Caspar Fownes

Jockey Vincent Ho made history Wednesday night at iconic Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island, becoming the first 'homegrown' rider to take out the prestigious Longines International Jockeys' Championship. With a narrow victory over Zac Purton in the fourth and final leg of the series, Ho amassed a total of 20 points to Purton's 18, with Australia's Rachel King and the locally based South African Lyle Hewitson on 16 points. King was declared outright third, with her victory in the first leg of the competition and an additional third-place...

The Longines International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) is the premier event of its kind in the world, and with good reason, as it brings together 12 of the most-accomplished riders from all corners of the globe vying for the winner's share of the HK$800,000 (£81,120/$102,320) prizemoney on offer. The IJC, the true start of Longines Hong Kong International Races festivities, takes place annually at iconic Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island, its tight turns and unique configuration offering up additional challenges, especially for jockeys based outside of Hong Kong. Britain's...

Trident (Fr) Wootton Bassett {GB}), runner-up in the G1 Prix Morny for Andre Fabre and the Coolmore partners, has been sold to continue his career in Hong Kong. Bloodstock agent Jamie Piggott, who brokered the deal, told TDN, "We bought him for a seven-figure sum for Mr Ho and he will go to Caspar Fownes. Coolmore were brilliant to deal with. The horse is now in Newmarket and starts his quarantine on 10 February." Bred by trainer David Smaga and Marie-Benedicte Fougy, Trident was a €140,000 yearling at the Arqana...

by Alan Carasso Any time you hand the car keys to Joao Moreira, you have a fair bit of confidence that good things are to come. Still, entering Sunday's HK$24-million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin, there were questions aplenty as to whether Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), the race's highest-rated galloper, would see out the trip, having underperformed in the two lead-up events. But, one race after bringing up his 100th winner for the season, the 'Magic Man' put a brilliant steer on the Kiwi-bred and...

After finishing a barnstorming second from gate 11 in a slowly run renewal of the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) four weeks back, last year's G3 Hampton Court S. scorer Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was assigned barrier five as post positions were drawn Thursday for the HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse. The former Aidan O'Brien galloper was no factor and well beaten in his first two local appearances, including a ninth to the upset-minded Excellent Proposal (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in...

Barree Stable's Singapore-based Inferno (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) has been scratched from Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin after being found to be lame in his left front leg by Hong Kong Jockey Club veterinarians Tuesday. Very little went as planned for Inferno on his trip over to Hong Kong. The air conditioning in the horse float that transported Inferno from Kranji Racecourse to Changi Airport about 30 minutes away broke down and the horse was subjected to the heat for three hours. He then had...

Matthew Schera's Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}--Humble And Proud {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}), who won the 2018 GI Sword Dancer S. a handful of races removed from a victory in a Saratoga $50,000 claimer, has been retired from racing, according to trainer James F. 'Chuck' Lawrence II. The 9-year-old gelding left the Fair Hill Training Center early last month for a farm owned by Lawrence's mother in Marshall, Va., about an hour and a half west of Laurel Park. "He seems quite happy with his new lifestyle," Lawrence...