Vincent Ho took riding honours at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, 9 September, with a treble that strengthened his early position in the 2026/27 Hong Kong jockeys’ championship. Caspar Fownes also made a strong start to his latest title campaign with a double at the city circuit.
Ho moved to four wins for the season and drew level with Zac Purton in the number of victories, although Purton remained ahead on minor placings. Ho’s three successes came aboard Jumbo Blessing, Fortunate Son and Ace Champion, giving him one of the most productive evenings of the meeting.
Happy Valley Race Results Highlight Ho’s Treble
Ho’s first success came aboard Fownes-trained Jumbo Blessing in the Class 4 Kowloon Tong Handicap over 1,000 metres. Ho took the ride after Luke Ferraris missed the meeting through illness, and Jumbo Blessing responded with a strong finishing effort despite beginning slowly.
The victory added to Jumbo Blessing’s previous success at Happy Valley and reinforced Fownes’ belief that the horse had considerable scope for further improvement. Fownes had been encouraged by the gelding’s morning work and sent him to the races without a trial.
Ho then partnered Cody Mo’s Fortunate Son to victory in the Class 3 Central Handicap before completing his treble on Pierre Ng’s Ace Champion in the Class 3 Wan Chai Handicap over 1,200 metres.
The three victories gave Ho a prominent early position in the championship standings and continued his productive association with Fownes.
Fownes Began Title Defence with Happy Valley Double
Fownes recorded his double through Jumbo Blessing and No Other Choice as he began his bid for a sixth Hong Kong trainers’ championship.
The trainer entered the new campaign after a highly successful 2025/26 season in which he recorded a record 46 Happy Valley victories and secured his fifth Hong Kong trainers’ title with 69 wins overall. He finished ahead of Danny Shum on 65 and Mark Newnham on 61.
Fownes had also built a remarkable record at Happy Valley, with 676 victories at the venue during Hong Kong’s professional racing era, the highest total among trainers and jockeys. His overall Hong Kong tally had reached 1,237 wins.
His previous championship successes came in 2006/07, 2008/09, 2013/14, 2020/21 and 2025/26. The latest double therefore provided an immediate foundation for another campaign at the top level.
No Other Choice produced a particularly notable result for Fownes in the second section of the Class 5 Admiralty Handicap over 1,200 metres. The victory came at the horse’s 16th start and followed an interrupted campaign in which a heart irregularity had affected his previous run.
Zac Purton Reached 750 Happy Valley Wins
Zac Purton also marked a significant milestone when he registered his 750th Happy Valley victory aboard Mighty Steed for Francis Lui.
Mighty Steed carried 135lb in the second section of the Class 4 Kwun Tong Handicap over 1,650 metres and defeated Firefoot, carrying 122lb. The success added another notable landmark to Purton’s long record at the city circuit.
Purton later completed a double when he partnered Robot Lucky Star to victory in the Class 4 Tsim Sha Tsui Handicap over 1,200 metres for trainer Mark Newnham.
Karis Teetan Added Two Winners
Karis Teetan also enjoyed a productive evening with two victories.
Team Happy gave trainer Michael Chang and Teetan their first Happy Valley success of the season in the first section of the Class 5 Admiralty Handicap over 1,200 metres. Teetan later partnered David Hayes-trained Amazing Gaze to victory in the first section of the Class 4 Kwun Tong Handicap over 1,650 metres.
The two wins provided Teetan with a strong response after a difficult meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday and added further depth to an evening dominated by several established names in Hong Kong racing.
Happy Valley Race Results from 9 September featured Vincent Ho’s treble, Caspar Fownes’ double, Zac Purton’s 750th victory at the venue and Karis Teetan’s two-win evening. The meeting also gave Fownes an early boost in his bid for another trainers’ championship.
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