The battle for the 2025/26 Hong Kong trainers’ championship remains delicately poised after another significant evening at Sha Tin Racecourse on Wednesday, where the leading contenders all struck to keep the title race finely balanced heading into the closing weeks of the season.
With 19 meetings still to come, Mark Newnham continues to hold a slender advantage on 52 wins, narrowly ahead of Caspar Fownes and Danny Shum on 51 apiece, while David Hayes, Francis Lui and 13-time champion John Size remain firmly within reach in one of the closest Hong Kong title contests in recent memory.
Size was first to make ground when Meepmeep produced a strong late burst under Hugh Bowman to capture the Class 5 Osmanthus Handicap over 1650 metres. The response from Newnham arrived swiftly as Notthesillyone, partnered by Luke Ferraris, claimed the second division of the Class 4 Carnation Handicap over 1200 metres.
Fownes ensured the pressure remained on when Sky Vino overcame a wide draw to take the Class 3 Camellia Handicap under Joao Moreira, before Danny Shum’s Blazing Wind delivered the standout display of the meeting with a commanding five-and-three-quarter-length success in the Class 3 Begonia Handicap for Zac Purton.
Newnham later reflected on the importance of Notthesillyone, whose latest success marked a fourth victory of the campaign.
“He’s been a great contributor to the trainers’ championship,” Newnham said. “Considering last year he was a winner in Class 5, I didn’t factor him winning four races this time around but he’s kept improving.”
The trainer admitted the gelding had exceeded expectations throughout the season.
“I’ve underestimated him before, so I’m not saying he can’t win in Class 3, but I didn’t think he’d be able to carry the 135lb today. He’s raced beyond my expectations.”
On the championship itself, Newnham added: “There’s a big pack chasing, so every win counts and is very important at this end of the season.”
Fownes was equally satisfied after Sky Vino registered a fourth career victory from 21 starts despite jumping from barrier 10.
“Tonight was quite tough – it was pretty hard conditions out there, but from the wide gate, Joao got him in a good position and it was an exciting finish,” Fownes said. “The horse deserved that second victory for the season.”
The veteran trainer praised the gelding’s reliability across different surfaces.
“He’s been a very honest horse, racing well on both dirt and grass. He’s a good, consistent horse and he deserved a win for my good clients.”
Purton’s victory aboard Blazing Wind also carried significance, taking the champion jockey’s Hong Kong tally to 1,988 wins while maintaining his flawless partnership with the gelding after three rides.
Elsewhere on the card, Manfred Man enjoyed a double as Robot Knight secured the Class 5 Magnolia Handicap under Britney Wong before Juicy Dragon completed the trainer’s brace in the third division of the Carnation Handicap with Andrea Atzeni in the saddle.
Tony Cruz also celebrated a memorable result when California Bay finally broke through at the 17th attempt in Hong Kong after switching successfully from turf to dirt. Guided by Karis Teetan, the four-year-old produced a sharp turn of foot after finding room along the inside rail.
“It was a nice win, eventually,” Teetan said. “The horse was in good shape today and had a good trip from a good draw. Once he got the gap, he quickened up well.”
Cruz praised the jockey’s judgement in difficult circumstances.
“It was a perfect race,” Cruz said. “It’s very seldom horses make the inside run and get up and win. Credit to Karis Teetan.”
Teetan completed a quickfire double when Night Purosangue captured the Class 4 Chamomile Handicap for trainer Me Tsui, while apprentice Nichola Yuen guided Yoda’s Choice to victory in the Class 4 Lotus Handicap over 1800 metres.
The Hong Kong trainers’ championship now moves towards another crucial stage with racing returning to Sha Tin on Saturday afternoon.
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