Cover image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Cummings off the mark in style
James Cummings has enjoyed success in many of Australia’s biggest races, but his first winner in Hong Kong carried a significance of its own.
The grandson of legendary Australian trainer Bart Cummings broke through when Grand Eagle (Farnan), owned by a syndicate headed by iconic Hong Kong trainer John Moore, stormed home to defeat the highly promising Mr Incredible (Toronado {Ire}) to also become the first winner for his sire Farnan in Hong Kong.
“My first international race win as a horse trainer. I’ve trained a few winners in my time, thankfully had the opportunity, but to do it for the first time on foreign soil is quite a unique feeling,” Cummings told scmp.com
“My first international race win as a horse trainer.” - James Cummings
Grand Eagle built on a solid first-up eighth in his first start for Cummings to claim the Class 3 handicap over 1400 metres.
The gelding had previously won twice and placed at Listed level in Australia for the Go Racing Syndicate, headed by Moore, Hong Kong’s most successful trainer with 1,735 wins and 30 Group One triumphs.
Cummings was pleased with the improvement shown by Grand Eagle second-up, crediting the horse’s ability and the support of his owners.
“John Moore and (brother) George Moore have got a great eye for a horse and Grand Eagle is just another lovely individual that they’ve thankfully trusted me with the care of and we’ve been delighted that he’s been able to improve vastly on the first-up run,” Cummings told scmp.com
James Cummings with his first international win at Sha Tin | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I believe the horse had a lot of hidden merit in his first-up effort and he vindicated that today, ridden with his trademark turn of foot. Jerry Chau, last season’s Tony Cruz Award winner, was able to get the horse to really lift, dash through and I suspect there’s a little bit more to come with this horse.”
The 38-year-old has embraced the challenge of training in Hong Kong, acknowledging the guidance of Moore and the willingness of rival trainers to share their experience.
Grand Eagle winning at Sha Tin | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I’ve got a great team. The guys in the stable are amazingly dedicated and they’re a pleasure to work with each and every day,” Cummings said.
“I’ve got a great team. The guys in the stable are amazingly dedicated and they’re a pleasure to work with each and every day.” - James Cummings
“So, you know, I find that training in Hong Kong’s been really quite enjoyable because I can get the sense that Hong Kong’s a bit of a city full of analysts, and I don’t mind that.
“I actually quite enjoy the analysis of horse racing in some places. I actually enjoy digging right into the details of how we get our horses to go well and I therefore do enjoy the atmosphere in Hong Kong, where absolutely everything I do comes under scrutiny, gets questioned.
“The (stable) boys, who are learning a little bit of a different style, have enjoyed coming on board with me and gradually changing the way they like to do things, as I have also learned from them to pick up on the way that things are done a little bit better in Hong Kong to suit the island style.
“(John Moore) has been able to give me some – well, actually a lot of confidence – in how to prepare this horse and I’ve had a couple of really good, long talks with John.
John Moore | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“Not only about Grand Eagle, but about Hong Kong in general and how to go about running your own business. And it’s an extra thing about Hong Kong that’s probably undervalued, is that the collegiate nature of the trainer’s group is such that a lot of the trainers are actually happy to help.
“I think that’s a pretty special quality in this training jurisdiction because it’s so competitive.”
Grand Eagle is a half-brother to the 2-year-old Listed winner Chilled (Shalaa {Ire}) and is one of three winners from three foals to race out of the Pierro mare Sauvignon, who raced only twice.
Sauvignon is a half-sister to the G3 Proud Miss Stakes winner Cleo Cat (American Pharoah {USA}) and belongs to the family of G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy (Fastnet Rock) and her Group 2-winning daughter Floozie (Zoustar).
Grand Eagle was purchased by George Moore Bloodstock for $300,000 from the Valiant Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Light Years Charm gives Eustace a Group 2 milestone
David Eustace enjoyed a landmark day in his Hong Kong training career when Light Years Charm (Rubick) rattled home to win the G2 Sha Tin Trophy over 1600 metres, forming the headline of a brilliant treble for the stable.
The 6-year-old Light Years Charm gelding secured his second black type success by defeating Patch of Theta (Zoustar) and My Wish (Flying Artie) in an all-Australian-bred trifecta.
The result also lifted Eustace, into second place on the trainers’ premiership.
“The team are doing a great job. I thought we had a nice team of horses for the season and they’ve started in good form – hopefully they can continue,” Eustace tols scmp.com.
Light Years Charm had already delivered Eustace his first Group 3 victory in Hong Kong when winning last season’s Lion Rock Trophy over the same distance.
With experience continuing to bring out the best in him, Light Years Charm now looks capable of taking another step forward. Eustace is eyeing a major test in December, although the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile may not be the preferred target.
Light Years Charm winning the G2 Sha Tin Trophy | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Instead, the trainer believes the improving gelding could be better suited to a longer distance and is considering the Hong Kong Cup, particularly with Romantic Warrior absent from the staying picture.
Eustace had expected Light Years Charm to run well under the circumstances, although he acknowledged the challenge posed by the favourite.
“I thought he could run well, given the draw and the weight – obviously that brings those horses down the bottom (of the weights) into play. I thought if it went smooth throughout, he could run well. Obviously I thought the favourite would be hard to beat,” Eustace said.
