Caspar Fownes shines with Happy Valley four-timer
Reprising his role as ‘King of the Valley,’ Caspar Fownes vaulted to the top of the 2025/26 Hong Kong trainers’ championship with a quartet at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Hong Kong’s most successful trainer at the track, Fownes boosted his career tally of wins at Happy Valley to 633 after combining with Ellis Wong to post a race-to-race double with Silver Spurs (Charm Spirit) and Mighty Commander (Artie Schiller) before Hugh Bowman triumphed on Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock), with Harry Bentley delivering a fourth success on Lo Rider (Harzand).
“Half the card, so very happy – it’s a good night. I thought I would have a good night coming here tonight but racing is racing. You always need some luck,” Fownes said after talented Lo Rider claimed a PP Bonus of HK$3 million (approx. AU$580,500) by winning the Class 2 Shek O Handicap (1650m) to crown a stellar meeting for the four-time Hong Kong champion trainer.
“I’m very happy, especially for the last winner [Lo Rider] because the owner [Caspar Fownes Trainer Syndicate] gets a big bonus and the horse is first time at Happy Valley, so it was nice to see a great effort. So, all in all, it’s been a lovely night.
“I’m very proud of him and he’s a chance to continue on. He performed very well last season and ran a close fourth in the [Hong Kong] Derby and a lot of his runs were very close and obviously in Hong Kong when you have your second season, you can start to settle into the system, especially being a European horse, and progress – and he’s doing that.”
Formerly known as Sharinay, the Harzand (Sea The Stars) gelding won twice in Ireland before transferring to Fownes’ stable.
Jubilant after firing in a brace, Wong said: “It’s good, especially to have these winners for Caspar, he gives me a lot of support. Both horses ran well, so it’s great.”
Silver Spurs justified Fownes’ patience with victory in the Class 5 Chung Hom Kok Handicap (1000m). The Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) gelding suffered a lung infection in 2024 and pastern injuries earlier in 2025 before prevailing at his 11th start.
Wong angled Mighty Commander away from the fence to have the Artie Schiller (El Prado) gelding in a striking position mid-race before surging to his second win in 16 Hong Kong starts.
Rocket Spade continued to build a strong record at Happy Valley with victory in the Class 3 Community Chest Cup Handicap (1650m), finishing stoutly to overhaul Star Contact (Star Turn) and Another Zonda (The Autumn Sun).
Karis Teetan opened his winning account for the season with the spectacular success of Forever Folks (Tavistock) in the Class 4 Lido Handicap (1800m). A clear last early after missing the start, the Hong Kong International Sale graduate sprinted sharply in the straight on his first start for Danny Shum.
“It’s nice to get the first win, it took a couple of meetings. I was close in a couple of races, but you have to be strong mentally in Hong Kong and always try to look forward,” Teetan said.
“The owner, Mr So, has been a great supporter and it always helps when you get that support. When the horse caught the field and I pulled him out at the 600 metres, he was travelling but I thought the straight would be too short.
“But he was extending and in the straight, I always thought he would get there.”
Teetan and Shum also struck with Master Champion (I Am Invincible) in the first section of the Class 4 Hoi Mei Handicap (1200m), before Lyle Hewitson and Mark Newnham prevailed with progressive King Lotus (Royal Meeting) to land the third section of the Class 4 Hoi Mei Handicap (1200m).
Superb Capitalist (Capitalist) enhanced his imposing Happy Valley record with his sixth win at the course, clinching the Class 3 Repulse Bay Handicap (1000m) for Tony Cruz and Matthew Chadwick.
The six-year-old has two wins at 1000 metres and four at 1200 metres as well as another victory over 1200 metres at Sha Tin, with Wednesday’s success taking the gelding’s prize-money beyond HK$10 million (approx. AU$1.93 million).
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday.