Wandering Eyes

There was a sense of both significance and synchronicity to Fine Needle’s stirring Takamatsunomiya Kinen win, for not only was it a maiden Group One for Godolphin’s Japanese operation, but the breakthrough came after a recent change to a variation of the global giant’s iconic blue silks. Until last weekend, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s horses trained in Japan carried the maroon and white silks, and while they had captured numerous feature victories, a top-... View the full article

It was a red-letter day for two apprentice jockeys at Sha Tin, with Victor Wong Chun kicking off his local career while Matthew Poon Ming-fai reached an important milestone. Poon found the lead on Regency Bo Bo for Tony Cruz in the final race and blew away the white-hot favourite sitting outside him, Raging Storm, to give the apprentice his 45th win in Hong Kong. He now gets a reduction in his weight claim from seven pounds to five pounds – and is quite happy about it. “Actually, on... View the full article

It was a familiar story for Blizzard with a brave but battling fifth in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen as a couple of Japanese sprinters threw down serious credentials for next month’s Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin. Godolphin’s Fine Needle (Yuga Kawada) beat Let’s Go Donki (Yasanuri Iwata) in a thrilling finish to the Group One at Chukyo and the result should be enough for both horses to secure an invite to Sha Tin on April 29. Blizzard’s effort was typical of the... View the full article

Let’s Go Donki’s connections are desperate to give their mare another chance in Hong Kong but she needs a big run in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen to earn a place in next month’s Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin. A slow start ruined Let’s Go Donki’s chances in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint but a closer look reveals her unplaced effort was much better than it looked on paper. Let’s Go Donki may have been outpaced early but her final 800m and... View the full article

The John Size-trained Unicron Jewellery has been a model of consistency and gets the right draw and the right set-up to get his reward in Sunday’s 18 Districts Cup (1,600m) at Sha Tin. Unicron Jewellery (Joao Moreira) has won three times from his 13 career starts and has been even more solid this season as a five-year-old, with six starts for two wins and two placings, all of them over this distance. As a four-year-old in his first campaign, the gelding had looked to struggle to hold his... View the full article

Zac Purton’s hit-and-run mission to Sydney has paid off with the champion jockey landing the Group One Galaxy with talented mare In Her Time at Rosehill on Saturday. “It’s a long way to come. It’s pretty easy to just stay at home, but I enjoy riding these big races on these big days,” Purton said. “Obviously you’ve got nice horses and to win a race like this it really makes it worthwhile.” The Benjamin Smith-trained In Her Time had three previous... View the full article

Spend some time sightseeing in Nagoya with Blizzard’s 40-strong entourage, all decked out in their blue and green “Team Blizzard” jackets and hats, and you get the feeling that winning or losing isn’t the point of this trip. In saying that, Sunday’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo Racecourse might represent Blizzard’s best chance to shed his “battler” tag forever and snare a maiden Group One. Owners Andy Lau Hing-fai and Andrew Chan Shiu-shan have... View the full article

An unfashionably bred racehorse called Ted with a mum named Vicky, born and raised on a tiny farm in the rolling hills of New Zealand’s Manawatu district may not sound like a well-worn path to Hong Kong Derby glory. Yet in many ways, the Ping Hai Star story is typical of the humble beginnings of many recent Derby winners, with New Zealand-bred horses punching well above their weight and one tiny farm leading the way with an extraordinary strike rate in the race. Five of the last 10... View the full article

Saifudin, See, Noh suspended View the full article

Jockey Umberto Rispoli’s right collarbone snapped like a stick in a tough trial fall on Friday but the plucky Italian has pledged to be back within three weeks as he once again relies on his remarkable recuperative powers. Rispoli is set to have a plate and screws inserted into the fractured joint by top surgeon Christopher Tong on Saturday morning but the jockey was already showing his trademark cheek. “I will know more after the surgery but the surgeon gave me a chance that I will... View the full article

Blizzard’s chances of snaring a maiden Group One were boosted when the tough-as-teak gelding drew low for Sunday’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo Racecourse. History shows that while inside barriers do not give horses a distinct advantage, a wide gate can make it virtually impossible to win at the top level over the tight 1,200m course. Still, Blizzard’s racing style should also be suited by drawing barrier three, with jockey Karis Teetan saying it would afford him a golden... View the full article

A renowned jockey who was among the best in Pennsylvania history died on Thursday of injuries suffered in a racing accident. Parx Racing announced the death of Jose Flores, 56, who was racing on Monday at the suburban Philadelphia track when his horse went down and Flores was thrown off. The jockey hit the ground headfirst and suffered a massive trauma. He was removed from life support on Thursday afternoon. Flores won 4,650 races in a career that spanned more than three decades. He was the top... View the full article

Trainer Tony Millard has made a plea to the racing media and fans not to be too impatient in their expectations of new apprentice jockey Victor Wong Chun when he kicks off his local career at Sha Tin on Sunday. “I’m very happy to have Victor in my stable. I like to use the apprentices, the claim is very important for the handicap. But I hope we can be conservative with our praise and generous with our encouragement – that’s what they need,” Millard said. “But... View the full article

Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli is expected to undergo surgery and spend another stint on the sidelines after a scary barrier trial incident that resulted in a horse dying at Sha Tin on Friday morning. Rispoli was riding Spicy Sure when the six-year-old suffered a suspected fractured shoulder and tumbled to the ground, in turn hurting the rider’s right shoulder. The 29-year-old was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital at Sha Tin, where he was diagnosed with a fractured right collarbone, and... View the full article

Lord O'Reilly stamps his class and takes aim at Classic View the full article

Mr Dujardin tipped away for Guineas after slaying rivals View the full article

Woodworth fires up Nova Missile to easy win View the full article

Siam Sapphire takes Clements two wins clear on top View the full article

Early scratchings March 23 View the full article

Horses' test results March 19, 20 & 23 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings March 23 View the full article

Horses' body weights March 23 View the full article

Basilisk sheds maiden status at eighth start View the full article

With a dozen horses rated 100 or higher and a host of others headed that way in a hurry, it seems John Size has a stable full of superstars but it is his less heralded handicappers that could come to the fore on Sunday at Sha Tin. Size’s top sprinters alone could fill a Group race but as the Australian trainer closes in on a 10th championship it is worth reflecting on the great job his horses in the lower grades have done this term. While the likes of BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Ping Hai... View the full article

Brave Legend hasn’t been with Tony Cruz very long but his first run for the yard on Wednesday night made him look like a winner in waiting. Brave Legend was a winner over the Happy Valley 1,200m at big odds earlier in the season in good style but has not been able to build on that in a handful of starts since. On Wednesday night, Brave Legend got back in the field, as is his style, but found the line strongly for third to Shanghai Master despite having to squeeze through a tight run in... View the full article