In an exhibition of pure sprinting prowess, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) brought all his power to bear on his rivals on Friday to register back-to-back successes in Goodwood's G2 King George Qatar S. Despite the contrasting ground conditions to the easy turf he encountered 12 months ago and the obvious questions posed by defeat in the June 19 G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, the bay attracted heavy support as the 8-11 favourite and was in front before he had raced two...
The 17th edition of the Claiming Crown, held Saturday at Gulfstream Park, generated total handle of $10,118,000--up 0.57% from 2014 despite rainy conditions which caused four races to be taken off the turf. Gulfstream was hosting the event for the fourth year. "We're extremely pleased with the success of Saturday's Claiming Crown," said P.J. Campo, General Manager of Gulfstream Park and Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group. "We had big fields and tremendous participation from horsemen throughout North America. We're confident the numbers would have been even more...
Hong Kong's reigning Horse of the Year Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) won a barrier trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning. The gelding clocked a trial-best :57.62 for the 1000-metre trial over the Sha Tin lawn, a neck to the good of Beauty Waves (Starspangledbanner). The eight-time Group 1 winner, who currently holds the successive wins record at 18 for a Hong Kong-trained horse, is pointing toward the April 6 G2 Sprint Cup back at 1200 metres. Said pilot Zac Purton, "He's going really well. It's good to be back...
Crowning a memorable week for trainer Mark Newnham, Invincible Ibis (Hellbent) vindicated Hugh Bowman's faith with a record-breaking success in the HK$26-million BMW Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin on Sunday. Owned by the Ibis Syndicate, Invincible Ibis was given a ground-saving ride by Bowman, before finishing strongly to overhaul the long-time leader Numbers (Tivaci) by 1 1/4 lengths, clocking a rapid time of 1:59.33, a new record for the Hong Kong Derby since the race distance was changed to 2,000 metres in 2000, eclipsing Massive Sovereign's mark of 1:59.85,...
The Frankie Lor-trained Stormy Grove (Toronado) came from a long way back to cause an upset in Sunday's HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin, showing a serious turn of foot to stamp his authority on the contest and register a one-length verdict. Invincible Ibis (Hellbent) was second, with another half a length back to Patch Of Cosmo (Super Seth) in third. Favourite Little Paradise (Toronado), who had kicked off the Four-Year-Old Classic Series with an impressive success in the HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Mile, could finish only...
Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) barely came out of second gear as he repeated his 2024 success in the HK$13-million Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday, emulating the likes of Viva Pataca (2008 and 2009), Designs On Rome (2015 and 2016) and Golden Sixty (2021 and 2023) as a dual winner of the Group 1 prize. Trained by Danny Shum, Romantic Warrior is also now just leg away from becoming only the third horse in history to complete the Hong Kong Triple Crown after this effortless win. Racing...