One of the highlights of the 2024/25 season has been the string of significant milestones achieved by our world-class trainers and jockeys and Wednesday night’s (14 May) delivered another towering landmark with Tony Cruz becoming only the fourth trainer to saddle 500 winners at Happy Valley.
As winner of multiple championships as an apprentice jockey, senior jockey and trainer, Tony is one Hong Kong’s most decorated horse racing participants and his effort to join Caspar Fownes (620 wins), George Moore (530) and John Moore (530) in such elite company as a trainer with 500 Happy Valley wins is another mark of his longevity and excellence.
With an overall record 2,502 Hong Kong victories as a jockey and trainer, Tony latest achievement follows the stellar accomplishments this season of Zac Purton (reaching 1,800 winners and then overtaking Douglas Whyte’s Hong Kong record of 1,813), John Size (1,200 Sha Tin wins), Karis Teetan (700 Hong Kong wins), Caspar (600 Happy Valley victories) and Chris So (400 Hong Kong wins), among others.
I again congratulate everyone for their accomplishments, which speak to the quality of Hong Kong’s world-class racing, and look forward to upcoming milestones.
Our World Pool coverage continues on Saturday (17 May) with Doomben 10,000 Day at Doomben Racecourse in Brisbane, Australia with the first of four races from 12.43pm. The G1 Doomben 10,000 is carded as S1-3 and will be run over 1200m at 2.02pm.
The pace will be good with ROTHFIRE (Tim Clark) and HIDDEN WEALTH (Tommy Berry) utilising inside draws to contest the lead and ensure a strong tempo.
On-pacers OVERPASS (Joshua Parr), SCHWARZ (Craig Williams) and MAZU (Rachel King) are also expected to roll forward and increase pressure.
BENEDETTA (Jamie Melham) will appreciate the strong tempo and I make her a win and place chance along with SUNSHINE IN PARIS (James McDonald), who wears blinkers for the first time. Barrier 14 will prove challenging SUNSHINE IN PARIS but the prospect of a strong pace means James will get the opportunity to find a good midfield position.
JEDIBEEL (Tyler Schiller) performs best racing behind the lead pack and, from gate three, he should get a good run. He is a place chance along with OVERPASS and SCHWARZ.
Our focus then turns to Newbury Racecourse in England for the Lockinge Stakes Day where the first of eight races will be broadcast from 7.50pm. The Lockinge Stakes is the first Group 1 race of Britain’s Flat Racing season. It is carded as S2-4 and will be run over 1600m at 9.35pm.
ROSALLION (Sean Levey) is a very talented colt and I look forward to seeing him return tonight. He has won three Group 1s and will be hard to beat, particularly as the winner of last year’s G1 St James’s Palace Stakes (1603m) at Royal Ascot.
He had a setback at end of last season with a respiratory issue but, while conceding a fitness edge after 333 days off, he is still the class runner of the race and I make him a place chance.
NOTABLE SPEECH (William Buick) has previously beaten ROSALLION and the score between the pair of colts is one win each. NOTABLE SPEECH has a powerful turn of foot and he will thrive on fast ground. I make him a win and place chance.
DANCING GEMINI (Ryan Moore) has won his last two races. He is an improved horse and his latest Group 2 win underlined his development. I make him a place chance, while FALLEN ANGEL (Kieran Shoemark) is a dual Group 1 winner and I am keen to see how she performs against the males at the highest level. She is also a place chance.
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