeting is underscored by the fact Ricky last did it in 29 April, 2000.
Having prepared some of the city’s best horses, including Sacred Kingdom, Amber Sky and Fairy King Prawn, Ricky won the 2019/20 Hong Kong trainers’ championship with a career-best 67 wins and following the victories of Excellent Fighter, Colonel, Darci Joy and Adefill at Sha Tin on Sunday, he is well placed to bid again for the title.
On the subject of trainers, the first-season performances of Pierre Ng (25 wins) and Jamie Richards (18 wins) have been very encouraging and shows the importance of fresh talent and constant innovation.
Our focus increasingly turns to the BMW Hong Kong Derby on Sunday, 19 March and I look forward to assessing the selected field for what shapes as a fantastic race. Beauty Eternal, Super Sunny Sing and Sword Point are among the leading contenders as we build to the 2023 edition of “Once In A Lifetime Glory.”
At Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the Wong Nai Chung Handicap is carded as Race 9 at 10:50pm for Class 2 horses over 1000m with prizemoney of HK$2,640,000. It is a very open race to finish an excellent card of racing with many winning chances in the race.
The pace will be strong from the outset with natural front runner Whizz Kid likely to lead from his inside draw. Harmony And Rich has gate four and will be on speed with Rock Ya Heart and We The South also likely to go forward.
Whizz Kid won his first four starts at the course and distance before drawing wide and fading late to finish sixth to Handsome Bo Bo on 11 January. Trainer Tony Cruz sent Whizz Kid to Conghua after his most recent run at Sha Tin on 19 February and with Lyle Hewitson riding in excellent form, I make him a place chance.
Carroll Street was coming off a long break when he made a winning return to racing beating Trillion Win in fast time down the straight course at Sha Tin on 19 February. He switches to Happy Valley here and, drawn five, Karis Teetan should have him in a striking position at the top of the straight and he is a place chance.
At his last start at the course and distance Power Koepp ran home strongly for third to Handsome Bo Bo, beaten a neck on 11 January. He then ran sixth to Toronado Phantom over 1200m at Sha Tin. Derek Leung has his first ride on Power Koepp and he is a place chance from gate three.
Astrologer has drawn out a little in gate ten but he was impressive winning over 1200m here at his last start beating Grateful Heart and Rewarding Together. He came over the top of a strong pace then and although dropping back to 1000m Astrologer is a win and place chance for Alexis Badel.
There are a number of other horses racing in good form with winning chances including Handsome Bo Bo, Toronado Phantom and Rock Ya Heart in an intriguing race to finish an excellent night of racing.
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