Angus Chung reached a notable milestone in his riding career at Sha Tin on Sunday, delivering a hat-trick of wins that marked his first treble at the iconic venue. His crowning moment came in the day’s standout race, where his precise handling of Divano saw the gelding overpower a competitive field and seal a decisive win in a high-stakes Class 1 contest.
Chung kicked off his successful outing with back-to-back victories aboard Parents’ Love and Gustosisimo, both trained by Tony Cruz. His final strike came aboard Divano, whose fluid turn of foot in the home straight proved too strong for the chasing pack. Sitting patiently behind the early leaders, Chung timed his move to perfection to finish strongly in the 1400m feature, stopping the clock at just over 1 minute and 20 seconds.
Divano’s commanding performance was a reward for the consistent communication and planning between jockey, trainer, and owner. It was a ride that showcased Chung’s growing maturity in the saddle, as he adapted seamlessly to the pace scenario, much like he had done earlier in the day with Gustosisimo.
The gelding, a son of Brave Smash, has steadily built an impressive profile, now boasting five wins from 14 appearances. With significant prize money and bonuses earned on Sunday, the four-year-old’s total earnings have crossed the HK$10 million mark. His road to this point included a commendable effort in the Four-Year-Old Classic Series and a strong third-place finish under Ryan Moore last month, which signalled a return to form.
Trainer Frankie Lui, reflecting on Divano’s trajectory, highlighted the horse’s increasing composure and ability to unleash a sharp finish when relaxed. The lessons learned during his Classic campaign seem to be paying dividends, as the gelding continues to evolve with each outing.
Chung’s tally for the season now stands at 15 wins, with his career total inching closer to the 100-mark. The Tony Cruz Award winner from last season showed once again that he thrives when given opportunities on quality mounts, as evidenced by Gustosisimo’s lucrative win in a Class 2 sprint, which also triggered a bonus windfall.
Parents’ Love added another win to his seasonal record, narrowly edging out his rivals in a tightly fought Class 4 sprint. The Deep Field gelding has been a model of consistency this term, with this success coming after a series of solid runs.
Trainer Lui completed a double for the day when Winning Wing, formerly known as Samid in Australia, surged to victory over 1800m. The horse, sired by Australian Cup winner Preferment, became the first of his sire’s progeny to score in Hong Kong, marking a new chapter in his career.
Meanwhile, trainer Chris So celebrated a career benchmark with his 400th win. Achieving this in 12 seasons, So saw both Hong Lok Golf and With A Smile cross the finish line first in their respective 1400m assignments, steered home by Harry Bentley and Zac Purton.
Veteran handler Me Tsui also enjoyed a successful afternoon, saddling two winners. Wind Speeder returned to winning form for the first time since mid-2022, while Another Zonda delivered a sharp performance under James Orman, adding to the Australian jockey’s growing list of wins since relocating to Hong Kong.
Another notable effort came from Ahren, a promising youngster trained by Ricky Yiu. Guided by Andrea Atzeni, the three-year-old gelding settled well after a sharp break and capitalized on a strong early position to finish with authority, earning the Italian jockey his 40th win of the season.
The program also saw a debut season success for The All Out, who held on gamely under Zac Purton in a thrilling finish to the Racing For Charity Plate. Trainer Jamie Richards acknowledged the gelding’s scope for improvement and viewed the narrow win as a stepping stone to more polished performances in the future.
In one of the day’s biggest surprises, Dream Winner returned to the spotlight with an unexpected triumph. Sent out at long odds, the Frankie Lor-trained runner defied expectations with a bold display, breaking a lengthy winless streak that stretched back more than a year.
The racing calendar now shifts focus to Happy Valley for the midweek meeting on 16 April, where Hong Kong’s vibrant racing scene will continue to unfold.
