Riding in peak form with a mid-week treble at Happy Valley, Silvestre de Sousa hopes to maintain impressive momentum at Sha Tin on Sunday when the Brazilian takes a full book of 10 mounts.
Silvestre de Sousa has 22 wins for the season (Pic – HKJC)
Sitting third in the 2022/23 Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 22 wins to trail only Zac Purton (60) and Vincent Ho (24), De Sousa will partner John Size-trained Power Koepp in the Class 2 Lukfook Jewellery Cup Handicap (1000m) intent on continuing an excellent campaign.
“It’s nice – it’s not easy to ride winners over here and I’m especially happy about it,” De Sousa said of this three-timer on Wednesday (14 December). “It’s good, I’m pleased how things are going. I hope to keep it going and keep on working hard.”
De Sousa teams with Pierre Ng aboard Stunning Impact (127lb) in the Class 3 Lukfook Jewellery Beloved Collection Handicap (1600m) as the consistent Zoustar gelding bids for a hat-trick of victories.
“He’s an improving horse in my eyes and he’s just got into top form and he should go to this race with a decent chance,” De Sousa said. “We’ve got a kind gate (barrier six) and I hope things can go his way and he can get the trip.
“I think there could be another one (win) in the bag, whether it’s going to be this time we will have to see but Pierre’s horses are in great form and I couldn’t be more pleased with the horse and I believe Pierre is very happy as well.”
Derek Leung chases another win on Fiery Diamond (Pic – HKJC)
De Sousa reunites with Power Koepp (118lb) in the afternoon’s feature, hoping to reprise a winning partnership with the gelding who triumphed two starts ago over 1200m at Happy Valley.
Derek Leung has telling faith in both trainer Benno Yung and Fiery Diamond as the gelding attempts to extend a bountiful winning sequence in the Class 3 Lukfook Jewellery Pt Graceful Collection Handicap (1200m, dirt).
Yung has 14 wins this season, including nine on Sha Tin’s dirt to lead the All Weather standings for the season – six more than reigning champion trainer Frankie Lor (three) and Chris So (three).
Fiery Diamond has been Yung’s leading performer on the dirt this campaign with a trio of wins and Leung is hopeful the five-year-old can extend his unbeaten streak to four.
“This time with the outside draw (gate nine), there are horses on the inside that should go forward and if the pace is good for him, he can be handy,” Leung said. “Last season, he seemed to jump fast and be keen. This season, he is more mature.
“You can see that he is more relaxed and he can save energy for the last 400 (metres). His condition is very good.”
Jamie Richards is optimistic Handsome Rebel can deliver the stable’s first victory at Sha Tin this season when he contests the Class 4 Lukfook Jewellery Heirloom Fortune Collection Handicap (1200m, dirt) under Victor Wong.
Handsome Rebel leads the way for Jamie Richards (Pic – HKJC)
Handsome Rebel provided Richards with his maiden Hong Kong winner at Happy Valley in October and the former New Zealand champion trainer hopes the Denman gelding can make it three victories from five starts this campaign.
“He’s carried the stable for the early part of the season, so we owe him a huge debt,” Richards said. “Hopefully he can carry on. Victor has won on him before and he’s got a low gate (barrier one), so he’s got a few things in his favour.
“He’s a happy and healthy horse – he’s eating well – so there’s no reason why he can’t run well. Hopefully he can get a nice run in behind them and he can get his chance. Hopefully he can run well. We’re battling a bit at Sha Tin, so hopefully he can give us a hand.”
All four of Richards’ winners so far have come at Happy Valley.
Sunday’s (18 December) 10-race card starts with the Class 5 Lukfook Jewellery Hexicon Handicap (1400m) at 07h00.
