Six in mix for Hong Kong trainers championship
The 2025/26 Hong Kong trainers’ championship continues to hang in the balance after Mark Newnham and Caspar Fownes maintained the status quo at Sha Tin’s all-dirt meeting on Wednesday night, while Danny Shum continued his push for the title.
With 19 meetings left in the season, Newnham (52) leads Fownes (51), Shum (51), David Hayes (48), Francis Lui (45) and 13-time champion John Size (44) in one of the tightest battles in the history of Hong Kong racing.
Size was the first of the title contenders to strike when Meepmeep (128lb) forged clear late to land the Class 5 Osmanthus Handicap (1650m) under Hugh Bowman before Newnham scored with Notthesillyone (135lb) in the second section of the Class 4 Carnation Handicap (1200m) under Luke Ferraris.
Fownes joined the fray in tandem when Sky Vino (124lb) forged to a tough in the Class 3 Camellia Handicap (1650m) for Joao Moreira before Shum saddled the most spectacular winner of the meeting when Blazing Wind (122lb) surged to a five-and-three-quarter length margin in the Class 3 Begonia Handicap (1200m) under Zac Purton.
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Newnham hailed the consistency of unlikely hero Notthesillyone after the gelding’s fourth victory this campaign.
“He’s been a great contributor to the trainers’ championship, I’ll tell you. Considering last year he was a winner in Class 5, I didn’t factor him winning four races this time around but he’s kept improving,” Newnham said.
“I’ve underestimated him before, so I’m not saying he can’t (win in Class 3) but I didn’t think he’d be able to carry the 135lb today. He’s raced beyond my expectations, so with a light weight in Class 3, who knows?”
Regarding the championship, Newnham said: “Don’t worry, there’s a big pack chasing, so every win counts and very important at this end of the season.”
Sky Vino posted his fourth win from 21 starts after overcoming barrier 10 under a driving ride from Moreira.
“Tonight was quite tough – it was pretty hard conditions out there, but from the wide gate, Joao got him in a good position and it was an exciting finish. The horse deserved that second victory for the season,” Fownes said.
“He’s been a very honest horse, racing well on both dirt and grass. So, he’s a good, consistent horse and he deserved a win for my good clients. At this stage he’s done his job, but obviously we’re going to keep going and try and build another race for him some time in the future.”
Taking his Hong Kong career tally to 1,988 wins, Zac Purton maintained a perfect record aboard Blazing Wind, prevailing for his third victory on the gelding from three rides to keep Shum in the championship hunt.
Manfred Man slotted a double when Robot Knight (121lb) posted his second course and distance victory with success under Britney Wong in the Class 5 Magnolia Handicap (1200m) before Juicy Dragon (126lb) scored emphatically under Andrea Atzeni in the third section of the Class 4 Carnation Handicap (1200m).
California Bay (122lb) made a successful transition from turf to dirt under an inspired ride by Karis Teetan to win the first section of the Class 4 Carnation Handicap (1200m). Trained by Tony Cruz, the Dundeel gelding had been winless in his first 16 starts in Hong Kong after being trained in Australia by Peter Snowden.
Perched in fourth place deep into the home straight, Teetan waited for a narrow gap to open before driving the four-year-old to victory.
“It was a nice win, eventually,” Teetan said. “The horse was in good shape today and he had a good trip from a good draw (barrier two) and it was the first time he had been off the bit, because he’s been overdoing it in races. In the straight, and once he got the gap, he quickened up well.”
Cruz was delighted with Teetan’s brilliant ride.
“It was a perfect race. I think the barrier draw was a big help, and also Karis really brought a perfect race because when they came into the straight it was a bit tight and he made the dash on the inside,” Cruz said. “So, it’s very seldom horses make the inside run and get up and win. But credit to Karis Teetan.”
Teetan completed a race-to-race double when Me Tsui’s Night Purosangue (118lb) wore down Chill Kaka (124lb) to land the Class 4 Chamomile Handicap (1650m).
Weighing 1,241lb, Night Purosangue coasted to his second and course and distance victory to give Teetan 33 wins for the campaign after Pierre Ng’s Yoda’s Choice (112lb) slotted his second course and distance victory in the Class 4 Lotus Handicap (1800m) under apprentice Nichola Yuen.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Saturday afternoon.
