HK: 'BANNER' FLIES HIGH IN KWANGTUNG HANDICAP CUP

By Hong Kong Jockey Club (David Morgan) | Sunday, September 10, 2017

Jolly Banner wore his heart on his hooves and outpointed the game Winner’s Way in the Class 1 Kwangtung Handicap Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin this afternoon, Sunday, 10 September.

“Jolly Banner’s a dream ride, he just tries so hard: all he wants to do is win,” jockey Chad Schofield said after his mount had stopped the clock at 1m 21.15s.

That indefatigable will was evident in the closing stages. When Winner’s Way (128lb), the 2.3 race favourite, brushed aside the front-running Magic Legend (126lb) at the top of the stretch, Jolly Banner loomed as the prime threat – closing in a wide alley, bearing down with purpose to join Zac Purton’s mount at the 200m mark.

“When I drew alongside Winner’s Way, I was very confident because he pinned his ears back and I knew he would have a real dip,” Schofield continued.

The fresh-faced hoop punched the Ricky Yiu-trained gelding to the fore approaching the final half-furlong. And, with Winner’s Way tiring under an impost 9lb heavier than his rival, Jolly Banner forged on for a three-quarter-length win at odds of 5.3. Top-weight Horse Of Fortune (133lb) closed for third, a half-length behind Winner’s Way.

“The plan today was to ride Jolly Banner a touch more patiently,” Schofield revealed, having berthed the son of Lonhro mid-pack in the eight-runner field, one spot off the fence. “He had a nice weight, and on the C course we thought the plan would give him a bit of a chance early and allow him to finish off, and he did.”

Schofield believes the consistent six-year-old could still enhance his Hong Kong record, which now reads five wins from 16 starts – and perhaps in pattern grade, too.

“He thrives when he’s fresh and he was pretty much on song today – he felt spot-on,” the rider said. “If Ricky can keep him fresh, there’s no reason why he can’t go into a Group race (handicap) with a light weight and be competitive.”

And Schofield, with two wins now on the board for this campaign, was delighted to bag a prominent feature so early in the term.

“In Hong Kong, even the Class 5s are hard to win, so to win a feature, a Class 1, is very satisfying,” he said. “And especially with this horse: he has a lovely bunch of owners and I’ve had a lot of success on him so long may it continue.”

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Pingwu Spark (128lb) fulfilled the promise of a recent barrier trial to land the Class 3 Chaozhou Handicap (1200m) under a delighted Derek Leung. The grinning rider gave a fist pump for the cameras upon returning to the winner’s circle, after the strapping grey – returned the 2.2 favourite – had broken his Hong Kong maiden at start two.

“He did it all exactly as I wanted him to,” Leung said. “It took him a little while to pick-up and quicken, so I think it may be time to step up to 1400 metres. But he showed again that he’s a very honest horse with a big stride. I like him!”

The Mastercraftsman five-year-old, one from two in New Zealand pre-import, stalked the lead and then stretched his ample frame down the Sha Tin straight to overhaul runner-up Mythical Emperor (122lb). Once in front, Benno Yung’s charge eased to a two-length verdict.

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Karis Teetan is enjoying a sharp start to the new campaign. The Mauritian ace took his tally to five wins to consolidate second spot on the early leaderboard after a treble today.

“It’s going well and I appreciate the support I’m getting,” Teetan said. “It’s my fifth year here and I’m really enjoying it but there’s still a long way to go this season.”

The rider snared a race-to-race double when the Me Tsui-trained Telecom Boom took the fourth and Morethanlucky the fifth, the latter providing first-season trainer Frankie Lor with the second leg of a double.

Teetan wrapped up his three-timer when the David Ferraris-trained Amazing Agility, a 6.7 chance, arrowed late to snag race eight, the Class 3 Guangzhou Handicap (1600m).

“Amazing Agility’s a nice little horse and ran a very good third last time,” Teetan said. “I had a better gate (five), so I didn’t have to drag him all the way back; he had a nice position turning for home and he was following some decent horses. They pulled him through and he gave me a nice kick.”

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Champion jockey Joao Moreira matched Teetan’s treble. The Brazilian won the opening two contests, steering the Michael Chang-trained Super Euro Star to win the first, the Class 4 Maoming Handicap (1200m), and then following up with Seven Luck, for the Lor stable, in the next, the Class 5 Zhaoqing Handicap (1000m).

Moreira rounded off the afternoon with a driving victory in the last, the Class 3 Dongguan Handicap (1200m, dirt) atop the Tsui-trained Dragon General. The handler leads the trainers’ table after three meetings with five wins.

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Apprentice Matthew Poon delivered Hit A Home Run with a late dip to win the third, the Class 4 Zhanjiang Handicap (1600m). That was a first win of the term for the rider’s boss, trainer David Hall.

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Old allies Zac Purton and Paul O’Sullivan joined forces with Amazing Moment to win the sixth, the Class 4 Shantou Handicap (1200m, dirt).

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