Danny Shum Chap-shing warmed up for a giant weekend in two international locations when producing former Australian galloper Sports activities Legend to attain a dominant win at Completely happy Valley on Wednesday evening.
The veteran handler will chase a characteristic double on Sunday, with Helene Feeling and Chill Chibi set for the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) at Sha Tin and Victor The Winner contesting the Group One Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) at Chukyo in Japan.
Shum was in Japan to supervise Victor The Winner’s essential monitor gallop on Tuesday morning earlier than returning residence for the Completely happy Valley assembly.
“It’s a busy week,” Shum stated. “[Japan] was OK, not too dangerous however fairly chilly over there and windy. The monitor is sweet, very agency, however they forecast a little bit of rain on Sunday.”
Sports activities Legend relished a drop at school to assert his first Hong Kong victory within the Class 4 Craigengower Cricket Membership Problem Cup (1,200m) for Angus Chung Yik-lai.
Stalking the chief Tremendous Axiom in working, the well-backed $4.5 second favorite cruised to the entrance on the high of the straight and surged clear to win by 4 and 1 / 4 lengths.
Sports activities Legend was unplaced in his first 5 begins within the metropolis – all at Class Three stage – however confirmed promise in Australia with two victories from seven begins.
“He was good. He acquired the draw [three], he was dropping into Class 4 and he acquired to assert 5 [pounds] with Angus – he acquired every little thing,” Shum stated.
“I hoped he might win like that as a result of the proprietor [Boniface Ho Ka-kui] gave me a mission to win the HK$1.5 million bonus in Class Three, so I hoped he might win effectively to make me assured he might win in Class Three.”
Chung capped his evening with victory on Tony Cruz’s Vibrant Emperor within the Class Three Tin Lok Handicap (1,200m), backing up his double from Sha Tin final Saturday.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, Vibrant Prince recorded the identical successful margin as Sports activities Legend in his easy Class 4 Canal Handicap (1,000m) triumph.
Despatched ahead by Luke Ferraris from barrier 11 to steer, the Douglas Whyte-trained gelding ran his rivals ragged in a slick 56.68 seconds.
It was the son of Per Incanto’s first turf win, along with his two earlier victories on the all-weather monitor at Sha Tin.
“Completely shocked,” Whyte stated of Vibrant Prince’s large successful margin.
“He’s carried out a great job. The draw regarded awkward, however as soon as he acquired to the fence and the lead, he acquired snug and he ran a great race.
“The issue with him is when he will get too aggressive with one other horse [in front], he overuses himself after which he has nothing left on the finish.
“However he acquired a smooth time of it right this moment, he ran them off their ft, he acquired them uncomfortable and that was the successful margin.
“He’s going to go up considerably [in rating] now due to the margin.”
Benno Yung Tin-pang struck early on an excellent evening of racing, claiming a double within the first 4 races with spectacular winners Dragon Pleasure and Excessive Proportion.
David Hayes additionally ready a brace courtesy of Pink Majesty within the first part of the Class 4 Percival Handicap (1,650m) and Samarkand within the Class Three Russell Handicap (1,650m).
The Australian handler was narrowly denied a treble in consecutive races, with Strongest Boy crushed a nostril by Courier Magic within the second part of the Percival Handicap.
Courier Magic made it back-to-back wins for Jamie Richards and Ben Thompson, having delivered the Australian jockey his maiden Hong Kong success two weeks earlier.
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