Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Third double in a row for Purton
Champion jockey Zac Purton has punched out his third double across the first three successive Hong Kong meetings. On Sunday he won on Manfred Man’s Ruby Thrive (Anders) and Danny Shum’s Nyx Gluck (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).
“It was a nice win, he obviously had a light weight and a good gate (barrier one), but he had to take another step from what he was doing last season,” Purton said of Nyx Gluck.
“They went hard and had him out of his comfort zone a little bit. He had to shoulder his way through but once he balanced up, he got to the line nicely.”
Nyx Gluck was purchased by Golden River Investments and Johnny Chen for NZ$160,000 from New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale’s Westbury Stud draft. It was his third win and took his earnings over HK$3.2 million (AU$570,000).
Trainers Shum and Man both finished the meeting with doubles. Man winning with Ruby Thrive and Rattan Galaxy (NZ) (Exceed And Excel) and Shum winning with Nyx Gluck and Happy Shooter (Deep Field).
“Ruby Thrive is only four years old and I think he can still improve. I think he can also handle 1200 metres, he just needs a bit of time,” Man told scmp.com.
Ruby Thrive was having his fifth start and had placed last start at the opening meeting of the season. Sold three times, he was originally a Bhima Thoroughbreds offering at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale where he made $75,000 to the bid of Dusit Thani Investments. He went through Rathmore Lodge’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale draft where Kilgravin Lodge paid $60,000 for him, and they pinhooked him through the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale for NZ$120,000 to Manfred Man.
He is the first winner for Whisper Delovely (Poet’s Voice {GB}) who is a winning half-sister to stakes-placed Momack (Uncle Mo {USA}).
Records fall on track again
The fast surface at Sha Tin followed the same pattern as last Sunday, where Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) lowered his own 1200-metre record by a second. This weekend, the class five 1400-metre record was broken twice, first by Manfred Man-trained Rattan Galaxy who set a new 1400-metre class record of 1:21.26s.
“It’s been difficult for him to win because he’s been too nervous. I think the rating and the draw helped him a lot. I hope (he can win more races) – it’s hard to say,” Man told scmp.com of Rattan Galaxy.
Rattan Galaxy arrived unraced in Hong Kong in early 2025 and this was his maiden win after 13 starts there. Pencarrow Stud sold him at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$200,000 to Cheltenham Stables who put him through their New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft where Jamie Richards and Andrew Williams Bloodstock paid NZ$450,000 for him. He took his earnings over HK$905,000 (AU$161,000). Rattan Galaxy is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Lilikoi (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).
The record only lasted for two races when Cody Mo-trained Draco (Deep Field) lowered it to 1:21.01s. He was ridden by Derek Leung, who scored a double on David Hayes-trained Absolute Awakened (NZ) (Ardrossan).
Deep Field's double continues the theme
Draco’s record-breaking win over 1400 metres led a double for his sire Deep Field with his other winner being Danny Shum-trained Happy Shooter. The win was a surprise with Draco going scoreless in his first 22 starts in Hong Kong, having been there since late 2023. He was sold by Yarraman Park Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale to Golden River Investments, who also bought Nyx Gluck, along with All Winners Thoroughbreds for $280,000.
Draco might have been winning his maiden in style, but he’s also been placed six times along the way and took his earnings over HK$1.5 million (AU$260,000) with the victory. Draco is one of five winners for Discreet (Show A Heart) whose eight victories include the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes.
Ridden by Lyle Hewitson, Happy Shooter was a HK$3.6 million (AU$640,000) Hong Kong International Sale graduate. Happy Shooter took his record to two wins from 14 starts and earnings over HK$2.2 million (AU$390,000).
Happy Shooter is one of five winners for G3 Eulogy Stakes winner Whistling Dixie (NZ) (Pins) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Atmosphere (NZ) (Savabeel) and a full sister to Group 2-placed Mark Two (NZ).
Deep Field’s final crop of six live foals are currently 3-year-olds, with five of them named and only one raced so far.
Jockeys table isn’t very well spread
Across the 10-race card, three jockeys scored a brace taking out six of the races together. Ellis Wong scored on Caspar Fownes-trained Alpha Strike (I Am Immortal) and Pierre Ng-trained Luck Is Back (Brz) (Put It Back {USA}).
“I’m just trying to do my best this season, I got a lot of support last season and I’m hoping to get even more support from outside and ride more winners than I did last time,” Wong said.
“I got a lot of suspensions last season too and this season I’m trying to improve that. Sometimes when I get suspended, I will talk with Caspar Fownes and of course, I will find Felix (Coetzee, jockey coach) sometimes too, to ask about the suspensions and to review my rides and what he suggests.”
Ellis Wong aboard Alpha Strike | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Alpha Strike took his record to three wins from eight starts when resuming for this campaign.
“He jumped good but half way, he started to shift. I tried to keep him straight but he still tried to hang in. But he won tough. I think he likes that fresh feeling. I’m very happy today and so happy to win for Boss (Fownes),” Wong said.
Alpha Strike won on debut at Ipswich and was sent to Hong Kong where he won his first start there in October 2025. He’s mixed his form since with a couple of fourths last season and this win took his earnings over HK$3.8 million (AU$670,000). Offered twice for sale by A List Stud, he wasn’t sold through the ring. He is the first foal of Mutual Admiration (Not A Single Doubt) who is a daughter of three-time Listed winner Fascinatin’ Rhythm (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}).
“Very happy for Ellis, he’s been working very hard so he deserves some luck coming his way. I hope he can continue to improve,” Fownes said.
Luck Is Back was unbeaten in four starts, twice at Group 1 level, as a 3-year-old in Brazil, and this was his first win in Hong Kong.
State funeral could shift next Sha Tin meeting
With the state funeral for Hong Kong’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, likely to happen next Sunday, the Hong Kong Jockey Club are planning to move next Sunday’s meeting out of respect.
“We have no inside information. We don’t know if something will happen,” Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges told scmp.com on Sunday.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“We wait for the decision whenever it is made and we will then make the right step. We have done scenario plans.”
Shipping tycoon Tung Chee-hwa died last Tuesday aged 89. He was the first leader of Hong Kong after the end of British colonial rule in 1997 and led the “one country, two systems” philosophy for the region. He remained in the role of Chief Executive of Hong Kong until 2005.
