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Frankie Lor’s Smart Golf heads rising young guns at Sha Tin
A group of progressive young horses will look to continue their upward trajectory at Sha Tin on Sunday, headed by Frankie Lor-trained Smart Golf (Needs Further). The Australian-bred four-year-old impressed last start when scoring his second win from four runs this season, powering home by 2.5 lengths in a Class 4 (1200m) three weeks ago while carrying top weight. That performance earned Smart Golf a nine-point rating rise and promotion to Class 3, where he will contest the Kowloon City Handicap (1200m) under Harry Bentley. Bentley said the gelding had the ability to cope with the step up in grade despite drawing barrier ten. “That wider barrier makes things a little more difficult but he shows good gate speed early,” Bentley said. “If we can get into a similar position to last time, I’d be happy. The rise to Class 3 is a challenge but he’s carrying less weight, so I think he’s up to it.” Another runner on the rise is Turquoise Velocity (Zoustar), trained by Francis Lui. The four-year-old has won two of his three starts this season and will contest the Lok Sin Tong Cup Handicap (1000m) with Keith Yeung retaining the ride. “I’ve liked him since day one and he’s always shown good ability,” Yeung said. “He’s progressing well and I’m really happy with how he’s going.” Meanwhile, Caspar Fownes-trained Papaya Brose (Zousain) will seek to build on an impressive debut victory when he lines up in the Lung Kong Handicap (1400m) under Hugh Bowman.
Little Paradise and Stormy Grove headline Hong Kong Derby field
Toronado (High Chaparral) pair Little Paradise and Stormy Grove headline the 14 selected runners for next Sunday’s HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby (Listed, 2000m) at Sha Tin. The 149th running of the city’s most prestigious race forms the final leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series. Top-rated Little Paradise (103) will chase a seventh career win after claiming the Hong Kong Classic Mile (Listed, 1600m) for trainer Jimmy Ting, while Stormy Grove stamped his Derby credentials with a powerful late surge to capture the Hong Kong Classic Cup (Listed, 1800m) for Frankie Lor. Lor will also saddle Numbers (Tivaci), winner of the Centenary Vase (Gr 3, 1800m), alongside Regal Gem (Zoustar). Other leading contenders include Invincible Ibis (Hellbent), runner-up to Stormy Grove in the Classic Cup for Mark Newnham, and Patch Of Cosmo (Super Seth), a fast-finishing third in the same race for Manfred Man. Pierre Ng will saddle Brazilian Group 1 winner Sagacious Life (Put It Back), while John Size – a three-time Derby-winning trainer – runs Juneau Pride (Pride Of Dubai), who steps up to 2000 metres for the first time. The race has produced many of Hong Kong’s modern champions, including Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro), Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) and Voyage Bubble (Deep Field).
19 for Kitasan Black
Basse Terre (3 c ex Mambia by Aldebaran) became the 19th individual stakes winner for Shadai Stallion Station’s Kitasan Black (Black Tide) when landing Sunday’s Yayoi Sho (Gr 2, 2000m) at Nakayama. Ridden by Yuga Kawada for trainer Takashi Saito, the three-year-old colt defeated Reichsadler (Siskin) by three-quarters of a length, with a further neck back to Admire Quads (Real Steel) in third. Out of the French Group 3-winning mare Mambia (Aldebaran), Basse Terre is a brother to winner Mikki Harmony and a half-brother to multiple other winners. Kitasan Black is standing the 2026 northern hemisphere breeding season at a fee of ¥25,000,000 (approx. AU$225,260).