Resilience and persistence are enduring hallmarks of Hong Kong racing – which is renowned as one of the most competitive jurisdictions in the world – and it was wonderful to see Keagan de Melo rewarded for his hard work with success in the G3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) on COPARTNER PRANCE at Sha Tin on Sunday (22 June).
In posting the biggest win of his Hong Kong career, Keagan produced a masterful front-running ride on COPARTNER PRANCE by judging the sectionals perfectly and defeating a class field featuring three individual Group 1 winners – VICTOR THE WINNER, BEAUTY ETERNAL and INVINCIBLE SAGE.
In clocking 22.37s for the final 400m and winning by only a head, COPARTNER PRANCE produced the sixth-fastest closing sectional of the race behind PACKING HERMOD, who finished third in 21.88s, PATCH OF THETA (22.13s), TAJ DRAGON (22.15s), runner-up HAPPY TOGETHER (22.20s) and MUGEN (22.21s) after Keagan had expertly conserved energy early in the race.
With wins across the past three meetings, Keagan has showcased why he was so successful in South Africa with displays which will stand him in good stead for the rest of the season.
Tony Cruz has handled a string of top-line gallopers throughout his long and decorated career and, with the exception of the mercurial PAKISTAN STAR, few have been as quirky as BEAUTY JOY, who returned to form with a resounding win in the G3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m) under Brenton Avdulla on Sunday.
The winner of five races in his second season, BEAUTY JOY has since been finished in the top three in Group 1 races – most recently the 2024 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), which has since produced seven individual Group 1 winners – but his form this year had tapered and the eight-year-old was facing probable retirement until Sunday’s spectacular performance.
It now appears the headstrong gelding has earned a chance at a sixth Hong Kong season in 2025/26, which is an achievement in itself in terms of durability. As BEAUTY JOY winds closer to the end of his racing career, the performances of talented four-year-olds CAP FERRAT and BUNDLE AWARD in finishing second and third, respectively, in the Premier Plate added further authority to the form of this year’s impressive Classic generation.
After a short break because of Royal Ascot, we return to Happy Valley tonight (25 June) when the Beer Garden will echo to the sounds of Happy Wednesday’s Music Festival with the appearance of the talented MsLolo and her band and dancers.
Attendees can enjoy crafted food and beverages while watching nine world-class races at the spectacular city circuit.
The sporting highlight at Happy Valley on Wednesday night is the Class 3 Selkirk Handicap, which is carded as Race 9 and will be run at 10.50pm over 1200m with prizemoney of HK$1.86 million.
The pace will be good with HAPPY FAT CAT (Jerry Chau) likely to lead from gate eight. DRAGON FOUR SEAS (Zac Purton) and TRIUMPHANT MORE (James Orman) both have good gate speed and will settle in the leading group. STORM RIDER (Hugh Bowman) has drawn barrier one and will be prominent along with POWER KOEPP (Alexis Badel) from gate four.
DRAGON FOUR SEAS last start jumped well and settled second before launching a challenge in the straight and holding on to beat POWER KOEPP and SOVEREIGN FUND over this class and distance on 21 May. DRAGON FOUR SEAS has since been to Conghua, a process which has been a formula for success for trainer Manfred Man with this horse and he is a win and place chance.
POWER KOEPP has been in excellent form since switching to Mark Newnham’s stable with two wins and two seconds from his past four starts. He beat LUCKY EIGHT on 23 April in a close finish and last start charged late down the centre of the track to finish second to DRAGON FOUR SEAS. POWER KOEPP is holding form and is also a win and place chance.
STORM RIDER was rewarded for his consistency after three consecutive seconds over this course and distance when he settled just behind the pace and raced away in the straight to beat STORMING DRAGON on 4 June. STORM RIDER is a place chance.
YOUNG ARROW (Andrea Atzeni) appreciated the class drop scoring his first win in Hong Kong last start, when he was caught wide in running but kept coming in the straight to beat MY DAY MY WAY in the last few strides. That was a win full of merit and despite rising in class YOUNG ARROW is a place chance.
STORMING DRAGON (Ben Thompson), KYRUS DRAGON (Karis Teetan) and EVERSTAR (Harry Bentley) are in good form and have claims.
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