Caspar Fownes hopes to build on impressive early-season momentum when Dancing Code contests the Class 2 Yan Chai Trophy Handicap over 1400m at Sha Tin on Sunday when the impressive last-start winner faces the sternest test of a blossoming career.
A dual winner over 1200m at Happy Valley, Dancing Code graduates in class and distance against quality opposition as four-time Hong Kong champion trainer Fownes bids to add to his tally this season of 10 wins and 13 minor placings from 64 runners.
“Dancing Code is a nice horse, I think he’s going to appreciate the step up to 1400m at Sha Tin now. He’s done well for us in the handful of starts that he’s had and obviously now we’re up in class and when you get to Class 2 in Hong Kong, it’s pretty serious,” Fownes said.
“You’ve got horses like The Golden Scenery, Find My Love and Supreme Lucky – all nice, up-and-coming horses that are in good, current form – but so is my guy. He presents well and the step up with extra furlong, he’ll eat that up.
“He’s the type of horse who could probably get up to a mile, but this is a nice race to step him up into and we’re going to see if he can handle the class rise and if he does, we’re going to have a bit of fun with him. He’s really well and he looks a treat. Obviously, it’s going to be tough to win that type of race but we’ll certainly be there doing our best.”
Dancing Code will start from barrier No 8 under Vincent Ho in a HK$2,840,000 contest headed by Keefy, The Golden Scenery and Sauvestre.
Sitting second in the 2023/24 trainers’ championship behind Francis Lui (11 wins), Fownes is satisfied with his stable’s start to the campaign.
“It’s going good. We planned for a good start and to try to have a big season all the way through, so hopefully we can continue to do that,” he said. “It’s tough over here in Hong Kong with the handicap system but the horses are looking well and racing well and long may it continue.”
Having reached the 400-win milestone in Hong Kong at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, Frankie Lor will oppose Fownes’ Dancing Code with Keefy, Sauvestre and Eason in tomorrow’s turf feature.
The 2021/2022 Hong Kong champion trainer is also optimistic Youthful Deal can reprise his best form in the Class 2 Tsuen Fu Handicap (1200m, dirt) under Ho. With four wins and two minor placings over the course and distance, Lor hopes the 90-rater can improve significantly after two unplaced runs on turf.
“I try also with him on the turf, but he likes the dirt better. He’s trialled good,” Lor said of the Deep Field gelding. “Vincent knows the horse well and he’s worked really well lately and hopefully we get a good result on Sunday.”
Lor will also saddle Happy Together in the Class 3 Tsuen Lok Handicap (1600m) for Alexis Badel, having scored with Richard Gibson’s former charge on 24 September.
“I think he’s got potential. He won his first start for me and I was really happy,” Lor said. “This time, he needs to carry a big weight (61.5kg), but Alexis knows what to do. He’s been working well.”
hampion sprinter Lucky Sweynesse took another important step towards the Grade 2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on 22 October with a 1200m trial victory this morning (6 October) under regular rider Zac Purton.
Beaten by Victor The Winner when resuming in the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) on 10 September, Manfred Man’s three-time Group 1 victor had two lengths to spare at the line over stablemate Encountered, clocking 1m 11.44s.
“His action is getting better, he’s getting a bit cleaner in the wind. His body is starting to look better. He was very fresh in the gates, which we know he can be, he jumped out nicely and travelled nicely and did what he had to do,” Purton said.
Purton also partnered Beauty Eternal in a winning trial over 1200m as John Size’s rising star readies for the G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on 15 October.
“He was a bit fresh in the gates as well. He got out, travelled nicely. The track was a little bit deep this morning and he prefers hard and fast but he travelled around nicely and although he didn’t change his lead legs in the straight, which is unusual for him, he still ran through the line nicely and had a good blow when pulled up,” Purton said after the dual Grade 3 winner clocked 1m 11.19s.
“He’ll improve a lot from that trial and he’ll improve even more after he races heading towards hopefully December.” – Hong Kong Jockey Club
Race-by-Race Previews
Race 1: Adefill nice horse who is a model of consistency and looks the one to beat from barrier 1. Hard to hold out Viva Hunter showed good speed to lead last start and gave a good sight, only fading late into fifth. He should give a good sight again. Fiery Diamond placed last start and looks a chance to run well again. Nordic Star showed improvement at a recent trial and expect an improved perfor- mance. So We Joy has a better chance on this surface and look for improvement.
