Fownes extends lead in trainers’ championship with Happy Valley treble
Caspar Fownes has strengthened his grip on a fifth Hong Kong trainers’ championship after he combined with Joao Moreira to slot a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, extending his lead to six wins with only two meetings left in the 2025/26 season.
Bidding to add to the titles he claimed in 2006/07, 2008/09, 2013/14 and 2020/21, Fownes struck with Jumbo Blessing, Forza Toro and Dancing Classics to have 69 wins for the campaign and, with only 20 races left this season, holds sway from Danny Shum (63 wins) and Mark Newnham (60).
Fownes surged to a seven-win lead mid-card with the triumphs of Jumbo Blessing and Forza Toro before Shum cut the deficit to five with a race-to-race double with The Perfect Match and Leading Agility before Fownes landed a telling blow with Dancing Classics (121lb) in the Class 3 Breakaway Handicap (1000m) for famed Hong Kong entertainer Aaron Kwok.
“It’s been a fight tonight. I knew he (Shum) was going to bring a few, but like I’ve always said, I’ve always planned for the last few meetings to keep some bullets and we needed them tonight,” Fownes said. “If I didn’t land anything, he’d be right there with me going into the last two meetings, so it’s game on now.
“That celebration was from the heart – I’ve got so much pent-up feeling, this is all so stressful and as much I try to hold it all in, sometimes I have to release it and I am what I am. I’m in a good position and very happy with where I am – I’ve still got a lot of bullets for the last two days as well.
“Dancing Classics was a little bit disappointing last start and I said ‘right, you’re having a lend of us, so time for the blinkers’. Don’t forget, this is a horse that was off for two seasons before he ran and won his first start for us.
“It’s been a good season and we’re just hopeful that we can last out another two race days. So yeah, looking forward to the last two race meetings and looking forward to having a summer break. I’m a little bit tired now. I know it doesn’t show, but I’m tired.”
Moreira, who has ridden 25 winners as Fownes’ stable rider, was elated with the three-timer.
“It’s a special night. Talking about this guy (Dancing Classics) mainly, the key to get him to win today was to get the blinkers on. Caspar did it himself – he didn’t even ask me – and I’m happy that he’s done the job,” the Brazilian said.
“All the credit should go to him (Caspar) and the team who have done an amazing job. I’ve gotta say I’m just the lucky guy to be part of it – an amazing night. You couldn’t ask for a better night.”
The spectacular performance of Jumbo Blessing (120lb) in the Class 4 Volley Handicap (1000m) delivered the first spoil for Fownes and Moreira when the gelding missed the start before fanning widest of the 12 runners on the turn, levelling out and sprinting hard, clocking 22.58s for the final 400m, to overhaul Beauty Show (127lb) by half a length in 56.81s.
Fownes upped the ante when Moreira piloted Forza Toro (133lb) to success in the Class 4 EIGHT TO GLORY, Presented by Lenovo (1650m handicap) before Dancing Classics’ third career victory.
Shum had moved back to within five wins of Fownes when The Perfect Match (122lb) prevailed in the Class 4 Goal Handicap (1200m) under Jerry Chau before Zac Purton guided Leading Agility (133lb) to victory in the Class 4 Header Handicap (1200m).
Stretching his lead to 78 wins over Hugh Bowman (62 wins), Purton has 140 victories for the campaign – the fourth time he has reached the mark in Hong Kong after bags of 168 in 2018/19, 147 in 2019/20 and a record 179 in 2022/23.
Having already secured a ninth Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, Purton combined with Jamie Richards-trained Happy United (134lb) in the Class 5 Kick Off Handicap (1000m).
Vincent Ho teamed with Pierre Ng’s Le Zonda (122lb) in the Class 2 Hat Trick Handicap (1800m) after Me Tsui’s Another Zonda (128lb) posted a tough, all-the-way victory in the Class 4 Free Kick Handicap (1650m) under apprentice Britney Wong. Both gallopers are owned by Mak Lam Fung King.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (12 July).
