Diversity of talent and background, as well as a relentless pursuit of excellence, have long been the hallmarks of Hong Kong horseracing across a broad range of occupations.
With the 2026/27 season still very much in its infancy with nine completed meetings, it is fascinating to observe myriad patterns across both the Hong Kong trainers and jockey ranks.
Manfred Man has made an excellent start to the campaign with 10 wins from 54 runners for a strike rate of 18.5 percent, while two fellow homegrown horsemen – Pierre Ng (nine wins from 49 runners at 18.4 percent) and Cody Mo (eight wins from 57 runners at 14 percent) – have also made strong openings.
The trio is followed by five-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer Caspar Fownes (seven wins from 59 runners at 11.9 percent), David Hall (six wins from 32 runners at 18.8 percent) and dual Hong Kong Champion Trainer David Hayes (six wins from 68 starters at 8.8 percent).
Next in the standings with six wins from 36 runners with a winning strike rate of 16.7 percent is Michael Chang, who this week saddled his 400th Hong Kong winner with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday (7 October).
Michael has been involved in Hong Kong racing since the 1980s and his pride on being able to compete in the same jurisdiction against champions such as John Size, Caspar, David, Francis Lui, Frankie Lor, and others, was apparent as he celebrated his milestone success at Happy Valley.
Similarly, his comments that Hong Kong’s training roster is filled with outstanding, world-class horsemen is a sentiment echoed on the global stage.
While Zac Purton continues to occupy a familiar position at the head of the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 16 wins from 75 rides at 21.3 percent, the battle for top three positions in the standings is extremely interesting.
Derek Leung is in the midst of one of his best seasons with nine victories from 59 rides at 15.3 percent, while Vincent Ho continues to figure prominently with eight wins from 66 mounts at 12.1 percent.
Apprentice Nichola Yeun has made a fabulous start to her second season and, despite having her allowance reduced from 10lb to 7lb, she continues to make impressive headway with eight wins from 49 rides at 16.3 percent.
This is a remarkable achievement by Nichola as she competes not only against Zac, Derek and Vincent, but also Andrea Atzeni, James Orman, Karis Teetan, Jerry Chau and many others with more experience.
Nichola’s success is based on a tremendous work ethic, professionalism and a willingness to learn – attributes shared by those in both the riding and training cohorts.
Pok Oi Hospital was founded in 1919 and always adhered to the mission of “We Love, We Care, We Serve”. Today, Pok Oi has developed into a sizeable charitable organization with 136 service units across Hong Kong.
Its service scope includes Western and traditional Chinese medicine, dental services, elderly care, youth and family services, educational services and public housing services, reaching various levels of society and delivering essential services to over two million beneficiaries annually.
We acknowledge the Pok Oi Hospital today with the running of the Class 4 Pok Oi Cup Handicap, which is carded as Race 6 and run over 1200m at 3pm.
The Class 2 Yuen Long Handicap is carded as Race 11 and will be run over 1200m with prizemoney of HK$2.84 million at 5.45pm.
The pace will be good. TURQUOISE VELOCITY has good gate speed and should lead from gate four, with RISING FORCE, who is drawn alongside him, going forward to sit outside the leader. JUMBO TREASURE will hold a prominent position from his rails draw, with PAKISTAN LEGACY and KA YING ATTACK going forward from wide gates to settle close to the leading pair.
KA YING ATTACK (Matthew Poon) easily beat CROSSBORDERPEGASUS over this course and distance on 31 May. He ended his campaign by leading throughout to win his next start in the Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap (1400m) on 1 July, beating BEAUTY BOLT and REGAL GEM. KA YING RISING has looked good in a couple of trials and he is a place chance despite the awkward draw in gate 10.
TURQUOISE VELOCITY (Karis Teetan) won four races in his debut season, including one over this course and distance. He resumed in good form on 27 September when he trailed the leader and eventual winner VICTOR THE WINNER throughout and fought on well to hold second in front of SALON S and GENEVA. TURQUOISE VELOCITY has drawn well in gate four and is also a win and place chance.
JUMBO TREASURE finished last season on a winning note, defeating HONEST WITNESS over 1200m at Happy Valley on 24 June. He then made a successful return to racing on 6 September when he went forward from a wide gate and proved too strong for PUBLIC ATTENTION and THE HEIR over this course and distance. JUMBO TREASURE has been in Conghua since and had an easy trial last week for Derek Leung. JUMBO TREASURE rises in class but is a place chance.
RISING FORCE was a three-time winner over this course and distance last season but was slightly disappointing returning to racing on 27 September when he failed to run on as expected, finishing seventh to VICTOR THE WINNER and TURQUOISE VELOCITY. Zac Purton takes the ride again and RISING FORCE can improve sharply on that effort and is also a place chance.
BLAZING WIND raced exclusively on dirt last season, winning three races. He resumes here under Richard Kingscote and trialled well recently. It will be interesting to see how he performs going back to turf racing from gate three.
I would like to congratulate Hong Kong owner Bon Ho for the success of LAND LEGEND in the G1 Might And Power (Caulfield Stakes, 2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday (10 October).
LAND LEGEND was given a brilliant front-running by Ethan Brown who, according to LAND LEGEND’s trainer Ciaron Maher, improved significantly as a rider after his stint in Hong Kong last season.
Source: HKJC