Francis Lui Kin-wai won two races at Sha Tin on Sunday, reaching 45 wins for the season and holding fifth place in the trainers’ championship [1]. Turquoise Velocity captured the Class Three Beijing Clubhouse Handicap (1200m) for Lui, marking its fourth win from six starts with jockey Keith Yeung aboard [1]. Baby Sakura also won the Class Three Shenzhen Centre Handicap (1400m), bringing his tally to two wins in four starts [1]. Lui said, "Hopefully more [wins] to come. It’s a really tight championship; all of the top six could win it and John Size too" [1].
Meanwhile, John Size recorded two wins at Sha Tin, including Sky Jewellery taking the Class Two Members Cup (1600m) under jockey Andrea Atzeni [2]. The four-year-old Sky Jewellery has now won five of seven career starts despite struggling slightly in wet conditions on Sunday [2]. Size noted the horse had previously suffered bleeding from both nostrils in November but “has recovered well… and has continued to go on from where he left off" [2]. He added, "He identified himself as a racehorse the first day he went to the races" and “has never let us down” [2]. Atzeni rode three winners on Sunday including Sky Jewellery [2].
Mark Newnham leads the trainers’ championship through 68 meetings with 51 wins. He is closely pursued by Caspar Fownes and Danny Shum Chap-shing with 50 wins each, then David Hayes with 48, followed by Francis Lui at 45 [1]. Francis Lui said of the season, "He might have done enough [this season] – we’ll see the programme first" [1].
The next Hong Kong racing fixture is scheduled for the coming week and will offer more chances for trainers and jockeys to move up the championship standings.
