Group Two winner Wellington ended a Sha Tin treble for Alexis Badel that began with the French jockey saluting aboard a Class Four victor who had beaten a total of three horses in his first two races.
Badel started what would finish as his best day in the saddle for almost one year – his last treble occurred on November 7 – by partnering John Size-trained outsider Accelerando to his upset win in the Class Four Tailorbird Handicap (1,600m).
Eleventh of 14 on his debut appearance in March and last on his second start two weeks later, it was difficult to make a case for Accelerando even after noting both his gear change – a tongue tie for the first time – and Conghua trial triumph.
Accelerando shifted in at the start and laid out midway through the low-grade event before Badel drove him between Oscar Glory and Pakistan Friend inside the final 100m to register his maiden win.
Badel was at his brilliant best again five races later, finding the gaps at the right times to steer Rise Brethren to success in the Class Two Hwamei Handicap (1,800m) for Danny Shum Chap-shing.
Castrated in the week following his Class Three win over 2,200m at Happy Valley in June, Rise Brethren has continued improving since changing from being a colt to a gelding at the behest of his trainer.
Rise Brethren has posted one first and one second in his two outings since he underwent the ultimate gear change – both at Class Two level – and Shum is targeting the 1,800m event in that grade on November 20 for his gelding’s next appearance.
Leading into the Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m), it was Badel who said “he’ll have to be a great Wellington to win” his first-up assignment.
Badel, who elected to ride Wellington instead of his lighter weighted Richard Gibson stablemate, Cordyceps Six, could not find fault with his mount.
“Perfect. The question mark with older horses is always to feel good, to be healthy – that’s the main key,” said Badel after Wellington’s win.
“He’s got the quality and that’s proven. He’s outstanding. The way he began from the gates was amazing. He’s so professional, so mature in his racing manners, so he’s a dream of a horse to ride.
“He’s more mature now. He’s got the ability he’s always had, but he’s more tractable, he’s versatile – he does whatever you want.
“He’s outstanding, and he’s got that turn of foot that makes such a difference.”
Wellington boots domestic foes and dares international rivals with record win
Badel’s three winners lifted his 2022-23 season tally to 10, which ranks him third in this term’s jockeys’ championship behind only Zac Purton (28) and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu (13).
Last season, Badel recorded 50 winners from 611 rides to finish equal fifth – behind Purton (136), Joao Moreira (132), Karis Teetan (73) and Matthew Chadwick (55) and level with Ho (50).
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