Luke Ferraris took his season tally to 20, while Keagan de Melo registered his fifth, with Lyle Hewitson on 9, as the curtain came down on Sunday’s Sha Tin racemeeting.
Rubylot has confirmed status as a leading contender for the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile on 31 January after winning Class 2 The Racing Club Cup Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday as Dragon Joy and Embraces also enhanced Four-Year-Old Classic Series credentials.
Brenton Avdulla gets Rubylot up to win (Pic – HKJC)
One of several Four-Year-Old Classic Series aspirants to shine at Sha Tin, Rubylot (123lb) posted a defining victory in the afternoon’s feature while fellow Classic Series contenders Johannes Brahms (120lb) and Packing Hermod (130lb), also impressed by finishing third and fourth, respectively.
Jumping cleanly from barrier two, Rubylot settled fifth in a fast-run race before attempting to angle into the clear in the straight as Young Champion (124lb) under Zac Purton hit the front.
Gaining a late split, Rubylot forged away to win by half a length from Young Champion with Johannes Brahms third in 1m 20.89s. Packing Hermod finished fourth with a race-best final sectional of 22.38s in steaming from last on the turn.
“I’m really excited because we’ve set him for the Classic Mile and he’s hit form at the right time. He’s crying out for a mile, so it’s really exciting going forward,” Hayes said. “Brenton’s got a good affinity with the horse – two rides for two wins. He took a chance and it paid off.
“He (Rubylot) is out of a Dubawi mare. He’s by Rubick, but his racing pattern is of a horse that will get further. He’s been crying out for a mile all season, but I’ve been holding him back because I don’t want to hit the sweet spot too early.”
Earning a PPG Bonus of HK$1 million, Rubylot provided Avdulla with his 50th Hong Kong win, impressing the Australian with his professionalism.
“He was great. Obviously, he drew well, so he was always going to get the right run but he handled himself well. He had to get his way out and made his own luck from the top of the straight,” Avdulla said.
“Zac had a margin on him from halfway up (the straight) but, to his (Rubylot’s) credit, he’s stuck it out well and his best work was his last 50 (metres). He came away well, he was ridden to find the long strong and he got the job done. But he’s got a bit of quality.”
Ricky Yiu is hopeful Dragon Joy’s triumph in the Class 3 (Restricted) Pak Shek Au Handicap (1600m) under a brilliant ride from Matthew Poon will be sufficient to shunt the 60-rater into Classic Series contention.
“It was a very nice win. He’s proven over 1400m and a mile, but I will stick to the same distance for a bit before I think about going over further. They (handicappers) will put him up double digits. He was out of the handicap – maybe 12 or 13 (points),” Yiu said. “He’s a nice horse.”
Poon gets Dragon Joy home (Pic – HKJC)
Pitted against 13 four-year-old rivals, Dragon Joy (115lb) crossed to the fence early from the outside gate before charging strongly under in-form Poon to defeat Markwin (125lb) and Fast Network (134lb), while Mickley (135lb) was again unable to gain clear running in the straight before finishing sixth.
Cody Mo is not confident of gaining a Hong Kong Classic Mile start with Embraces but remains hopeful the 62-rater will continue to climb the ratings after his victory in the Class 3 Pak Tin Handicap and press for a berth in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup on 2 March.
“I think it will be difficult (gaining a Hong Kong Classic Mile start) because of the rating. He’s 62 and maybe today eight pounds up – maybe (a rating of) 70,” Mo said. “Maybe have one more race in Sha Tin and hopefully win one more race and get into the Classic Cup.”
Purton edged closer to Douglas Whyte’s record of 1 813 wins with a double, boosting his Hong Kong career tally to 1808 with victories on Sunny Da Best and Masterofmyuniverse and taking the combined earnings of his starters this season to over HK$100 million.
Zac Purton – a double on the day (Pic – HKJC)
The seven-time Hong Kong champion struck on Chris So’s Sunny Da Best in the second section of the Class 4 Wu Kau Tang Handicap before British-bred Masterofmyuniverse claimed the Class 3 Hebe Haven Handicap (1200m) for John Size.
Master trainer Size’s mid-season surge continued with Juneau Pride’s triumph in the Class 4 Hung Hom Bay Handicap. The Pride Of Dubai three-year-old conceded age and experience to his rivals, but showed plenty of determination under Avdulla to win by a short head.
Mask Rider triumphed on debut on Hong Kong and earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million by winning the Class 3 Hung Mui Kuk Handicap for Chris So. Ridden by Keagan De Melo, the Justify gelding controlled the race from barrier one to deliver the South African’s fifth win of the season.
“He’s shown glimpses of ability, obviously you don’t know how strong the trials were coming into this, but the draw helps a lot and he was able to get the lead without any fuss and he was able to sprint home which was impressive as well,” De Melo said.
“Obviously we know it’s been a bit slow for me, but hopefully it picks up from here and I’m just grateful for the support I do get.”
Excellent Daddy continued Benno Yung’s tremendous run with victory under Luke Ferraris in the Class 5 Wu Kai Sha Handicap (1200m, dirt). An eight-year-old, Excellent Daddy made it two wins in a row, presenting Yung with his seventh winner from the past 11 meetings.
Derek Leung posted a winner for the third consecutive meeting when Manfred Man’s Dragon Four Seas surged late to land the first section of the Class 4 Wu Kau Tang Handicap (1200m) before Dragon Air Force made it two in a row with success under Matthew Chadwick for Yiu in the Class 4 Chek Keng Handicap.
- Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday 15 January.
