My Wish aims higher after G2 Sha Tin Trophy success

HONG KONG My Wish underlined his mounting Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile (1,600m) credentials, with a scintillating performance to scoop the HK$5.35 million (S$892,000) Group 2 Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) on Oct 19.

The five-year-old galloper remained on course for his long-term target at the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) on Dec 14, as he continued his rise through the grades under trainer Mark Newnham after bagging his second Group prize of the season.

Given a fine steer by stand-in pilot Alexis Badel, My Wish ($7) tracked the brisk pace set by Keagan de Melo on Copartner Prance. He then moved from his haunches and burst clear to salute by 1¼ lengths.

My Wish has claimed his sixth win from 13 starts. Copartner Prance held on for second, while Beauty Joy (Derek Leung) completed the frame in third.

"I had an awkward gate, but we decided to make it simple not complicated. He just relaxed," said Badel. "He was waiting for me to ask him (for an effort) and when I did, he just responded well."

Newnham was gushing about his stable star and his improvement this season.

"His race manners have improved as he's matured," he said. "He's got good gate speed.

"He (Badel) had to use him a little bit - the inside runners weren't making it easy for him. But when he got there, he waited and conserved energy."

But the handler, who oversaw 43 "black type" wins in his native Australia, sounded a note of caution that My Wish would not be enjoying the benefit of the minimum weight when the December extravaganza nears.

"By that stage (HKIR), we're meeting more on level weights," said Newnham. "So, he's got to continue to improve, but he's doing the job well, and I think there's enough improvement to see him at that level."

The next test for the Flying Artie gelding is to navigate November's Group 2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1,600m).

The dream weekend continued for Zac Purton, fresh from his landmark victory in the Group 1 The Everest (1,200m) on Oct 18 as he bagged a double to move to 1,899 Hong Kong wins.

The first leg of his brace came in the Class 4 Sun Tin Wai Handicap (1,000m) atop the promising Robot Lucky Star ($18).

The Manfred Man-trained four-year-old claimed his maiden win, quickening nicely with 100m left to prevail comfortably over California Blitz (Matthew Chadwick).

Purton improved to 21 wins for the season when he combined with Man for another success, this time aboard Patch Of Stars ($10) in the Class 3 Lek Yuen Handicap (1,200m).

Brett Crawford claimed the third winner of his debut season with his sole runner of the day, when Double Show ($68) got up to win the card-opening Class 5 Shek Mun Handicap (1,400m) under Karis Teetan.

"I'm happy that he's won the race and I thought he won quite well," said Crawford. "He's dropped a lot in the ratings - obviously he'll get some of them back today, but I do think he's a horse that's got the ability to follow up."

The victory nudged the South African horseman's strike rate up to a remarkable 16% from just 19 starts.

After seven runner-up finishes before Oct 19, Matthew Poon netted an overdue win after a sterling effort from Gracious Express ($140) in the Class 3 Wo Che Handicap (1,400m).

The Ricky Yiu-trained five-year-old was forced to dig deep to fend off a spirited charge from Purton's mount, Everyone's Star.

Lyle Hewitson continued his impressive form, striking on Special Hedge ($62) in the Class 4 Chun Shek Handicap (1,800m) for his seventh win this season. The Michael Chang-trained gelding got up by a short head after a desperate battle to the line with Firefoot.

James Orman struck on The Auspicious ($34) in the first section of the Class 4 Sun Chui Handicap (1,400m) for Me Tsui in a battling performance from the four-year-old son of Almanzor.

Jerry Chau took out the second section of the Class 4 Sun Chui Handicap (1,400m) on Lucky Sam Gor ($24) for Newnham, who extended his lead to two at the top of the trainer's championship with his double.

Ellis Wong received a belated birthday gift after turning 25 on Oct 18. The apprentice rode Pejibaye ($22) to his first Hong Kong win for his boss Caspar Fownes in the Class 4 Lung Hang Handicap (1,200m).

As the dust began to settle on Ka Ying Rising's seismic triumph in The Everest at Royal Randwick, it was fitting that David Hayes scooped the day's closer, the Class 3 Sha Kok Handicap (1,600m) with the talented Fortune Boy ($61), ridden by Teetan, who wrapped up a double in a thrilling blanket finish.

Earlier, a ceremony was held to congratulate the victorious duo of Hayes and Purton on their Sydney heroics.

Said Hayes: "We're very lucky with this horse, he's incredibly sound. He's got a great appetite and the constitution of an elephant.

"He'd recovered within 20 minutes of the race, and if we needed to - which we're not - you could run him in two weeks. He's a fantastic horse.

"He'll be coming home on Monday night and will be in Hong Kong on Tuesday for a couple of easy weeks in quarantine." HKJC