Ho secures plum rides as comeback gathers momentum

[Wandering Eyes]

Vincent Ho is back aboard The Boom Box at Saturday’s Sha Tin meeting. Picture: HKJC.

Vincent Ho will attempt to kickstart his season at Sha Tin on Saturday with seven rides and a bit of help from some old friends among several leading chances.

Ho, who missed the bulk of last season when sidelined following a fall, has been feeling his way back into form after months of intense rehabilitation.

Discussing his rides at Saturday’s fixture, Ho highlighted The Boom Box (131lb), a three-time winner over course and distance, as a strong chance in the Class 3 Tung Lung Chau Handicap (1200m).

Ho, who has one win so far this season, struck up a promising partnership with the Chris So-trained gelding from the jump. The pair partnered to win each of The Boom Box’s first three starts, and they have been reunited in a series of barrier trials this season.

“I like to ride him. He’s such a nice horse to ride,” Ho said.

“I did a few trials on him – so far, felt good. In the morning, probably, he doesn’t show too much – he’s pretty laid back at the trials. Races will switch him on. He’s very relaxed nowadays in the morning. Hopefully, in the race he will be quite similar and also hit the line pretty strongly.”

After a ripping start to his Hong Kong racing career, the lightly raced five-year-old’s winning streak ended at a time when Ho was also unavailable through injury and the horse was stepped up to 1400m.

Following an underwhelming performance in the last of six runs last season, his campaign was ended early.

“Of course, (this is) his first race of the season and he’s been out for some time as well,” Ho added. “He’s just getting back and bringing his fitness up in a few trials, so he should do well at 1200 (metres).”

Ho will take two rides for old ally Caspar Fownes, who has made a fast start to the 2025/26 season, and the four-time Tony Cruz Award winner reconnects with Capital Delight (132lb) in the feature, the Class 2 High West Handicap (1650m, dirt).

Ho has been in the saddle for four of the six-year-old’s wins in Hong Kong and will hope the dirt course specialist can get back to his best in his first outing of the season.

Fownes provides another of the 35-year-old’s stand-out chances in the form of Joy Of Spring (133lb), whom Ho has scored twice with.

“I really like this horse,” Ho said. “Of course, thanks to Mr Fownes – I hope to win for them.”

The Deep Field gelding has already had one outing this term, a solid third under apprentice Ellis Wong in the Class 3 Wah Fu Handicap (1400m) on 14 September. Joy Of Spring rises in trip on Saturday to contest the Class 3 Nam Long Shan Handicap (1800m).

“I’ve galloped him once and he’s very fit. After one race, we’ll bring up that fitness a lot more and now I feel that he is ready. He’s a nice quality horse, I think he has a chance.”

Another on a quick backup is David Hayes-trained Metro Power (123lb), who was eye-catching in the Class 3 Mei Tung Handicap (1000m) on September 14 last time out.

The four-year-old led every step of the way and drew two and three-quarter lengths clear at the post under Lyle Hewitson.

For his fine effort, the handicapper has raised him 11 points, equating to an extra two pounds in a highly competitive cup race, the Class 3 Association Of Hong Kong Racing Journalists 40th Anniversary Cup Handicap (1000m).

“On that win, with the time he ran, he probably deserved it (the 11-point hike), so I’m not going to complain,” Hayes said. “I think he’ll run well again.”

Meanwhile, 2024 Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and 2024 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner Helios Express was back in action at Friday morning’s (October 3) barrier trials at Sha Tin for Australian Racing Hall of Fame trainer John Size.

Long-time partner Hugh Bowman reported that the six-year-old — a four-time Group 1 placegetter behind star sprinter Ka Ying Rising last season – was in fine fettle after a 1200m blowout on the dirt, finishing in third after being ridden out.

“He trialled well this morning. He had a pretty quiet trial a couple of weeks ago, and it’s a bit inconclusive because he doesn’t particularly like the dirt track, which he’s shown in the past,” Bowman said.

“But I was a bit more assertive with him today, just to ensure he was up to the mark and the response was there.

“We weren’t trying to do too much, but we wanted to make sure he did his exercise and that he did,” added Bowman, who predicted Helios Express would make his seasonal bow in the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) on October 26 as he progresses towards the Hong Kong International Races on December 14 at Sha Tin.

Saturday’s 10-race fixture at Sha Tin gets underway at 3pm AEST with the Class 5 Tung Chung Handicap (1650m, dirt).

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