Le Zonda completed a three-race winning run at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday night, 16 September 2026, when he edged Sagacious Life by a head in the Class 2 Shek O Handicap over 1650m. Trained by Pierre Ng and ridden by Vincent Ho, the gelding finished strongly down the centre of the track to win in 1m 39.90s, with Helene Feeling a further half length away in third.
Carrying 119lb, Le Zonda was ridden patiently before Ho asked him to improve in the closing stages. The gelding responded well and produced the acceleration needed to move past Sagacious Life close to the finish. Helene Feeling stayed on for third, completing the top three after another competitive performance over the Happy Valley circuit.
The result continued Le Zonda’s progress since his arrival in Hong Kong and added another strong performance to his recent record. The Le Zonda Happy Valley success also strengthened his prospects of stepping back up to 1800m, a distance over which he had already produced two notable performances towards the end of the previous season.
Le Zonda Happy Valley Run Strengthened Future Plans
Pierre Ng had identified a Class 2 contest over 1800m at Happy Valley Racecourse on 14 October as the next target for Le Zonda. The trainer had also considered stronger assignments later in the campaign, including the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap over 1800m at Sha Tin on 8 November and the G3 January Cup Handicap over 1800m at Happy Valley Racecourse on 13 January.
Le Zonda had previously raced in Ireland under the name Beckman for trainer Ger Lyons, where he recorded two victories. After moving to Hong Kong, he had taken some time to adjust before producing two strong come-from-behind victories over 1800m at Happy Valley Racecourse near the end of the previous season.
His latest performance came over a shorter 1650m distance, which Ng had regarded as a sharper test for the gelding. Le Zonda nevertheless showed enough pace and finishing strength to overcome the challenge and complete his three-race winning sequence.
Ng had also moved to four wins for the early part of the 2026/27 Hong Kong season following the meeting. He had joined Danny Shum, Cody Mo and Caspar Fownes at the top of the trainers’ championship after the first four completed meetings.
The latest success also gave Le Zonda another opportunity to demonstrate his ability to settle before producing a late challenge. His earlier performances had already suggested that longer distances could suit him, and the planned 1800m assignment offered another chance to test that progression.
Derek Leung Completed Race-to-Race Double
Derek Leung also enjoyed a productive evening at Happy Valley Racecourse after completing a race-to-race double. He first partnered Mo-trained Spicy Spangle to victory in the Class 5 Ho Mei Handicap over 1000m before returning to the winner’s enclosure aboard Manfred Man-trained Bright Day in the first section of the Class 4 Lido Handicap over 1200m.
The double took Leung’s season tally to five victories. Three of those wins had come from horses trained by Cody Mo, continuing a productive partnership between the jockey and the stable during the early part of the season.
Zac Purton also recorded two victories during the meeting in partnership with Douglas Whyte. The pair first combined with Live Wire in the Class 4 Community Chest Cup Handicap over 1200m before Purton partnered Young Arrow to victory in the second section of the Class 4 Lido Handicap.
Live Wire had ended the previous season with a victory over the same course and distance and produced another solid effort. Whyte had noted that the gelding had improved physically and had become easier to train.
Young Arrow, formerly known as September when racing in Singapore for trainer Dan Meagher, also secured his second course-and-distance victory. Purton had taken his season tally to eight wins after the meeting, with at least one victory at each of the first four completed fixtures.
More Winners Added to Happy Valley Racecourse Card
Dancing Classics also recorded his third victory at Happy Valley Racecourse for trainer Caspar Fownes. Ridden by Ellis Wong, the 125lb contender won the Class 3 Repulse Bay Handicap over 1000m.
Jamie Richards and Alexis Badel combined for their first victory of the season when Romantic Fantasy won the Class 4 Big Wave Bay Handicap over 1800m. The mare held off Rosewood Fleetfoot in the closing stages.
Badel later completed a double aboard Me Tsui-trained Pope Cody in the Class 3 Chung Hom Kok Handicap over 1650m. Pope Cody produced another strong performance over the course and distance to secure the race.
The Shek O Handicap remained the main result of the meeting, with Le Zonda finishing ahead of Sagacious Life and Helene Feeling. His narrow success extended his winning sequence and gave his connections another reason to consider stronger assignments during the season.
The latest Le Zonda Happy Valley performance therefore provided another step in a campaign that had already included two 1800m victories. With an 1800m Class 2 contest identified as his next target, his progress was set to continue towards potentially stronger company.
Hong Kong racing was scheduled to return to Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday night, 23 September.
Le Zonda Happy Valley form remained strong after his third consecutive victory in the Class 2 Shek O Handicap, with an 1800m Class 2 assignment and possible Group 3 races ahead.
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