HK: BRAVE LEGEND LAND FIRST BLOW IN HONG KONG AIRLINES MILLION CHALLENGE SERIES

By Hong Kong Jockey Club (David Morgan) | Wednesday, September 6, 2017

The Hong Kong Airlines Million Challenge enjoyed a smooth lift off at Happy Valley’s first fixture of the season tonight, Wednesday, 6 September, and it was 31/1 longshot Brave Legend that snared the series’ first win points in the Community Chest Cup Handicap (1200m).

Matthew Chadwick was the man in the plate, driving the Benno Yung-trained four-year-old wide down the home run for a rattling two and a quarter-length victory in the Class 3 trophy race, and collecting 15 points in the series. It was the former champion apprentice’s first win since 26 April.

“It’s been rough with injuries, the last three seasons have been rough: I think if you add up all my injuries in that time it might even add up to a full season,” Chadwick surmised.

The most recent setback, a right-foot stress fracture, had kept him out of action from late April until his return to the fray in Singapore recently. That short summer stint helped brush away any rustiness.

“It’s great to get one early,” he said after sealing the season’s 16th contest. “It’s especially nice to get one for Benno, he’s supported me a bit with rides here and there and I’ve been trying to get in there and work a bit harder with him at the stables.”

The win was Brave Legend’s first at start three in Hong Kong, the promising Choisir gelding having notched a brace in New Zealand pre-import.

“He did it nicely in the end,” Chadwick said after the bay had stopped the clock at 1m 10.26s. “He was very green; I hoped he would jump a bit sharper than he did, he just didn’t travel too well early on. He swung a bit wider than I wanted on the home turn but I let him be and he was happy enough. Today he’s won on ability, so we’ll see how he goes on. I’d hope he’s got more improvement.”

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A crowd of 20,620 packed the vibrant racecourse, a 13-year high for a first meeting of the season at Happy Valley. And, with the start of the Hong Kong Airlines Million Challenge adding an element of excitement to the evening’s atmosphere, the meeting’s turnover reached a new high of HK$1.103 billion.

The Hong Kong Airlines Million Challenge rewards points to the first four finishers in all races of Class 3 standard and higher at the city track and runs until 21 February. The owner of the horse with the highest points at the end of the series wins the lion’s share of a HK$1 million pot.

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Convincible justified 2.7 favouritism in the finale, the Class 2 Yau Oi Handicap (1200m), and snagged 15 series points, too. That was enough to convince jockey Karis Teetan that the gelding's win streak might not be over: Francis Lui's charge sealed a hat-trick, having closed out last season with two wins on the bounce.

"He does everything right, he puts everything in and he's got a bit of turbo, so I expect him to continue going forward," Teetan said.

"He's taken time to adapt and build confidence, he's a big horse and it's taken a bit of time to get his momentum going. He's been improving a lot and I think Francis did the right thing giving him a rest after his last run in June – he'd done a lot and he's come back even better."

That win completed a double for rider and trainer, Teetan having landed the fourth, the Class 4 Oi Man Handicap (1000m), on the David Ferraris-trained Dr Race. Lui took the fifth with Fox Sunter.

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Champion jockey Joao Moreira was atop Fox Sunter in the Class 4 Sheung Tak Handicap (1200m) but the "Magic Man" had to get busy on the hot 1.8 favourite, driving hard to hold on for a neck verdict.

The Brazilian ace enjoyed an easier ride when Thunder Stomp scooted clear for a three lengths win in the seventh, the Class 3 Shun Lee Handicap (1650m). That ensured Me Tsui's charge was another that took a maximum 15 points in the Hong Kong Airlines Million Challenge.

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Chris So pulled off an uncommon double when feather-weighted Catchmeifyoucan (109lb) won Happy Valley's opening contest, three days after stable mate Top Beautiful carried off Sha Tin's first race of the 2017/18 season.

"There was no plan to win both races other than we went into both knowing the horses were fit enough and hoping we'd have some luck," So said.

"If they come good, I'll push, and if they're not ready we'll be patient – that's my style – and this horse and the horse at Sha Tin on Sunday were both ready to go."

Catchmeifyoucan, a 5.9 chance, showed little in nine races last season, his best previous effort being his last, a five-length seventh to Rewarding Flyer over 1400m at Sha Tin in June. That put him into tonight's opener, the Class 5 Cheung Hong Handicap (1200m), on an official mark of 23, fully 29 points lower than his debut last November. And, with gun apprentice Matthew Poon claiming a further 7lb, the gelding's stars aligned: Catchmeifyoucan kicked to the front in the home stretch and held runner-up Great Toplight (131lb) by a short-head.

"The horse is fit and healthy, and Matthew did a good job there from a decent draw (gate 6)," So said.

"Catchmeifyoucan is limited, every time last season when I thought he had a chance, he was no good; but his last run last season was okay. This year, I said to the owner, maybe being a year older and stronger he might be better. He's dropped in the ratings and he's fit, he's feeling good but he's limited, he's never shown us anything special, so time will tell."

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Trainer Ricky Yiu and jockey Sam Clipperton opened their accounts for the term when teaming with 14/1 shot Bo Duke to win the night's second race, the Class 4 Hing Man Handicap (1650m).

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Trainer Caspar Fownes and jockey Zac Purton got off the mark for the campaign when Speedy Wally defied top-weight of 133lb to win the Class 5 Hung Fuk Handicap (1650m).

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