Fownes to keep Valley crown with Twin attack on feature

25/10/2016

By Andrew Hawkins

Caspar Fownes is not known as the unofficial king of Happy Valley for nothing and after a remarkable start to the season he hopes to snare another feature at the city circuit with two live chances in Wednesday night’s (26 October) Class 1 Hong Kong Country Club Challenge Cup (Handicap).

Fownes is the standout trainer at Happy Valley this season, preparing 13 winners from just 39 runners and winning more than a quarter of all races run at the track this season.

He enters the Class 1 feature over 1650m tomorrow night with two last-start winners, although under different circumstances – Sichuan Dar, who saluted as 4.4 second favourite last month, and Twin Delight, who caused a stir with his unexpected 267/1 victory at Sha Tin earlier in September.

Sichuan Dar (120lb) has been something of a revelation since switching to the Happy Valley 1650m, ending last season with a win at his first try at the course and distance in June before following up again with a victory over Dynamism last time out.

“Sichuan Dar is an improving horse, he’s done nothing wrong around the Valley, he’s handled the track really nicely,” Fownes said this morning (Tuesday, 25 October). “He might need a bit of luck as he gets back in his races, but all being equal he should be very competitive.

“He’s come on very well, both coming into the season and also out of last start. He’s the type of horse who looks like he will be getting to triple figures in the ratings very soon, maybe after Wednesday night.”

Conversely, Twin Delight (127lb) shocked with his narrow victory in the Class 1 Kwangtung Handicap Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on 11 September, holding off subsequent G3 winner Joyful Trinity to score by a short-head at cricket score odds and sending his domestic rating over 100 for the first time.

“It was a big surprise!” Fownes said with a smile. “A lovely surprise, though. He came through the run well, and this is the track where he has always done well. The big thing for him is that he has the gate (one) to really give us a big sight, so I’ve got a good two-pronged attack, hopefully we’ll run the quinella!”

Zac Purton hops aboard Twin Delight for the first time in almost a year, and hopes that the return to Happy Valley allows the horse to continue in his rich vein of form.

“He’s clearly come back well,” he said. “I haven’t been on his back in work this time in but he’s pretty straightforward, from the gate he’ll bounce and head forward and hopefully he’s good enough to be there at the finish.”

Vincent Ho rides Sichuan Dar in the trophy race, which was reduced to 10 runners on Tuesday morning with the scratching of Francis Lui’s Jun Huo.

2015 G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) winner Helene Super Star (130lb) heads the field, which also includes HKG3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) winner Ambitious Champion (122lb) and John Moore-trained pair Harbour Master (126lb) and Basic Trilogy (125lb).

Dennis Yip’s All You Wish (127lb), John Size-trained Sergeant Titanium (124lb), Divine Boy (119lb) for Me Tsui and Tony Millard’s veteran Super Lifeline (118lb) complete the line-up for the Class 1, which will jump at 9.45pm.

Bosson looking for ‘Luck’ to record first win for term

New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson is optimistic about recording his first win for the season on Wednesday night with two solid hopes among his five rides at Happy Valley.

Bosson is particularly enthused about Paul O’Sullivan-trained Lucky Seven (124lb) in the fourth race, the Class 4 Shum Wan Handicap (1000m), and he believes that gate five could prove crucial after coming up with barrier nine three times and the outside draw of 12 once at his last four starts.

“It’s a nice change of luck for him, he always seems to draw out wide, which forces us to go back and try to slot in,” he said. “From the nice barrier draw, hopefully we can get a better run in behind them. He’s knocking on the door, that’s for sure.

“He’s really got a lot stronger this time in, he’s hitting the line quite well. Last season, he was just found wanting that last little bit but he’s strengthened up a lot. Hopefully, he jumps away well and can make the last run at them.”

The Kiwi rider also hopes that a return to 1000m can bring out the best in Ricky Yiu’s Diamond Master (129lb), who has placed twice this season with Bosson aboard, in the Class 3 Wong Chuk Hang Handicap.

“I think the drop in trip is more suitable,” he said. “He’s been freshened up a little bit in his work and he’s been really strong the last week or so. He’s getting fitter and fitter with every run, he’s got a nice draw in four and I’m definitely looking forward to riding him on Wednesday night.”

“There looks a bit of speed in there, so we’ll see how he jumps. He tends to race close to the speed anyway, but I’d be happy to take a sit if they go mad in front.”

Wednesday’s action begins with the Class 5 Heung Yip Handicap (1200m) at 7.15pm and concludes with the Class 3 Yip Fat Handicap (1650m) at 10.50pm.