Preparing to reunite with California Spangle in the HK$13 million Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday 23 February, Brenton Avdulla continued a searing run of form with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday.
Boosting his season’s tally to 24, Avdulla has ridden 12 winners across the past 11 meetings and with success on Mark Newnham’s Same To You and Tony Cruz-trained Gustosisimo, the Australian is well placed to surpass the 33 victories he posted last season.
Thrilled! Brenton Avdulla salutes (Pic – HKJC)
“I had a competitive book and thought most of them could run well. I ended up with two winners, a second and two thirds, so it was a good night,” Avdulla said. “It’s been a good month and a half. Getting the right opportunities obviously helps.
“It’s easier when you’re getting the better stock here but it’s all about working hard and getting the opportunities. It was good to ride one for Tony and another for Mark.”
Beauty Destiny’s career transformation continued apace with a strong win in the first section of the Class 3 Ma Wan Handicap (1200m) as Andrea Atzeni also slotted a double. Trained by Frankie Lor, the Star Turn gelding has won three of his past four starts after failing to win at his first eight attempts.
“It’s never easy to carry top weight (135lb) in these Class 3s and I thought it was a very competitive race,” Atzeni said. “He was impressive again and Frankie keeps on improving him. In his early days, even when he was trialling, he always looked like a proper horse – he’s really turned the corner now.”
Atzeni also triumphed on Thesis, who broke through at his 16th attempt to win his first race in Hong Kong with success in the Class 4 Rotary Centenary Challenge Cup Handicap to give Me Tsui his eighth winner of the season.
Winner of the 2022 Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot, Thesis was unplaced in six starts for Richard Gibson before joining Frankie Lor’s yard. By Kingman, the gelding has been troubled by leg soreness but showed plenty of determination under Atzeni’s urgings to score.
Ben Thompson rode his first winner for Tony Cruz when Irish import Fallon sprinted sharply from home turn to snare the Class 3 Consensus Cup Handicap (1800m).
“Obviously, it’s a privilege to ride for a trainer like Tony Cruz. I came here knowing he (Fallon) was a great chance and I’m very thankful to connections,” Thompson said of the Galileo Gold gelding who won twice over 1600m at Sha Tin last season.
“It was a nice strong tempo and from barrier six, he jumped away beautifully and I think that’s what made the difference because he was able to find a nice spot, just worse than midfield.
“Once he straightened up and I gave him room – the three wins that he’s had, he’s been on the outside where he’s been able to use his big action – and it came through for him.”
Newnham sealed a race-to-race double with Same To You and Tactical Command to vault to fifth in the 2024/25 Hong Kong trainers’ championship with 28 wins, trailing only David Hayes (31), Pierre Ng (31), Danny Shum (29) and John Size (28).
“We’ve had a lot of horses that won early in the season and they went up in the ratings. Now they’ve sort of found their level,” Newnham said after Tactical Command’s victory in the first section of the Class 4 Kwai Chung Handicap (1200m).
“Same To You won on the first day of the season and then he’s got back to a rating where he can win again. Tactical Command’s been dying to win a race, he just needed the right circumstances.”
Jamie Richards clinched his 10th win of the season when Written Casa finished powerfully under Karis Teetan to land the second section of the Class 4 Kwai Chung Handicap.
“Karis rode him really well, obviously with the benefit of a really good draw (barrier five). He’d been trialling well but just one of these PPs (Privately Purchased horses) who had been taking a bit of time to adjust to life here in Hong Kong and probably, in hindsight, the time he had off with his throat surgery was a benefit to him,” Richards said.
“I probably didn’t expect him to win but I thought he would run well and improve out of it. Hopefully there’s a bit more in the tank there.”
Plentiful slotted his third course and distance win this season with victory in the Class 4 Tsuen Wan Handicap for Ng. Eased out of an early pace battle by Matthew Poon, the gelding surged away late in 57.05s.
Francis Lui’s Hameron returned to the winners’ stall for the first time since September, 2023 with success for Tom Marquand in the Class 3 Kap Shui Mun Handicap.
- Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday 23 February with Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup Day and the running of the HK$13 million Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and the HK$13 million Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup.
