The Sha Tin crowd rose in collective awe on Sunday afternoon as Tomodachi Kokoroe unleashed a breathtaking burst of speed that not only sealed the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) but also reignited his career in stunning fashion. The seven-year-old’s win – clocked as the second-fastest 1200-metre time ever recorded in Hong Kong – announced him as a serious LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) contender.
It was a story of patience, partnership, and persistence – a tale trainer David Hayes and jockey Harry Bentley have quietly been crafting. After a winless run last season, few could have predicted such a remarkable resurgence. Yet on Sunday, Tomodachi Kokoroe’s fire burned brighter than ever.
Bentley and Hayes Combine for a Masterclass
Harry Bentley delivered a ride to remember. Perfectly positioned one off the rail, the Englishman bided his time before unleashing Tomodachi Kokoroe at the 300-metre mark. In a matter of strides, the Written Tycoon gelding swept past the pace-setters, leaving rivals in his wake.
“Sometimes you draw a race map and just hope it plays out that way – and Harry put him exactly there,” said Hayes, beaming. “He gave him a ten-out-of-ten ride. Last time, things didn’t go perfectly, but today it all clicked.”
It was the pair’s third win from four starts together, and easily their most emphatic.
Rival Sprinters Beware
Tomodachi Kokoroe’s blistering victory – second only in time to his stablemate Ka Ying Rising, the world’s top-rated sprinter – puts Hayes in a rare position: holding two of Hong Kong’s best speedsters in his yard.
“He runs time, so you can’t ignore that,” Hayes said. “He’ll probably go next in the Jockey Club Sprint – that’s the usual lead-up to the LONGINES HKIR. Whether he faces Ka Ying Rising there depends on how Ka Ying comes back from quarantine.”
Behind the star performer, Raging Blizzard (121lb) finished second for Brenton Avdulla, while Packing Hermod (121lb) and Zac Purton filled third.
Sagacious Life Shocks in Panasonic Cup
There was another headline-making performance later in the day, as Sagacious Life (108lb) made a dream Hong Kong debut in the Class 2 Panasonic Cup Handicap (1600m). The four-year-old Brazilian import, partnered by apprentice Britney Wong, flashed home in a sizzling 22.66s final split to nab Steps Ahead (118lb) at 32/1.
Trainer Pierre Ng was all smiles. “We were just hoping for prize money, and he’s gone and won. It’s a long way from Brazil, but he’s adapted well. The Four-Year-Old Classic Series will be his goal now,” Ng said.
His connections also pocketed a HK$3 million PP Bonus, on top of the HK$1.74 million winner’s cheque.
Newnham’s Winning Streak Rolls On
The meeting brimmed with promising newcomers and comeback stories. Ever Luck (127lb), trained by Mark Newnham, lived up to trial buzz by landing the Class 4 Panasonic TV Handicap (1200m) on debut under James Orman. Despite a wide drift and a stewards’ inquiry following contact with Georgian Sigma, the win stood – extending Newnham’s remarkable streak to 12 consecutive meetings with at least one winner.
Elsewhere, Alpha Strike (123lb) made a successful Hong Kong debut for Caspar Fownes, Time To Fire (119lb) scored a shock at 67/1 for David Hall, and Top Dragon (130lb) closed the card with a confident win under Zac Purton for Chris So – his ninth straight meeting with a victory.
Read the full story and more Hong Kong racing coverage at RaceBuzz.
