Casting aside the frustration of a sluggish start to the season, Vincent Ho posted a Happy Valley treble on Wednesday night (16 October), crowned by Jumbo Legend’s spectacular last-to-first win, to take riding honours.
With only two wins from his first 64 rides of the season, the four-time winner of the Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong's premier homegrown jockey has struck form with a vengeance by following Sunday's (13 October) G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) triumph on Galaxy Patch with a three-timer tonight on Jumbo Legend , Woodfire Champ and Brave Star.
"It has been a slow start but hopefully the winners can keep coming now," Ho said before reflecting on Jumbo Legend's stunning effort to land the Class 3 Songs Of Victory Handicap (1650m) after being last of 12 runners at the 300m.
"It was unbelievable. I felt the pace was quite fast, so we had no option but to sit and wait and he came home very strong. When I hit the straight, I saw that I might have a chance and the last bit was still very close, but I had faith."
Jumbo Legend, who won in similar fashion last season, clocked 22.81s for the final 400m sectional to overhaul Glorious Journey and Chain Of Gold, delighting trainer Caspar Fownes.
"Huge win. We were quite concerned through the night when everything on the speed was destroying them, but it was a huge effort. He's done that in the past when he's chased them from the back of the field, but that was something else. It was beautiful - nice to watch," Fownes said.
Ho teamed with Michael Chang's Woodfire Champ to snare the Class 5 Success Handicap (1200m) before piloting Brave Star to victory in the Class 3 LONGINES Cup Handicap (1200m) for Francis Lui.
Spicy Gold made it three wins in a row with victory under Alexis Badel in the first section of the Class 4 Speedy Handicap (1200m) to provide Mark Newnham with a double, who also scored with veteran Colonel.
Newnham said Spicy Gold, a So You Think gelding, had thrived since being based at Conghua.
"He's a horse that used to use a lot of nervous energy before every start and he's got a lot better. He parades a lot better, he gets to the start without using up all that energy and it tells in his performance," Newnham said.
"He needs a bit of guidance. He's still big and green and raw and he doesn't change legs. He's not the finished article, but he's doing a lot more right than he was. He's got a lot of natural talent and it's about getting the right circumstances."
With nine wins for the campaign, Newnham has built impressive impetus.
"The season has been great so far. We finished last season well (with 31 wins) and I wanted to get away to a good start and keep that momentum," he said. "We've still got a large number of horses that haven't raced in Hong Kong yet and hopefully that works out similar to the end of last season and we get a few wins with them. It's going well. We've got a good team of owners, people and horses so the rest of it should take care of itself."
Colonel posted his sixth course and distance win by landing the second section of the Class 4 Speedy Handicap (1200m), providing Luke Ferraris with a brace.
"I love him to bits, this horse," Ferraris said. "He's the nicest ride and it's great to see him going so well, Mark's got him going superbly. Colonel probably knows more about the Valley than I do – well, he actually does – he does what he wants out there and it works out well."
An eight-year-old, Colonel is now into his sixth season of racing in Hong Kong, having won his first race in the city in November, 2020, when trained by Ricky Yiu. The durable gelding has won twice from three starts since transferring to Newnham.
Ferraris also combined with Yiu to score on Victorythirtythree in the Class 4 Swifty Handicap (1000m).
"The original plan was to come out and just be off the speed, but he broke that well within 10 strides he was in front and in his rhythm and he really enjoyed it," Ferraris said. "He came around the bend and balanced up and put it to bed quite nicely."
Yiu also struck with Sure Joyful, who prevailed in the Class 4 Racing Spirit Handicap (1650m) for Matthew Chadwick. Yiu attributed the improved performances of both Victorythirtythree and Sure Joyful to jockey changes.
"It's a little bit of a surprise but these two horses changed jockey and it worked," Yiu said. "I think that if a horse is not performing with the same jockey for a long time, just change it. It gives them a bit of a spark."
David Hall's lightly-raced Kyrus Dragon finished powerfully to clinch the Class 3 Flying Handicap (1200m), giving seven-time champion jockey Zac Purton his 24th of the season and a nine-win lead over Hugh Bowman (15).
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (20 October) with the HKJC 140th Anniversary Raceday, featuring the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m).
