Jamie Richards allowed himself a rare smile and a grateful nod to his team after a night that brought fresh belief to his stable at Happy Valley on Wednesday (10 September). Storming Dragon surged clear under Brenton Avdulla, and the roar from the stands was matched by the trainer’s embrace of his staff — a reminder of how far they’ve come since last season’s struggles.
Richards, the New Zealander who endured a lean 2024/25 campaign with just 21 winners, is already rewriting the script this term. With Storming Dragon’s emphatic success in the Class 3 Wan Chai Handicap (1200m), he not only celebrated his second double in as many meetings but also found his charge level at the top of the Million Challenge leaderboard alongside Danny Shum’s Wrote A New Page.
Richards’ resurgence led by Storming Dragon
The trainer’s delight was palpable: “We had 21 winners for the whole of last season and now four in two meetings. It’s quite hard to explain,” he said. “Storming Dragon had been so consistent last season, and he trialled well. Brenton gave him a beautiful ride.”
Earlier on the card, Richards struck with To Infinity, who captured the second division of the Class 4 Kwun Tong Handicap (1650m) under Alexis Badel. The result marked To Infinity’s seventh course-and-distance success, underlining Richards’ stable depth.
For Storming Dragon, the reward was 15 points in the Million Challenge, putting him shoulder to shoulder with Shum’s improving Wrote A New Page (120lb). The latter produced a typically gritty rally in the Class 3 Central Handicap (1650m), Harry Bentley lifting him late to edge Highland Rahy (130lb) by a short head, with I Can (127lb) only a nose away in third.
“It was a tough effort,” Bentley said. “Highland Rahy got away on the turn and I thought it might be too much, but my horse just kept finding. He’s a grinder with plenty of stamina. There’s still more to come from him, especially over longer trips.”
Challenge takes shape early
The Million Challenge, decided on Class 3 contests at Happy Valley, runs until 4 February. It awards 15 points for a win, six for second, four for third and three for fourth. Early momentum can prove crucial, and both Richards and Shum have their hands on the initiative after just two meetings.
Douglas Whyte also made headlines with a double of his own. Dan Attack, a Hong Kong International Sale graduate, broke through in the Class 5 Admiralty Handicap (1200m) under Hugh Bowman, while Harmony Fire delighted his trainer with a fifth course win in the Class 4 North Point Handicap (1000m), perfectly handled by Luke Ferraris.
“Happy Valley has always been a hunting ground for me,” Whyte reflected. “Ferraris gave Harmony Fire a 10 out of 10 ride — held him up, switched late, and the horse finished strongly. Dan Attack has been thriving at home, and it was nice to see him deliver.”
Bowman himself claimed a brace when he dictated the tempo aboard Caspar Fownes’ Super Sicario in the Class 5 Kowloon Tong Handicap (1650m). Matthew Chadwick opened his account for the season with Tony Cruz’s Viva Graciousness, and Zac Purton — fresh from a five-timer on opening day — added another when Bienvenue finished powerfully for David Hayes in the Class 4 Quarry Bay Handicap (1200m).
As the crowd filed out of Happy Valley, the talk was of Richards’ rejuvenation and Bentley’s iron drive. With the Million Challenge only just begun, the stories of Storming Dragon and Wrote A New Page already hint at a compelling season ahead.
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