My Wish storms to Sha Tin Trophy glory
My Wish (Flying Artie) underlined his mounting Hong Kong Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) credentials with a scintillating performance to scoop the Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (Gr 2, 1600m) on Sunday.
The five-year-old remained on course for his long-term target at the Hong Kong International Races on December 14 as he continued his rise through the grades under Mark Newnham, after scooping his second Group prize of the season.
Given a fine ride by Alexis Badel, tracking the brisk pace set by Keagan De Melo on Copartner Prance (Epaulette) before moving from his haunches and bursting clear to salute by one-and-a-quarter lengths, My Wish claimed the sixth win of his sparkling career so far. Copartner Prance held on for an excellent second whilst Derek Leung and Beauty Joy (Sebring) completed the frame in third.
“I had an awkward gate [11] but we decided to make it simple not complicated and he just relaxed,” Badel said. “He was waiting for me to ask him [for an effort] and when I did, he just responded well.”
Newnham was gushing about his stable star and his improvement this season.
“His race manners have improved as he’s matured,” the winning trainer said. “He’s got that good gate speed. He [Badel] had to use him a little bit – the inside runners weren’t going to make it easy for him. But when he got there, he waited and conserved energy.”
But the trainer, who oversaw 43 black type wins in his native Australia, sounded a note of caution that he won’t enjoy the benefit of minimum weight – as he did on Sunday – when the December extravaganza rolls around.
“By that stage, we’re meeting more on level weights,” Newnham said. “So, he’s got to continue to improve, but he’s doing the job well and I think there’s enough improvement to see him at that level.”
The next test for the gelding is to navigate next month’s BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (Gr 2, 1600m).
The dream weekend continued for Zac Purton, fresh from his landmark victory in the The Everest (Gr 1, 1200m) on Saturday, as he bagged a double to move to 1,899 Hong Kong wins.
The first leg of his brace came in the Class 4 Sun Tin Wai Handicap (1000m) aboard the promising Robot Lucky Star (Hellbent). The Manfred Man-trained four-year-old claimed his maiden win, quickening nicely with 100 metres to go along the Sha Tin straight course to pull clear and prevail comfortably over California Blitz (Capitalist).
Purton improved to 21 wins for the season when he combined with Man for another success, this time aboard Patch Of Stars (All Too Hard) in the Class 3 Lek Yuen Handicap (1200m).
Brett Crawford claimed the third winner of his debut season with his sole runner of the day when Double Show (Showcasing) got up to claim the card-opening Class 5 Shek Mun Handicap (1400m) under Karis Teetan.
Produced by Teetan 200 metres out after trailing the front-running Lucky Blessing (Microphone), Double Show prevailed by one-and-three-quarter lengths.
“I’m happy that he’s won the race and I thought he won quite well,” Crawford said. “He’s dropped a lot in the ratings – obviously he’ll get some of them back today, but I do think he’s a horse that’s got the ability to follow up.”
The victory nudged the trainer’s strike-rate up to a remarkable 16 per cent from just 19 starts.
After seven runner-up finishes before Sunday, Matthew Poon netted an overdue win after a sterling effort from Gracious Express (Churchill) in the Class 3 Wo Che Handicap (1400m). The Ricky Yiu inmate was forced to dig deep to fend off a spirited charge from Purton’s mount, Everyone’s Star (Puissance De Lune).
Lyle Hewitson continued his impressive form this term, striking on Special Hedge (Unusual Suspect) in the Class 4 Chun Shek Handicap (1800m) to notch his seventh win so far. The Michael Chang-trained gelding got up by a short head after a desperate battle to the line with Chris So’s Firefoot (Shooting To Win).
James Orman struck on The Auspicious (Almanzor) in the first section of the Class 4 Sun Chui Handicap (1400m) for Me Tsui in a battling performance from the four-year-old.
Jerry Chau took out the second section of the Class 4 Sun Chui Handicap (1400m) on Lucky Sam Gor (Press Statement) for Mark Newnham, who extended his lead to two at the top of the trainer’s championship with his double.
Ellis Wong received a belated birthday gift after turning 25 on Saturday when the apprentice rode Pejibaye (Per Incanto) to his first Hong Kong win for his boss Caspar Fownes in the Class 4 Lung Hang Handicap (1200m).
As the dust began to settle on Ka Ying Rising’s (Shamexpress) seismic triumph in the The Everest at Royal Randwick on Saturday, it was fitting that David Hayes scooped the day’s closer, the Class 3 Sha Kok Handicap (1600m) with exciting talent Fortune Boy (Contributer), ridden by Karis Teetan, who wrapped up a double in a thrilling blanket finish.
Earlier in the day, a ceremony was held to congratulate the victorious duo of Hayes and Purton on their Sydney heroics. Of the horse of the hour, Hayes said: “We’re very lucky with this horse, he’s incredibly sound. He’s got a great appetite and the constitution of an elephant. He’d recovered within 20 minutes of the race, and if we needed to – which we’re not – you could run him in two weeks. He’s a fantastic horse.
“He’ll be coming home on Monday night and will be in Hong Kong on Tuesday for a couple of easy weeks in quarantine.”