Caspar Fownes continued his steady rise in the Caspar Fownes trainers championship 2025/26 race after posting a decisive double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (3 December), closing the gap on season leader Mark Newnham. The four-time Hong Kong champion trainer moved to 20 wins, drawing within three of the top of the table.
Fownes opened his account with Perfect General, who delivered strongly under Vincent Ho in the Class 4 American Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1200m), before Joy Of Spring completed the stable’s second win of the night in the Class 3 High Island Handicap (1800m) with Ellis Wong aboard.
The pair of victories elevated Fownes to second in the standings on 20 wins, ahead of David Hayes (19) and just behind Newnham (23). Fownes also tightened his hold at Happy Valley, where his tally of 13 wins now leads Danny Shum by two.
Fownes’ Perfect General and Joy Of Spring headline key results
Fownes expressed satisfaction with the return of Perfect General, a Hong Kong International Sale graduate who scored with authority despite returning from a lengthy break.
“He’s been off for a long time, so it was great for him to do that first-up,” Fownes said. “We weren’t helped by the draw, but he’s a nice horse and we decided to make our own luck.”
Joy Of Spring added further momentum to Fownes’ evening, completing a productive night that yielded two wins, three seconds and a third from eight starters.
Crawford earns first Happy Valley double
South African trainer Brett Crawford registered his first Happy Valley double, lifting his tally to eight wins for his debut Hong Kong season. Ninja Derby, given a sharp front-running ride by Lyle Hewitson, claimed the Class 5 Tai Lam Chung Handicap (1800m), while Genius Baby broke through at his 10th attempt under Karis Teetan in the first section of the Class 4 Tai Tam Handicap (1200m).
Crawford praised both horses and jockeys, noting that Ninja Derby’s performance showed he could now be competitive back in Class 4, while Genius Baby’s late surge made amends for a luckless run earlier in November.
Doyle continues strong Happy Valley form
Hollie Doyle maintained her impressive preparation for next week’s LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship by steering Double Win to consecutive victories in the Class 4 Shek Lei Pui Handicap (2200m). Doyle described the six-year-old as travelling more sharply than in his previous start.
Additional winners on the night
Richard Kingscote collected his second win of the campaign when Blue Illusion landed the Class 3 Plover Cove Handicap (1000m). Cody Mo moved to 10 wins for the season with California Blitz, who edged out Know At Heart in the second section of the Class 4 Tai Tam Handicap (1200m). Golden Friendship closed the card by scoring at his 11th start for Jimmy Ting in the Class 5 Lau Shui Heung Handicap (1000m).
Hong Kong racing returned to Sha Tin on Sunday (7 December).
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