Race 2: Mission Bravo last run suggested a win was very near after he led a touch too quick and felt the pinch late. He will try to make all here and is a good chance to land Newnham his first winner as a trainer in Hong Kong. Bear Slam was an easy last start winner over Mission Bravo and must be respected again. Boom Alliance caught wide last start and still ran well to pick up third last start. M M Nebula form is good and must be rated a solid chance on the quick back up. More Rice ran the second fastest sectional time last start and is improving with racing.
Race 3: Billionaire Secret recent runs have been encouraging and can run well. He should be fitter second-up and from the low draw, he appears to map ideally and looks hard to hold out. Pakistan Friend winner of last three starts and looks a top chance to run well again. Go Go Sixteen simply had no luck last start and overlook the run. Bowman taking over the reins should improve his chances. Reach Goal had genuine excuses last start and consider again. Dazzling Fellow rising in class and meets better quality horses but can measure up.
Race 4: Gluck Racer change of trainer recently and can improve as he makes his Class 5 debut. Master Of Luck go on the win two starts ago and give a chance here first-up. Casa Legend drops down in grade and start following. Drawn wide, which will make it tougher, but Purton rides. One Heart One drops down in grade and start following. He should map better than some from gate 3. Brave And Bold down in class in this race and should perform better. Trialled quietly, but appeared to show improvement.
Race 5: Prince Chiswick showed improvement at a recent trial and he looks ready to put his best foot forward on his second career start here. Endeared will win in this grade very soon, but the widest draw will make it tough. Wonderful Unicorn down in class here and can surprise. Purton rides, so has to be respected. Double Win has trialled well for debut and should be rated a chance, watch the betting. I Give winner of last two starts and looks a chance again, but this is a tougher race.
Race 6: Flying Dragon good performance when storming home for third place last start, missing by just a neck. He should take holding out second-up. Red Desert has been knocking on the door and win won’t surprise anyone. He is very well-rated now and should land a win soon. Trader can bounce back a winner anytime in this class and, from gate 2, he should give a sight. Stand Up remains a maiden galloper but clearly gets a chance to win here after showing promise. Brave Witness looked very good in a recent trial and can run a race on debut.
Race 7: Youthful Deal has a better chance on this surface and he should be bouncing back to his winning ways from the low gate here. Reward Smile looks overdue for a win and enters this race in good form. If he handles the all-weather track, he should be running a big race here. Majestic Star all-weather track specialist who can improve on this surface. From gate 2 under Purton, he looks a threat. Chancheng Prince had genuine excuses last start when caught wide. Goko Win turned in a nice effort last run when finishing strongly late into third. Each-chance at odds.
Race 8: A wide-open race here with a couple of up-and-comers rising in class. Dancing Code scored an emphatic win at Happy Val- ley last start, but his turn-of-foot should hold him in good stead here. Supreme Lucky rising in class and meets better quality horses but can measure up. He looks to have more to come. The Golden Scenery form is good and must be rated a solid chance. He sets the benchmark. Find My Love consistent form lately and can score here. Nimble Nimbus a fast beginner who can run well if he finds an easy lead.
Race 9: Superb Boy winner of last two starts and is a big chance to land a hat-trick of wins. The biggest query is whether he’ll run a strong mile at his first attempt, but he gives the impression that he will. Happy Together last start winner who remains in the same grade and is the testing material. Snaffles has been knocking on the door and win won’t surprise anyone. Big Red remains a maiden galloper but clearly gets a chance to win here after going close recently. Secret Vision can improve second-up from a break after a fair first-up fourth.
Race 10: Excellent Fighter had genuine excuses last start and consider again. Greenwich faded late last start, chance to improve under right race shape, and he should map ideally from barrier 1. Global Harmony has been placed last two starts and deserves a win soon, but the wide draw makes it tough for him. Viva Chaleur stable is in great form of late and so respect here. He piques plenty of interest first-up over 1200m. Golden Empire trainer is in great form of late and so respect here. He should run a big race.