There was a touch of poetry at Sha Tin on Sunday as Tomodachi Kokoroe continued his late-career renaissance, charging home under Harry Bentley to claim the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Shing Mun Handicap (1200m) — and perhaps book himself a path toward the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint in December.
The win, achieved under top weight of 133lb and from an awkward draw, was more than just another addition to his impressive record. It was the mark of a seasoned campaigner still burning with purpose, and of a trainer — David Hayes — whose patience is paying off.
“It’s not bad when they carry the grandstand and go via the Cape,” Hayes quipped afterward. “That was a very good win, and he’ll go into the lead-up races to the Hong Kong Sprint.”
From Bank Bank Bank to Sha Tin Hero
Once known as Bank Bank Bank in Australia, the Written Tycoon gelding arrived in Hong Kong as a 64-rater after winning six in a row down under. Since then, he has become a familiar name in Sha Tin’s sprinting ranks — Sunday’s success marked his sixth Hong Kong win from 33 starts, lifting his total prizemoney to over HK$13 million.
Now aged seven, Tomodachi Kokoroe’s resurgence this season has been nothing short of inspiring. He’s strung together back-to-back wins for Bentley, who continues a strong run with four of his five wins this campaign coming in Class 2 company.
Despite a 10-pound rise and a wide gate, Tomodachi Kokoroe proved too tough, edging out Lady’s Choice (134lb) by a neck, with Baby Crystal (126lb) third in 1m 08.33s.
“He had to raise his game with that 10-pound hike,” Bentley said. “I was caught wider than ideal, but he really dug deep — he’s trying extremely hard. It’s a great training effort.”
Eyeing the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
Hayes now has his sights firmly set on the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on 14 December, with Tomodachi Kokoroe expected to contest the G2 Premier Bowl (26 October) and G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (23 November) as key lead-ups.
Should the gelding continue this vein of form, few would bet against him lining up among the elite sprinters at Sha Tin’s biggest international showcase.
Supporting Highlights from the Card
It was a strong day all around for Hong Kong’s leading trainers. Tony Cruz continued his excellent form with a double, He Was You (131lb) and Good Luck Babe (132lb) both scoring under Angus Chung, moving Cruz to nine wins for the season — just behind Mark Newnham (11) and level with Caspar Fownes and David Hayes.
Fownes also notched a double with Sky Heart (Ellis Wong, 126lb) in the Class 3 Yau Kom Tau Handicap and Daily Trophy (Lyle Hewitson, 130lb), who relished the sealed dirt track to win the Class 4 Lo Wai Handicap by a margin.
“Once the rain came, he loved the surface,” Fownes said. “Lyle gave him a perfect ride — I’m happy for him.”
Newnham added another winner courtesy of Bull Attitude (118lb), who threaded through traffic to deny Happy Universe (126lb) in the Class 4 Sham Tseng Handicap.
Meanwhile, Zac Purton extended his jockeys’ championship lead to 11 with a brace aboard Oldtown (Chris So) and Mr Energia (David Hall), taking his tally to 18 wins for the season.
Andrea Atzeni, fresh from his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe ride aboard Giavellotto, enjoyed success with Jubilant Winner (Jamie Richards, 132lb) in the Class 4 Kwok Shui Handicap. The Italian now heads to Melbourne for a G1 Caulfield Cup ride on Meydaan this Saturday.
Danny Shum’s Matters Most (115lb) also earned a HK$1.5 million PP Bonus when scoring in the Class 3 Chinese Recreation Club Challenge Cup under Ellis Wong, marking the apprentice’s double for the day.
Hong Kong racing resumes at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (15 October).
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