A foot issue in March may have saved New Asia Sunrise’s career, his trainer revealed after the three-year-old appreciated a rise in class and a drop in weight to get back in the winner’s circle. “He is small but has a big heart. It’s a blessing we found the hoof problem and stopped his training or it would have got worse and he might be finished,” said Tsui after Chad Schofield had guided the nuggety chestnut to victory at his first run since February. Schofield said the break had not concerned him pre-race as New Asa Sunrise wasn’t a horse that needed a lot of work. “He’s only a small, light sort of horse and he wouldn’t be hard to get fit,” the jockey said. “Me asked me to ride the horse a while ago knowing this race was the plan. He said the horse was struggling with the big weights in Class Three so they planned to go up a grade and run with the lighter handicap.” Alan Aitken
Cards fall the way of Ricky Yiu’s Red Kylin, at long last
It took a drop in class and a mishap at the gates for Red Kylin to win his first race in Hong Kong but that doesn’t mean the return to Class Three is a cause for pessimism. Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Red Kylin (Karis Teetan) had run a number of good race in Class Three on the way down and might have won in that grade but for bad luck with draws or biases at different times. “I knew he would win as soon as he got to Class Four but he’s going to be competitive in Three because he already has been,” said his rider. “But it helped us today when Dancing Flames was left at the start in the barrier next to me - not only because he was one of the favourites, so it was one less to beat, but also because it was one less horse I had to cross to get towards the outside rail. I was able to cruise over instead of working that extra bit harder.” Alan Aitken
Kei Chiong-Tony Millard combination continues to blossom with remarkable strike rate
Star apprentice Kei Chiong Ka-kei has certainly struck a chord with the Tony Millard stable, but in particular Gallant Rock, as the one-time speedy squib continued his scintillating form with a third consecutive straight track win. Chiong has been aboard for Gallant Rock’s hat trick of victories, which have formed part of a fruitful partnership with Millard, the pair combining for six wins from just 13 starts. Millard suggested Chiong was well suited on straightforward on-pace types and that it made for a good fit with his yard. “Certain types of horses she is good on, and I happen to have a lot of those types of horses,” Millard said after Gallant Rock’s fourth win for the term.”I can’t complain, Kei has done a great job for me. She wins a lot of short head results, and that is always a good sign for a rider, I like that in a jockey. It means they have some fighting spirit.” Michael Cox
