Hong Kong Racing
Speed Dragon dazzles as Vincent Ho rides treble at Happy Valley
Speed Dragon (123lb) made a triumphant return to racing tonight (Wednesday, 15 October) following 241 days away after scorching to a rousing first-up success in the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Lei Yue Mun Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley.
Sidelined for four months following a ligament injury, Speed Dragon – the first winner of a running treble for jockey Vincent Ho – crossed immediately from his wide draw (10) to settle in last position. Pacesetter Telecom Fighters (124lb) made the running before yielding at the top of the home straight as Speed Dragon gradually pinched ground.
Helene Feeling (126lb) took the lead turning for home as Californiatotality (130lb) made his run. Ho asked the Francis Lui-trained Speed Dragon to lift between runners and the six-year-old obliged, clocking a race-best 22.87s over the final 400m to defeat Californiatotality in 1m 47.96s by a short head with Encountered (128lb) filling third.
"I think so (to progressing further), it's still early in the season and he will be fitter after this race tonight. I'm grateful that Francis and my boss (Caspar Fownes) support me. Hopefully I can kick on some more."
Indentured to Caspar Fownes as an apprentice, Ho kicked off his three-timer at the city circuit aboard All Too Hard youngster Mr Desira (127lb) for Fownes – who also celebrated a double – in the third section of the Class 4 Fung Mo Handicap (1200m).
Ho, who returned to competition at the start of this season following neck fractures and a head injury, sealed his trio when Lui's King Miles (121lb) held onto the Class 3 Hok Yuen Handicap (1200m) over a fast-finishing Storm Rider (135lb). Tonight's treble his Ho's first since 1 December, 2024.
Ho said: "He showed his form again at the trials. The stable has done a great job with him, he was fit and performed tonight early in the season, where he has an advantage when he's fit and with the draw (one). If not, we would have been beaten! We only won by a head."
Sporting celebrity icon Aaron Kwok's familiar black and red silks, five-year-old Dancing Classics (128lb) toughed out a second career score in the second section of the Class 4 Fung Mo Handicap (1200m) under apprentice Ellis Wong to commence Fownes' brace.
Wong said: "I'm very happy to win for Aaron again. He (Dancing Classics) has improved a lot from last season. This horse, he did a very good job. The shadow roll made him more relaxed, and he had a good barrier (one), the pace was good, and in the straight he tried so hard."
Tonight's double puts Fownes behind only Mark Newnham (11-12) in the trainers' championship. Newnham reclaimed outright top spot with Excellence Value's (125lb) score in the nightcap, the Class 3 Lung Cheung Handicap (1800m), under Zac Purton.
A clever ride from Luke Ferraris saw Satono Aladdin gelding King Glorioso (122lb) hold off a rampaging Thunder Prince (128lb) by a nose in the first section of the Class 4 Fung Mo Handicap (1200m) for trainer Douglas Whyte.
Whyte said: "Only when the number went up was I happy. Luke gave him an absolutely beautiful ride – he could've led but he let the speed go, took advantage of that, got the horse to settle and he got off the rail and got going at the right time. The margin was very narrow but a win's a win, so the good ride made the difference."
Justify gelding Fantastic Fun (128lb) roared to a first win for jockey Hugh Bowman and trainer Danny Shum in the second section of the Class 4 Hung Luen Handicap (1650m).
Six-year-old Celtic Times (119lb) rallied late to grab a third career triumph in the first section of the Class 4 Hung Luen Handicap (1650m) with jockey Karis Teetan for trainer Manfred Man, surprising at odds of 29/1 by one-and-a-half lengths.
Apolar Fighter (123lb) exploded to a first win at his 20th start for jockey Jerry Chau and trainer David Eustace in the Class 5 Ngau Chi Wan Handicap (1650m). The success was Eustace's first for the 2025/26 racing season following his 36-win maiden campaign.
"The horse has been running well and just been hitting the crossbar," Eustace said. "He's shown plenty of promise. I thought he would win before tonight in Class 5 – hopefully, he can get a bit of confidence now.
"Jerry hasn't ridden much for us, but it was a great ride by him. It's nice to get a winner, most of mine have taken a run to get going so hopefully we can kick on now as a stable."
Hong Kong racing continues this Sunday (19 October) at Sha Tin with the running of the HK$5.35 million G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m).
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