With only 11 days until the staging of the 2026 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on 22 March, it is appropriate that Happy Valley – the original site of the city’s most prestigious race – could have an influence on the final field selection.
LE ZONDA, who is currently rated 75, and CHINA WIN, who is rated 67, will contest the Class 3 Lyttelton Handicap (1800m) and will attempt to emulate BEAUTY ALLIANCE, who won the same race last season and secured the final place in the BMW Hong Kong Derby with a ratings jump of 12 points, from 65 to 77.
BEAUTY ALLIANCE won the Lyttelton Handicap by three-and-a-half lengths and ultimately participated in a thrilling 2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby won by CAP FERRAT from MY WISH, PACKING ANGEL, LO RIDER and RUBYLOT, with less than two lengths covering the first five horses across the line.
Given Happy Valley’s standing as the birthplace of the city’s most coveted race, it is apt that our iconic city venue could have a hand in potentially shaping the final BMW Hong Kong Derby field.
As it currently stands, both LE ZONDA and CHINA WIN would need to perform impressively to be considered for a place in the Derby field alongside talents such as LITTLE PARADISE (103), NUMBERS (100), SAGACIOUS LIFE (97), INVINCIBLE IBIS (94), INFINITE RESOLVE (89), PATCH OF COSMO (89), BEAUTY BOLT (88), TOP DRAGON (87), REGAL GEM (85), AKASHVANI (82), DAZZLING FIT (80) and POPE CODY (76).
Hong Kong’s world-class racing will continue at Happy Valley tonight (11 March), when the Beer Garden will glow in a blaze of lights tonight with the first of our three Neon Nights meetings. Reflecting Hong Kong’s long and spectacular association with vivid neon lights, the Beer Garden will be bathed in dazzling lights while attendees can enjoy retro disco music, a photo zone and street food.
International singer Beverly will lead the festivities, which will light up Happy Valley in truly spectacular fashion.
The competitive highlight at Happy Valley is the Class 3 Lyttelton Handicap, which is carded as Race 9 and will be run over 1800m at 10.50pm for prizemoney of HK$2,050,000.
The pace will be good with HIGHLAND RAHY going forward under Lyle Hewitson from gate six in search of the lead. ANOTHER WORLD (Vincent Ho) can hold a forward position from the inside barrier, with KEEFY (Matthew Poon) also prominent. MISTER DAPPER should settle near the lead from gate seven.
CHINA WIN is an emerging staying talent who came away for an easy win over AUDACIOUS PURSUIT here on 11 January, when he stormed home from a rearward position on the final turn. He then fought hard to beat LIVEANDLETLIVE in a driving finish on 28 January. Both wins were over 1800m, and he returns tonight after missing a run in February. Zac Purton will have him well positioned from gate three and CHINA WIN is a win and place chance.
MISTER DAPPER showed good speed from gate nine, to settle outside the leader and stayed on strongly in the straight to finally run down the leader WITHALLMYFAITH in the shadows of the post and then hold off MAX QUE in the last stride, to win over 1650m on 11 February. MISTER DAPPER has been to Conghua since and with regular rider Brenton Avdulla aboard is a place chance.
ENTHUSIUM made his local debut at Sha Tin on 14 February going back from a wide gate, settling near the rear of the field on the rails, before making good ground late to finish seventh to STORMY GROVE over 1600m. ENTHUSIUM didn’t have a lot of room in the first half of the straight in that run and can improve stepping out in trip. He’s a place chance for Dylan Browne McMonagle, despite drawing widest.
LE ZONDA is chasing a place in this year’s Derby field and shaped well on debut when sixth to WINNING WING over 2000m at Sha Tin on 25 January before having a torrid trip when caught wide and fading in the run home behind GENTLEMEN LEGACY on 19 February. LE ZONDA has trialed since and is capable of sharp improvement for Jerry Chau.
JUMBO LEGEND was a four-time winner at this track last season and showed he was close to winning form again last start when fourth to SOLEIL FIGHTER over this course and distance on 25 February. Hugh Bowman goes back aboard JUMBO LEGEND, and he is a place chance.
Providing pathways for homegrown talent is a priority for the Club and it is wonderful to see that Nichola Yuen will have the opportunity to ride as an apprentice jockey in Hong Kong after gaining extensive experience overseas.
Nichola, 25, received training at the Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School as part of the Racing Talent Training Centre before travelling in 2021 to Australia, where she rode a total of 61 winners before adding 10 more in New Zealand. More recently, Nicola rode seven more wins in South Africa.
Nichola joins fellow apprentice Britney Wong in Hong Kong’s ultra-competitive riding ranks and I wish her all the best for the future.
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