Grand night on the dirt as Moreira hits back with a double

01/03/2017

By David Morgan

Tonight’s (Wednesday, 1 March) all-weather track fixture at Sha Tin was about as low-key as you can get in these parts but Hong Kong racing being what it is, the eight-race card still delivered its share of excitement.

After the Chris So-trained Best Reward had toughed out a first-race win under Zac Purton, Grand Harbour upped the grit in race two, the Class 4 Sea Eagle Handicap (1650m). Joao Moreira was the man in the plate and there was plenty of focus on the champion jockey following a rare shut-out on Sunday.

Moreira’s blank at the weekend was the first time the Brazilian had not ridden a winner when active on a Hong Kong race day since 3 April, 2016. But the record-breaker was on the mark early this evening aboard the Michael Chang-trained galloper.

Moreira did not hang about, bouncing the top-weight to the front from an outside gate and then vying with Emperor Victory, who snared the rail under Jack Wong, before striding to an outright lead with 700m to go. 

“I couldn’t believe the tempo!” Chang said after watching the 6.3 shot battle to victory in 1m 39.42s (27.97, 22.85, 23.82, 24.78). “With 133 pounds on his back, I was looking thinking it was a crazy pace – but Joao’s such a good jockey. I told him to go out and do it American style, from barrier 13, I could not ask him to drop back, this is a very keen horse so I told Joao to go forward.”

Grand Harbour was two lengths clear turning for home, the field stretched 12 lengths behind him, and Moreira drove on. The David Hall-trained Lansbury emerged from the pack with a grinding run under Purton and, with the leader tying up, the pair flashed past the post together, prompting Chang alongside Fownes, cigar in hand, to ask his fellow handler, “Did I get it?” Fownes thought no; the photo confirmed yes.

“I didn’t know. It really scared me!” said Chang later. “Joao said that the horse was very brave. He fought from the start right to the end; he has a very big heart, this horse. He’s finished second three times this season so he deserved this win.”

Two for Fownes

Fownes, meanwhile notched a mid-card double. The handler’s Born Dragon completed a Moreira brace in race five, section two of the Class 4 Peacock Handicap (1200m), and Sky King landed the next, the Class 3 Kestrel Handicap (1650m), under Douglas Whyte.

“It’s always nice to get a double,” Fownes said. “They both like the dirt surface and they were given a couple of good rides.”
Whyte had ridden the Jet Spur gelding in his two previous starts for a course and distance win and a latest third-place effort over 1800m on the turf. Back to dirt and off a 6lb higher mark than that success, Sky King boxed on from deep to collar long-time leader King Genki close home.

“Douglas worked hard on Sky King the whole way, he’s a big horse and needs a bit of riding and it was a vigorous one. That’s two good rides by Douglas on this horse for his last two wins on the dirt,” Fownes said of the 4.8 chance.

“I have Vanilla, too, who’s very similar and in April there are a couple of 85-60 dirt races, so it looks like Sky King will go for the 1650 (metres) and Vanilla the 1800 (metres).

“Born Dragon’s a bit light, he’s got a frame there though – he’s getting there,” Fownes continued. “He’s gone back-to-back there and I’ll probably step him up in distance after that. I think it was a good effort and the tempo of a 1650 will suit him now.”

Meanwhile, Wong earned a deserved return to the winner’s spot at his third meeting back from a broken ankle, which he sustained in a race fall on 9 November. The 7lb claimer drove Forza Avanti through a strong stretch run to overhaul the Whyte-ridden Art Of Success for a half-length verdict. That came for trainer Me Tsui in race three, section one of the Peacock Handicap (1200m).

Fellow apprentice Kei Chiong made the running to score on the Tony Millard-trained Hit The Bid in the seventh, the Class 3 Flamingo Handicap (1200m), while Matthew Chadwick teamed up for a rare success in combination with trainer John Size when Works Of Art took race four, the Class 4 Spoonbill Handicap (1800m).

The night’s Class 2 contest, the Egret Handicap (1200m), saw Tsui land a training double thanks to the Alex Lai-ridden Fight Hero. The 17/1 hope held off Eroico and Love Shock to claim back-to-back wins at the course and distance.

Hong Kong racing resumes at Sha Tin in Sunday, 5 March.