Giant upset for Callan and Yiu in Easter Monday’s Chairman’s Trophy
Mighty Giant (Power) bossed his rivals with an all-the-way win in yesterday’s Chairman’s Trophy (Gr 2, 1600m) at Sha Tin for jockey Neil Callan and trainer Ricky Yiu.
Sent off as an 11-1 outsider against four opponents, the five-year-old defied market expectations to land the HK$4.5 million feature under a daring front-running ride from Callan, while Southern Legend (Not A Single Doubt) held second as More Than This (Dutch Art) closed for third.
Callan, 42, savoured his third Chairman’s Trophy success after the heroics of Beauty Only (Holy Roman Emperor) in 2016 and 2018 but tomorrow he will have the status of his current license reviewed when he appears before the Licensing Committee in relation to his conduct during a Stewards’ inquiry in February.
“It means a lot, everybody knows my situation but all I want to do is keep working hard, keep riding winners here in Hong Kong and the bigger the winners, the better,” Callan said after notching his 21st win for the season.
The Power (Oasis Dream) gelding broke evenly from gate two, rolling to the front at the 1100-metre mark and from there the five-year-old was never headed on his way to a gritty half-length success under a fierce Callan drive.
“At the corner, I just took a little tug on him and I knew he was going to give me a kick – the kick was his winning move, he just got two lengths on them and maintained it from the 200-metre mark,” Callan said.
After finishing a distant last, odds on favourite and last-start Group 1 winner, Waikuku (Harbour Watch), was subsequently found with blood in his trachea, while stablemate Champion’s Way (Hinchinbrook) finished fourth.
“The bit of rain we had this morning could have only helped him but he jumped a little bit better today, he’s had a little bit of trouble jumping very fast,” Callan said.
The New Zealand-bred takes his record to seven wins from 15 starts but gets his first win at stakes level after placing third to Waikuku in February’s Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (Gr 1, 1400m) last start.
“It was a small field, anything could happen and the horse (Ka Ying Star) who was expected to lead was scratched, so then we had a soft lead,” Yiu said.
Today’s pairing with the 116-rater was Callan’s third after riding him in his past two outings.
“The key with this horse is he needs a jockey who knows him, who can keep his momentum and his rhythm because he has such a big stride,” Yiu said.
Yiu, last season’s champion trainer, indicated an expected FWD Champions Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) tilt on Champions Day (April 25) as the chestnut’s next assignment.
“We’re entered for the FWD Champions Mile, but this horse, he’s just a lovely horse to train, he never runs a bad race,” he said.
“A bit of cut in the ground helps the horse, a little bit of moisture but we were always going to lead or sit close to the speed.”
Trainer Caspar Fownes was pleased with Southern Legend’s effort to finish second as he continues building towards his FWD Champions Mile defence.
“He’s going really well and he ran very well just like I thought he would, but he’s a bit unlucky really, I thought if we had led maybe we would have won but that’s racing,” Fownes said.
Southern Legend gelding has been a model of consistency this term with five consecutive top-three efforts from eight runs, including three times at Group 1 level.
“He’s in good form and he’s in the right spot for the race coming up in three weeks’ time,” Fownes said.
By Declan Schuster
Amazing Star emerges as an improbable ruler in the Sprint Cup
Stunned by an Easter Monday miracle, Jimmy Ting is unlikely to tempt fate twice by aiming Sprint Cup (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Amazing Star (Darci Brahma) at the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Gr 1, 1200m) at Sha Tin on April 25.
Struggling to comprehend the fact Amazing Star – a 178-1 chance – had temporarily laid waste to favourite Wellington’s (All Too Hard) standing as Hong Kong’s sprint heir apparent, Ting jubilated in one of the jurisdiction’s greatest upsets in a feature race.
Easily held in five previous outings, finishing no closer than fourth, Amazing Star enjoyed a perfect trail behind the speed under Vagner Borges before striking the lead and then withstanding a searing late surge from Stronger (Not A Single Doubt).
