David Hall joined an elite group of Hong Kong trainers on Sunday, October 11, after a double at Sha Tin took his career tally in the city to 700 wins. The milestone added another chapter to Hall’s long association with Hong Kong racing, with Ka Ying Attack and Kempes providing the victories that carried the Australian into the distinguished club.
At 62, Hall played down the significance of the achievement, preferring to look ahead rather than dwell on the numbers. His latest success placed him among a select group of active trainers to have reached the 700-win mark in Hong Kong, alongside John Size, Tony Cruz, Caspar Fownes, Ricky Yiu, Francis Lui, Danny Shum, Dennis Yip, Manfred Man and David Hayes.
“It’s not something you go to work every day thinking about but 700 wins sounds good – 800 will sound better,” Hall said after his two winners completed the milestone.
David Hall Reaches 700 Hong Kong Wins with Sha Tin Double
Hall moved to Hong Kong in 2004 after guiding the champion stayer Makye Diva to the first of three consecutive Melbourne Cup victories. He subsequently established himself in his new surroundings, recording Group 1 success with Absolute Champion and Invincible Sage.
Ka Ying Attack provided the first half of Sunday’s double in the Class 2 Yuen Long Handicap over 1200 metres. Drawn in gate 10 and carrying 129lb, the runner settled towards the rear under Matthew Poon before producing a strong late finish along the rail to defeat Rising Force, who carried 132lb.
Hall credited both the horse’s condition and Poon’s judgement for the performance. He explained that the decision to settle the runner towards the back was intended to avoid being caught wide on the first run of the season.
The plan worked to perfection, with Ka Ying Attack finishing strongly to secure the victory.
“He’s in the zone,” Hall said, reflecting on the runner’s form at the end of last season and the promising start to the current campaign.
Kempes completed Hall’s double in the Class 3 Lau Fau Shan Handicap over 1200 metres on dirt. Carrying 121lb, the runner produced a powerful finishing effort under Andrea Atzeni to overhaul Bustling City, who carried 131lb, in the closing stages.
Kempes had previously won the Group 1 Estrellas Juvenile over 1600 metres in Argentina, where the runner competed under the name Dark Love. A productive routine at Conghua has helped the horse find consistency in Hong Kong, and Hall believes there is further scope for improvement.
Hall also emphasised Kempes’ versatility, noting that the runner could perform effectively on turf as well as dirt. He indicated that Kempes would return to Conghua as the team seeks to maintain the current level of performance.
Megastar Heart Impresses for Caspar Fownes
Caspar Fownes, meanwhile, received an encouraging performance from Megastar Heart in the Class 3 San Tin Handicap over 1200 metres.
The Australian import, carrying 123lb, had endured persistent lameness problems since arriving in Hong Kong. However, the gelding handled pressure during the middle stages before pulling clear to defeat Swift Ascend, who carried 135lb, by two lengths in 1 minute 8.53 seconds.
The victory offered Fownes renewed optimism about a runner whose progress had been repeatedly interrupted by physical setbacks. The trainer believes Megastar Heart could climb considerably through the ratings if the horse maintains soundness and continues to improve.
Fownes also acknowledged the patience shown by the Good Time Syndicate throughout the lengthy process of getting the runner fit and ready to compete at the required level.
The result strengthened Fownes’ campaign as he pursues a sixth Hong Kong trainers’ championship. The victory earned Megastar Heart HK$1.04 million in prize money, while Fownes moved to eight wins for the season. He remained behind Pierre Ng and Manfred Man, both on 10 victories, with Cody Mo also on eight.
Atzeni and Chau Complete Riding Doubles
Andrea Atzeni enjoyed a second winner when Jolly Brilliant, carrying 135lb, finished strongly to capture the Class 4 Ping Shan Handicap over 1600 metres for trainer Ricky Yiu.
Jerry Chau also recorded a double, beginning with Sunny Q in the Class 5 Kam Tin Handicap over 1000 metres. He followed that success with Mighty Profit, trained by David Eustace, in the Class 4 Lam Tei Handicap over 1200 metres.
Derek Leung continued his productive start to the season aboard Armour War Eagle, trained by Mark Newnham, in the Class 4 Mai Po Handicap over 1200 metres on dirt. Leung moved to 10 wins for the campaign, with only Zac Purton, on 17, ahead of him.
Leung credited the support of trainers Cody Mo, Manfred Man and Frankie Lor for helping him maintain his early-season form, while expressing hope that the consistency would continue.
Elsewhere, Let’s Have Fun finally broke through at the 15th attempt, winning the Class 4 Pok Oi Cup Handicap over 1200 metres for David Hayes and Matthew Poon. Shinyu Kokoroe, trained by Brett Crawford and ridden by Karis Teetan, took the Class 5 Hung Shui Kiu Handicap over the same distance on dirt.
Pierre Ng regained the lead in the trainers’ championship when Storm Mirror, ridden by Vincent Ho, won the Class 4 Nam Sang Wai Handicap over 1400 metres. Zac Purton and Douglas Whyte then combined with Celestial Hero to land the Class 3 Shui Pin Wai Handicap over the same distance.
Hall’s milestone was among the principal talking points of a productive afternoon at Sha Tin, with several trainers and jockeys strengthening their positions in the early-season standings.
Hong Kong racing will resume at Happy Valley on Wednesday, October 14.
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