Substitute jockey Dylan Mo Hin-tung registered his first victory this season when he replaced Hugh Bowman aboard Class Two Poinsettia Handicap (1,600m) winner Packing Treadmill at Sha Tin on Saturday.
Packing Treadmill, who extended his unbeaten record this term to three races and advertised his Hong Kong Classic Mile credentials by winning over the feature event’s course and distance, was Mo’s 47th ride of what has been a frustrating campaign.
Before Mo partnered Francis Lui Kin-wai’s Packing Treadmill in his Poinsettia Handicap defeat of, among others, fellow Classic Series aspirants Keefy (third), Beautyverse (fifth) and Find My Love (sixth), the 29-year-old jockey had not saluted the judge since he won aboard Sparkling Dolphin on July 1.
“The draw helped, and the horse has got a very good fighting heart,” said Lui of Packing Treadmill.
“He’ll go straight to the [Hong Kong Classic] Mile because there aren’t any other races for him.”
Hayes import’s ‘special’ Hong Kong debut
Karis Teetan bagged a Christmas Eve double at Sha Tin, the highlight of which was his brilliant ride on brilliant Hong Kong debutant Flagship Warrior, who carried 133 pounds from the outside gate to win the Class Three Yan Chai Trophy (1,200m).
“They have to be special to do that first up in Hong Kong, from barrier 14, coming from last with top weight to run a fast last sectional,” said Flagship Warrior’s ecstatic trainer, David Hayes.
“He’ll probably go straight to the Hong Kong Classic Mile.”
Flagship Warrior raced in Australia as Harleymoven, and his four victories for Murray Bridge-based training duo Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray included the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1,800m) in April before he beat all bar Beautyverse – then known as Jungle Magnate – in the Group Three Chairman’s Stakes (2,000m) three weeks later.
The first of Teetan’s two Saturday successes came aboard Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Super Highway in the Class Four Erica Handicap (1,200m).
Super Highway broke his maiden tag at start 12 after being unplaced on each of his first 11 appearances.
Party time for Whyte and the Boys
Douglas Whyte was full of the festive spirit after his project horse, Boys Party, won the Class Five Cedar Handicap (1,600m) under Harry Bentley, who helped himself to a welcome double at Sha Tin.
“Sometimes I get more satisfaction out of a Class Five than a Class One or a Group race because it’s these horses who are limited in ability,” said Whyte in reference to Boys Party’s breakthrough victory.
“He’s such a trier. He’s been a good doer since he joined my stable. He doesn’t leave an ounce of feed.
“It’s well exposed I’m the only person who gallops him.
“He came to my stable and he was very keen, and he did things upside down.
“Now he’s one of the horses who I enjoy riding. He’s a transformed horse.
“It was a 10/10 ride. I gave Harry instructions and I said, ‘the barrier draw is probably the best draw you’ll ever get for this horse. Just keep his momentum going forward, cross them, get the rail, and when you think you’re done, change your stick, and he’ll find another gear’.”
Four for Twelve at Sha Tin equals 1,500 in Hong Kong for record-breaking Purton
Bentley was also successful on Bright Kid, who took out the Class Four Ivy Handicap (2,000m) to continue his excellent form this term for Caspar Fownes.
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