Beauty Applause (Stratum) was third, ahead of Wishful Thinker (I Am Invincible), while Wellington crossed in fifth place, two and a half lengths behind the winner.
“I still do not believe it,” said Ting, celebrating the most important win of his training career since being granted a full licence in 2018-19.
“Maybe the pace was a bit fast and it was suitable for him and it was a comfortable race. We had a lot of luck.
“After the start, I didn’t think we could win. Over the last 200 metres, I thought he had a chance – only then.
“At the beginning of the race, I didn’t think he could win. I was hoping he could run a place.
“This is the biggest win for me. Hopefully, there’s some more.”
Asked if a tilt at Japanese sprinter Danon Smash (Lord Kanaloa) in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize was feasible – along with a HK$180,000 supplementary entry fee – Ting was non-committal.
“At this stage, I don’t know. The horse’s fitness is everything. He suffers from back problems, so I don’t know,” he said.
A four-time champion jockey in Brazil, 28-year-old Borges exalted in the biggest pay-day of his career after annexing the HK$4.5 million contest aboard a galloper who had never won at Sha Tin.
“I’m very happy, it’s my first Group win in Hong Kong, I’m delighted – I have no words to describe how happy I am,” Borges said.
“As the race started, the horse jumped well and there was good pace, so I just sat there. When I asked the horse for a response, he responded really well and I was able to get the job done.”
The success was Borges’ 19th in Hong Kong this term.
“I’ve had to adapt to both racecourses since I based myself here and I know how competitive it is, but day by day I keep getting better and from now on, hopefully I can get some more support,” he said.
Wellington, touted as the speedster most likely to next ascend to Hong Kong’s sprint throne, was caught wide and failed to show his signature finishing burst, while Douglas Whyte is likely to press on the Chairman’s Sprint Prize with Stronger after his desperately unlucky performance.
Glorious Dragon (Teofilo) will contest the FWD QEII Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) at Sha Tin on 25 April after overcoming difficulties to land the Class 1 Peak Handicap (2000m) for Francis Lui and Matthew Poon.
Lui said: “Everybody knew the pace was going to be slow and he had to carry that weight, so before the race we discussed trying to be more positive and settle midfield, but when he jumped, he was just a bit slow. It was a big effort to win from where he was.
“I think he’s gone to another level – he’s kept improving. He’s got a good fighting heart.”
Confirming an FWD QEII Cup tilt, Lui said: “I don’t know if we can match the Japanese horses. I only got the horse this season, so I don’t know how much more he can improve but everything is positive.”
Dual champion trainer David Hayes unveiled promising sprinter Trader (Unencumbered), who showed tremendous dash under Zac Purton to win the second section of the Class 4 Lugard Handicap (1200m) on debut.
Purton combined with Danny Shum and Regency Bo Bo (Denman) to snare the second section of the Class 3 Harlech Handicap (1200m) before Joao Moreira drove Super Winner (Guillotine) to a slender success in the Class 4 Peel Handicap (1400m) for Dennis Yip.
Ricky Yiu notched a memorable double with Mighty Giant and Pleasant Endeavor (Redoute’s Choice) in the first section of the Class 4 Lugard Handicap (1200m).
Hurry Hurry Gain (Press Statement) weathered mid-race setbacks to prevail for Vincent Ho and Frankie Lor in the first section of the Class 3 Harlech Handicap (1200m) to improve his record to two wins and a second from three starts, after Blake Shinn guided Maldives (Burgundy) home for David Hall in the Class 4 Severn Handicap (1600m).
Jerry Chau closed out the meeting with a desperately close win on Private Rocket (Dark Angel) for Douglas Whyte in the Class 3 Homestead Handicap (1400m), defying Joao Moreira on Kasi Farasi (Reward For Effort) by a short head.
Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Thursday.