Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Respectful and charitable race day
The Hong Kong Jockey Club ran Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting without the public as a mark of respect for those affected by the terrible apartment fire in Tai Po. The fire is the deadliest in 70 years, with 146 people confirmed deceased as at Monday morning, with a further 40 still unaccounted for. Another 79 people remain in hospital, with over 1800 people moved into temporary housing and hotels.
The HKJC initially committed HK$100 million (AU$19.6 million) through its Jockey Club Emergency Relief Fund to provide for the immediate needs of families of the deceased and those most directly affected, and then announced that gross proceeds from Sunday’s meeting would be added to the donation. This took the total to HK$170.2 million (AU$33.7 million).
“I want to express my deep condolences to all of those who have been affected by this tragic fire,” Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges told scmp.com.
“I hope that we conducted today’s race meeting with the utmost respect. We will look at what arrangements we will make for next week because we are of the view that even on Wednesday, even though the period of mourning is three days, I don’t believe that we should go Wednesday to a full Happy Wednesday.
“It’s not the right time. We have to be very mindful of the feelings of people. We are of the view that we will admit the public but the activities will definitely not be in normal mode.”
A minute’s silence was held prior to the meeting commencing. Only trainers, owners, stewards, and voting members were on course.
G1 Steward’s Cup plan for Hong Lok Golf
Trainer Chris So will target the G1 Steward’s Cup over a mile in January with Hong Lok Golf (Grunt {NZ}) who returned to form with victory over the same distance in the feature race of the day, the Chevalier Cup.
“I think the owner (Jackie Wong) is happier than me – he expected more. We got a good draw and this time the pace was more suitable and we got a good position,” So told scmp.com.
“Last time we went too far in front and maybe he was just a bit tired after his comeback. We talked before and I said ‘make sure you get midfield, don’t go too far’. The horse has a really good heart – every time in the straight the horse gives you 100 per cent.”
Hong Lok Golf won six of his first seven starts. He resumed this season with a third, before an uncharacteristic sixth last start. He took his earnings over HK$10.4 million (AU$2.04 million) and was ridden by Harry Bentley.
Hong Lok Golf | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Sold by Yulong at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $60,000 to John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA), the 5-year-old gelding was a trial winner at Colac in the spring of 2023 before arriving in Hong Kong. Hong Lok Golf is the third foal of unraced Sky Island (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who doesn’t have a yearling this year, and had a colt by Adelaide (Ire) this spring. Sky Island is a half-sister to dual G2 Hardwicke Stakes winner Maraahel (Ire) (Alzao {USA}).
Tricky treble for Purton
Jockey Zac Purton is on track for his ninth jockey’s championship in Hong Kong, even at this early stage of the season, after riding another treble on Sunday. He won on Pierre Ng-trained Majestic Valour (Toronado {Ire}), Ricky-Yiu trained Packing Glory (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}), and David Eustace-trained Colourful King (Blue Point {Ire}).
Zac Purton | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“It was a really good effort (by Colourful King), it’s really hard to win from that side of the track,” Purton told hkjc.com, referring to barrier two up the straight course.
“I thought there was no choice but to take him back and go across. The speed was always going to be there and it was just a matter of whether the race came and we had enough time to reel them in and he’s done it in really good fashion.”
Majestic Valour was on debut, having won a trial in New Zealand in March this year before heading to Hong Kong. “He trialled well in New Zealand, that’s why we got him, and we gave him four trials here and he did it easily. He’s got the ability and good size, so hopefully he can improve,” Ng said.
Majestic Valour was sold by Cornerstone Stud at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $110,000 to Tartan Meadow Bloodstock. He is one of three winners for winning mare Margiela (Redoute’s Choice) whose last foal is an unraced colt by Highland Reel (Ire). Toronado has built a strong reputation in Hong Kong with the likes of Group 1 winner Victor The Winner and stakes winners Helios Express, Senor Toba, etc.
Yiu’s exciting debutant leads a double
Purton’s winners included one leg of two doubles for trainers David Eustace and Ricky Yiu. Yiu won with 4-year-old gelding Packing Glory and Victory Sky (U S Navy Flag) who was ridden by Hollie Doyle. “The horse (Packing Glory) has got talent. He’s a nice up-and-coming horse. He doesn’t know what he’s doing,” Yiu told scmp.com.
“Zac came back in and said it’s not easy to win first up with that draw (barrier two) and it obviously shows that he has some talent. If you want him to be one of the top horses over the spring, you’ve got to get 1200 (metres).”
Packing Glory was on debut having won a trial in New Zealand in October 2024 before heading to Hong Kong. He was the equal second top lot at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale of 2023, costing Tartan Meadow Bloodstock and Andrew Williams Bloodstock NZ$800,000.
Of note, the top lot at that sale, Megastar Heart (Star Turn), who cost NZ$825,000 is a Listed winner. Patch Of Stars (All Too Hard) who equalled Packing Glory in price at that sale has won his last two in succession in Hong Kong.
Packing Glory was originally sold by Inglewood Stud at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$150,000 to RTR Partnership and McKeever Bloodstock, who on-sold him through the Kilgravin Lodge draft.
He is the first foal of Group 3-placed Monrecour (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}), and his full brother is in the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for 2026 as Lot 559.
Eustace has sights set on Derby
Trainer David Eustace had a double with Purton-ridden Colourful King and then James McDonald rode Dazzling Fit (NZ) (Ribchester {Ire}) to victory in the last on the card. Dazzling Fit will head towards the 4-Year-Old Series. “You’re hopeful when you go to the races with a nice team of horses, but I thought we were a bit unfortunate with barriers,” Eustace told scmp.com.
“Both horses that won probably had the worst barriers you could think of, but they got terrific rides.
“(Dazzling Fit) did it very tough and I thought at the halfway stage, if he still ran well it would be a super performance, so I thought to win was a really good effort. I had a mile race in three weeks penned in for him when I saw the draw and thought that it would be tough to win, but now I’m not sure where he goes next.
“I view him as a Derby horse, not necessarily a Classic Mile horse but after today, that’s probably a bit unfair, so we’ll see.” Dazzling Fit has won three of his seven starts and has done all his racing in Hong Kong.
He was sold by Haunui Farm at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale to Tartan Meadows Bloodstock for NZ$115,000. He is one of five winners for Sapphire Lass (Charge Forward) who is out of a stakes-placed daughter of G1 Golden Slipper winner Polar Success (Success Express {USA}).
