Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Caspar Fownes’ milestone came amid a fiercely contested trainers’ championship early in the season, while further down the card Derby aspirations began to simmer and several stables continued their strong runs of form.
Fownes makes history at Sha Tin
Caspar Fownes became only the fourth trainer in Hong Kong racing history to reach 1200 wins at Sha Tin on Saturday, sealing the milestone with a double that also propelled him level at the top of the 2025/26 trainers’ championship.
“It’s great to know that we’re in the top three or four of Hong Kong (racing history),” Fownes told hkjc.com
“I’ve still got a few years left in me, hopefully, so we’ll just keep building on that 1200 - I’m very happy to hit it.”
“I’ve still got a few years left in me, hopefully, so we’ll just keep building on that 1200 - I’m very happy to hit it.” - Caspar Fownes
The historic winner came courtesy of Sky Vino (Vino Rosso {USA}), who unleashed a powerful finish from the rear to claim the Class 3 TVB Lo And Behold Handicap on the dirt. It was a performance full of authority and hinted at bigger targets ahead.
Fownes has long held the gelding in high regard.
“I’ve always had a high opinion of the horse and, actually, he’s come up a bit short for me this season. I really thought it was my Derby horse. But, you know what? Sometimes horses in Hong Kong just need a little bit of time.
“The kid (Wong) was very patient on him, and he quickened up nice from the back of the field.”
Caspar Fownes | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
The double was completed when Sky Trust (So You Think {NZ}) dug deep to edge out Invincible Shield (I Am Invincible) in a tight Class 2 finish.
Sky Trust was purchased by K Kwan for NZ$270,000 from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. Lyndhurst Farm had earlier sourced the colt from the Lustre Lodge draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale.
He has now registered six wins between 1200 metres and 1600 metres, banking just over HK$9.8 million (approximately AU$1.77 million) in prizemoney.
Lui and Atzeni continue their charge with doubles
Francis Lui added to his recent momentum with a double of his own, continuing a productive stretch that has seen the 2023/24 Champion trainer climb to fifth in the standings with 15 winners since the turn of the year.
Amazing Partners (Pierata) made it back-to-back victories as Vincent Ho drove the favourite clear in the Class 4 TVB Yan Oi Charity Show Handicap over 1400 metres in a sharp time of 1.21.58.
The promising gelding has a strong extended family, he is out of the placed Starspangledbanner mare Dizzy Diva, who is out of the Listed Ethereal Stakes winner Dizlago (Encosta De Lago).
Dizlago is a half-sister to the G1 Victorian Oaks winner Pinot (Pierro), and is out of the G1 Australian Oaks winner Dizelle (Zabeel {NZ}).
Amazing Partners was purchased by Magus Equine for $250,000 from the Tyreel Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale
Lui then completed his brace when Turquoise Velocity (Zoustar) recorded his second win from just three career starts in the Class 3 TVB Midlife, Sing & Shine Handicap over 1000 metres under Keith Yeung.
The Zoustar galloper, a half-brother to Caballus (I Am Invincible) - runner-up in the G2 Expressway Stakes behind Joliestar (Zoustar) earlier in the day - appears to have considerable upside.
“He’s fast and the light weight helped – I think his second run was ‘second run syndrome’ with top weight, and he was a bit nervous,” Lui told scmp.com
“He’s more mature and after this run he’ll have more confidence. He ran a very quick time.”
“He’s (Amazing Partners) more mature and after this run he’ll have more confidence. He ran a very quick time.” - Francis Lui
“He will keep improving and I don’t think Class Three will be a problem,” said Lui. “I rate him highly and I think he can step up in distance too.”
Francis Lui | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Turquoise Victory is one of six winners for his five-time winning and Group 3-placed dam Calming Influence (Commands). His grandam Calming (Zeditave) was a Listed winner, and this is the extended family of the R. Listed Inglis Nursery Stakes winner Saltaire (Star Turn).
Andrea Atzeni also enjoyed a productive afternoon, partnering a double to continue his strong run of form. He first guided the Tony Cruz-trained Serangoon (Ilovethiscity) to a determined success in the Class 4 TVB Pok Oi Charity Show Handicap over 1800 metres, the 6-year-old ending a near 12-month drought.
Atzeni then combined with progressive 4-year-old Chill Buddy (Flying Artie), who justified market support with a breakthrough win in the Class 3 TVB Yan Chai Charity Show Handicap over 1200 metres.
Stormy Grove enters the Derby conversation
While Fownes’ milestone headlined proceedings, Stormy Grove (Toronado {Ire}) ensured the final race added its own layer of intrigue with a commanding display in the Class 3 Miss Hong Kong Pageant Handicap over the mile distance.
Settled last from barrier 14 by Harry Bentley, the Australian-bred produced a blistering turn of foot in the straight to reel in Without Compare (Brutal {NZ}) and score by three-quarters of a length.
Though he does not currently hold an entry for next month’s Hong Kong Derby and was only rated just 68 prior to Saturday’s victory, trainer Frankie Lor confirmed owners Lily Chan Li-lei and Marc Chan will deliberate over paying the late entry fee.
“The horse was only rated 60-something, so I talked to the owners and said ‘maybe we don’t think at this moment we should enter him for the Derby,” Lor told scmp.com
“If his points go up, then maybe we will,” Lor said of Stormy Grove, whose rating should rise to at least 75.
“If he (Stormy Grove) can relax and have a strong finish, maybe we will enter him for the Derby.” - Francis Lor
“Like today, if he can relax and have a strong finish, maybe we will enter him for the Derby. This time was a big surprise because he was at the back and came past them.
“He raced left-handed two times (in Australia) and came to Hong Kong and we race right-handed, so we needed plenty of time to teach him how to change legs. He keeps improving.”
Frankie Lor | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Stormy Grove won impressively on debut at Geelong in December 2024 for trainers Patrick and Michelle Payne, before finishing an excellent second at Flemington in B70 Saturday grade, after which he was exported to Hong Kong.
Out of the placed Exceed And Excel mare Seagrove, Stormy Grove is one of five winners from the mare, including the five-time winner and Listed-placed sprinter Deekay (Hellbent).
This is the extended family of the outstanding stayer Hill Of Grace (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), winner of the G1 Australasian Oaks and the G2 Moonee Valley Oaks, and placed in the G1 New Zealand Derby, G1 New Zealand Oaks, G1 Ranvet Stakes and the G1 MacKinnon Stakes.
Stormy Grove was originally purchased by P George for $135,000 from the Collingrove Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
