Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Yuen continues great run of form
With Sha Tin and Happy Valley swapping days this week, and Sunday’s meeting being held at Happy Valley, apprentice jockey Nichola Yuen added another victory to her treble at Sha Tin on Wednesday to cement her place in second behind Zac Purton on the jockey’s table.
She won on James Cummings-trained Falcon Hunter (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) to give Cummings his first winner at the valley and to take her to 17 wins for the term.
“I spoke to his owner Alex (Chan) last start and we agreed third-up he would be absolutely cherry ripe to break through and it’s worked out there, aided by a beautiful ride by Nichola, who accepted that Plan A would be the box seat, but was open-minded to lead if the race allowed,” Cummings told scmp.com.
“It’s lovely to be here and it’s a pleasure to get our first winner at Happy Valley.”
Unfortunately for Yuen, being an apprentice means not being eligible for the International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) in December, so the two spots for local jockeys will go to the next two locals in the championships. Jerry Chau on 15 and Vincent Ho, who rode a double to take him to 14, are the most likely contenders, but chasing with seven meetings to go are Derek Leung (11), James Orman (10) and Karis Teetan (9).
Falcon Hunter has massively improved his form since joining the Cummings stable with two second placings before Sunday’s victory. He’d had eight starts prior for one third. The 4-year-old gelding took his earnings to HK$992,000 (AU$180,000).
CL Chan paid NZ$80,000 for Falcon Hunter from The Oaks Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft. He is the second foal and only winner for Evana Rahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who has a 2-year-old full brother to Falcon Hunter to come. The dual winner Evana Rahma is a full sister to G1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner Catalyst (NZ).
Lui and Teetan both celebrate doubles
Trainer Francis Lui and jockey Karis Teetan teamed up with Turquoise Velocity (Zoustar) while James Orman rode Lui’s Superb King (Written Tycoon) to give the trainer a double on the card. It improved a slow start to the season for Lui, who has only three wins from 87 runners so far.
“Yeah, a little bit (slow) – many seconds,” Lui told scmp.com.
It was the first win for Superb King, who placed on debut in Australia as Roman Script before heading to Hong Kong, where his 19 starts included seven more placings.
“Today, his handicap dropped a little bit, which helped. He’s always been honest and always close. Sometimes, when a horse wins, his mind can change, but I’m not sure. I hope he can win again,” Lui said of the 5-year-old gelding. The first foal of city winner Appian Way (Exceed And Excel) was an $80,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale graduate from Newgate Farm and was bought by Matt Vella Breeze Up.
But it was Turquoise Velocity who got the fans cheering with his victory in the feature race, the Kwangtung Cup. Placed in his last three starts, Teetan decided to sit behind the leaders rather than in his usual leading position, and he took the lead into the straight to win by 1.25 lengths.
“He’s a horse that’s actually been maturing really nicely,” Teetan said.
“He’s got a lot of ability, but last season he wasn’t fully mature and doing everything right. He just sort of ran to his ability and running with his speed and hoping to hold on, whereas this season he’s come back a more mature horse. You can see now that he can actually take a sit and he can quicken up. I think today was a good win and the way he felt underneath me, I feel like there’s some more improvement to come.”
Lui was pleased with the victory. “Finally! He can chase – before he would just lead all the way. I think he’s learning, especially from his last run when he tried to chase the other horse in front. It depends on the programme (for next step). I think both tracks suit him and he’ll stay at 1200 metres.”
Turquoise Velocity took his record to five wins from 13 starts with another five placings and earnings over HK$7.2 million (AU$1.3 million). He’s done all his racing in Hong Kong and came to the region after a trial win at Wodonga.
Middlebrook Valley Lodge sold him for $180,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale to T Nolen, but he was withdrawn from the breeze-up sales. He’s a year-younger half-brother to Group 1 winner Caballus (I Am Invincible) and one of seven winners from as many to race for Group 3-placed Calming Influence (Commands). Her 2-year-old filly Ole’s Influencer (Ole Kirk) is followed by a yearling filly by Zoustar.
Teetan rode Danny Shum-trained Eternal Fortune (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) to get himself a brace. It was Eternal Fortune’s first win since January 2025 and took his record to five wins, two in Hong Kong.
On The Way gets underway with nice win
Sale topper On The Way (Snitzel), ridden by Dylan Mo, won the last on the card and formed a double for trainer Me Tsui, who also won with Fast Speed (GB) (Kingman {GB}), ridden by Matthew Chadwick.
“I’m very happy,” Mo said. “The owners of this horse give me a lot of support, and Me Tsui also supports me. I just keep working hard and always do my best.”
On The Way, a 5-year-old gelding, has a massive pedigree, being a full brother to G1 Golden Slipper winner Estijaab and Group 3 winner Remarque. This led to him being a $1.4 million purchase by Kia Ora Stud and TFI from Arrowfield Stud’s 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft. Named Secure, and unraced as a 2-year-old, he had three ordinary starts as a spring 3-year-old and was gelded. The ultimate gear change made the difference and he won twice in Sydney before being placed on Inglis Digital.
He topped the June (late) 2025 digital sale at $500,000 when bought by CY Wong and was sent to Hong Kong. This was his second start in the region and took his career tally to three wins from eight starts.
His dam, G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and G1 Robert Sangster Stakes winner, Response (Charge Forward) finished her four-win career when sixth behind the wonderful Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) in the G1 Patinack Classic (now the G1 VRC Champions Sprint).
On The Way’s 2-year-old full sister Eternal Love was an $850,000 purchase by Neil Jenkinson (FBAA) from Arrowfield Stud’s 2026 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft and is in work with John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Grit Spirit lives up to name with gritty victory
Frankie Lor-trained Grit Spirit (Dundeel {NZ}) was ridden by Jerry Chau to a tough win. A winner on debut at Scone when named Dunleary, Grit Spirit was celebrating his first win in Hong Kong at his seventh start in the region. It was his first start over 1650 metres, having previously only run at 1400 metres and shorter.
“Last season, he still wasn’t very good, but in his first two races this season, he has gone better. He finished third and then last time fifth, so I stepped him up to 1650 metres. He got a good draw (barrier three) and that made it easier for the jockey. His sire is Dundeel, so 1600 metres and further will work for him. I hope he can keep going,” Lor said.
Sommita Syndications paid $210,000 for him from Arrowfield Stud’s 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft, and he was a private sale to Hong Kong after his debutant win. Grit Spirit is a half-brother to G1 South African Classic winner Heavenly Blue (Snitzel) and is one of three winners for mile winner Simply Carina (USA) (El Prado {Ire}). Simply Carina is a daughter of four-time Grade 1 winner Astra (USA) (Theatrical {USA}).