David Eustace receiving the silver dish after Light Years Charm won the G2 Sha Tin | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He showed he stays this trip well towards the end of last year and is still improving. We’ve been working back from December – I was keen to target the Hong Kong Cup, I feel he’ll stay that well.
“I think at level weights over a mile at Group One level, he’d probably find a few too sharp. Whether that changes after today I’m not sure, I’ll analyse the race and see what Karis has to say, but pulling up he wasn’t having too much of a blow. I think he appears to be a natural stayer and at this stage we’ll still go in that direction.
“Karis said it went very smoothly and he got into a lovely rhythm. I was keen to hold the fence, he’s a big horse that needs momentum and is not a horse who wants to be held up. If it opened up for him, then great; and if it didn’t, it might be another day. I just felt trying to angle out and ask for a turn of foot, he’s not really that type. It all worked out well, but you need that in Hong Kong.”
Karis Teetan receiving the silver dish after Light Years Charm won the G2 Sha Tin | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Light Years Charm was purchased for just $3,750 from the Amarina Farm draft at the Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale.
He is the best of three winners from four foals to race out of Dancer’s Rose (Dehere {USA}), a winning granddaughter of the dual Group 3 winner Hula Wonder (Hula Chief {NZ}). The extended family has also produced Group winners Sugar Bella (Not A Single Doubt) and Gumdrops (Written Tycoon).
Shannon Glow and Ace Eagle make up the treble
Eustace opened his big day with a pair of promising younger horses, beginning with Shannon Glow (Fierce Impact {Jpn}) in the first section of the Class Four Sun Chui Handicap over 1400 metres.
The trainer believes the gelding has the scope to step up in distance, despite the demands of the race.
“I thought the 1400m would be too sharp, to be honest and would be the minimum distance wise. I am sure it is. He might even go straight to the mile and we’ll see how he comes through it," Cummings told scmp.com.
“I’ve always liked him. I wasn’t so shocked that he was backed a bit because I thought his trials were sort of under the radar, but OK, and he’s definitely a horse that can handle further.
Shannon Glow was the first runner for Lovatsville's Fierce Impact (Jpn) in Hong Kong, so he now has a 100% winning strike rate. He is out of the unraced Snitzel mare Under The Stars who comes from the family of the Group winners Sky Love (Octagonal {NZ}) and Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt) and the Group 1 winner Sky Cuddle (Snippets).
Shannon Glow was purchased by Beamish Bloodstock for $47,500 from the Collingrove Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Eustace’s third winner was another exciting prospect, with Ace Eagle (Bivouac) building on a heartbreaking debut second last season to score decisively over 1200 metres.
The trainer was encouraged by the gelding’s ability to respond under pressure but stressed that patience would be important as he develops.
“I think he’s quite talented, but he’s still got a long way to go to be a complete racehorse. It’s a credit to him today, that he was challenged for the majority of the race and was still able to find a way to win,” Eustace told scmp.com.
“The talent is there, but I won’t rush him.”
Ace Eagle was initially passed in short of his $150,000 reserve when offered at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Later that year, Eustace purchased the Bivouac gelding who is out of the five-time winner and Listed placed Lipstick Lover (I Am Invincible), who is a half-sister to the G1 Randwick Guineas winner and sire Ilovethiscity for NZ$260,000 from the Riversley Park draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
Supreme Voyager takes Yip to 900 Hong Kong wins
Dennis Yip became just the eighth trainer to reach 900 Hong Kong wins when Supreme Voyager (All Too Hard) captured Monday’s Class Four Sun Tin Wai Handicap over 1000 metres at Sha Tin.
The milestone placed Yip in an elite group alongside leading trainers including John Moore, John Size, Tony Cruz and Caspar Fownes.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to get to 900,” Yip told racing.hkjc.com.
“I’m happy.”
“I’ve been waiting a long time to get to 900, I’m happy.” - Dennis Yip
Supreme Voyager’s victory was also Yip’s first win of the current season.
“(Supreme Voyager) is a big horse. The last two times he didn’t draw well, so we needed to take him back, but this time he drew eight, so I told Bentley ‘he should be midfield’. He did everything right.”
Supreme Voyager was purchased by Tartan Meadow Bloodstock Ltd for $140,000 from the Marquee Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He is one of six winners out of the American Listed winner Link To My Heart (USA) (Stravisnky {USA}).
Baby Sakura keeps Classic Series hopes alive
Francis Lui’s 4-year-old Baby Sakura (Tagaloa) remained on course for the 4-year-old Classic Series with victory in the card-closing Class Three Wo Che Handicap over 1400 metres under Vincent Ho, who completed a double.
The exciting Tagaloa gelding has won five of his eight career starts, including his past three in succession.
Baby Sakura is out of the unraced Bel Esprit mare True Priority, who has left three winners. The extended family includes Group 2 winner and G1 Metropolitan Handicap placegetter Vanquished (Hector Protector {USA}), as well as G3 Cheltenham Stakes winner Sister Shirley (Kaoru Star).
True Priority has also produced a 3-year-old gelding named Truant (Pinatubo {Ire}), a 2-year-old filly by Harry Angel (Ire) and a yearling colt by Street Boss (USA). She missed to Street Boss last spring.
