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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The Frankie Lor-trained Stormy Grove (Toronado) came from a long way back to cause an upset in Sunday's HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin, showing a serious turn of foot to stamp his authority on the contest and register a one-length verdict. Invincible Ibis (Hellbent) was second, with another half a length back to Patch Of Cosmo (Super Seth) in third. Favourite Little Paradise (Toronado), who had kicked off the Four-Year-Old Classic Series with an impressive success in the HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Mile, could finish only eighth having suffered a troubled passage. The winner was ridden by the British-born Harry Bentley, who said, “This feels extremely special. I've liked this horse throughout and I've struck up a good partnership with him. I was extremely impressed with the way he won last time. I had to come into this race with a certain level of expectation and hope. But to do it the way he did was pretty breathtaking.” He continued, “This ranks very highly on my wins in Hong Kong and it's very special. He's stepped up again and he can do it. Same again, now, to the Derby.” The Hong Kong Classic Cup is the middle leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, with the final leg, the HK$26-million BMW Hong Kong Derby, scheduled to take place over 2,000 metres at Sha Tin on Sunday, March 22. Lor said, “I thought if the pace was suitable for him, he could do the same thing as last time at 1,600 [metres]. Next is 2,000 [metres] and I think, if the pace is suitable for him, then he can do the same thing.” Bred by Adam Sangster, Rebecca and Simon Lurati's Ealing Park, John Dickson's Sandown Lodge and Tim Jones, Stormy Grove was bought by Nardoo Valley Stud's Philip George for A$135,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Starting his racing career in Australia for Patrick and Michelle Payne, he won impressively on debut at Geelong in December 2024, before finishing an eye-catching second at Flemington. He was then exported to Hong Kong, having been purchased by Jamie McCalmont on behalf of owners Marc Chan and Lily Chan Li Lei. Stormy Grove is one of five winners from six runners out of the Exceed And Excel mare Seagrove, with the others including the Listed Hilton Nicholas Straight Six runner-up Deekay (Hellbent). Seagrove herself is out of a winning full-sister to the G1 Ansett Australia Stakes scorer Hill Of Grace (Zabeel) and G2 Caulfield Autumn Classic winner Renewable (Zabeel). The post Stormy Grove Sparkles with Hong Kong Classic Cup Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) barely came out of second gear as he repeated his 2024 success in the HK$13-million Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday, emulating the likes of Viva Pataca (2008 and 2009), Designs On Rome (2015 and 2016) and Golden Sixty (2021 and 2023) as a dual winner of the Group 1 prize. Trained by Danny Shum, Romantic Warrior is also now just leg away from becoming only the third horse in history to complete the Hong Kong Triple Crown after this effortless win. Racing in third for much of the contest as Beauty Joy (Sebring) took the field along at a solid gallop, he moved up to challenge early in the straight and quickly left his five rivals trailing in his wake under a hands-and-heels ride from James McDonald. The official winning margin was four lengths, with another 1 1/4 lengths separating Ensued (Lemon Drop Kid) and Winning Wing (Preferment) in second and third, respectively. The final leg of the Triple Crown is the HK$13-million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, which takes place at Sha Tin on Sunday, May 24. In the meantime, Romantic Warrior will chase the 14th top-level victory of his career in the HK$30-million G1 FWD QEII Cup on Sunday, April 26, a race he has already won on three occasions. “I think he will now go to the QEII Cup and then to the Champions & Chater before he finishes the season,” said Shum. “Maybe next season we will go to the Saudi Cup – we will keep everything open for now. “His condition is getting better and better. The 2,000 metres is his best trip. I think he can handle it [2,400 metres in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup], but I don't know if any overseas horses will come.” The only Triple Crown winners in Hong Kong racing history are River Verdon (Be My Native) in 1993/94 and Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) last season. On Sunday, Voyage Bubble could manage only fifth when trying to defend his Hong Kong Gold Cup crown. Whilst McDonald partnered Voyage Bubble to each of his Triple Crown wins in 2025, the New Zealand-born jockey has chosen to continue his remarkable association with the record-breaking Romantic Warrior this time round. McDonald said, “He's just beautifully prepared. Danny's just done a marvellous job and, each and every time I hop on him, I just cherish the moment. I feel so special every time and you look between his ears and he's just so alert.” Pedigree Notes Romantic Warrior is the best runner from the much-missed sire Acclamation. The son of Royal Applause sired 68 stakes winners, including 32 in Group/Graded company and seven at Group/Grade 1 level. The winner's dam won once at two in England and has five winners from five to race, including the stakes-placed End Of Romance (Showcasing). Her latest foals are Le Samourai (New Bay), an unraced three-year-old, and a yearling filly by Havana Grey. Second dam Folk Opera claimed the GI E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, as well as the G2 Prix Jean Romanet. The post Romantic Warrior Strolls to Victory in Second Leg of Hong Kong Triple Crown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Jerry Chau Chun-lok continued his incredible form and celebrated his 200th Hong Kong win in style with a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday. Fresh from nine winners in February, Chau picked up where he left off to boot home Francis Lui Kin-wai’s pair Chill Partners and Galactic Voyage and the in-form Emblazon. “After I graduated in 2021, everything was more of a challenge and I had to fight for it and at this stage, I’m really happy with 200 winners,” Chau said. “I need to thank the trainers who have...View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Frankie Lor Fu-chuen conjured a third Classic Cup (1,800m) boilover in eight years when Stormy Grove defied his $22.25 quote to claim a powerful victory at Sha Tin on Sunday. In a race tipped to be fought out by $2.5 favourite Little Paradise and Lor’s $3.8 chance Numbers, Stormy Grove backed up his barnstorming 1,600m triumph at his previous start to storm into contention for the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 22. Taken back by Harry Bentley from barrier 12, the Australian...View the full article -
Initial purchase price of the slot covers entry for the first 3 years. $125,000 for running 13th or 14th, so along with the money prepaid, that is close to 300K
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