It’s a moment he’s waited decades for and long-time horse owner Colin Lo Chor-cheong hopes Bundle Award can send him to “dreamland” with victory in this Sunday’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m).
Just having a runner in the race every Hong Kong owner covets has Lo buzzing, but you can sense he’s quietly confident his four-year-old has what it takes to become a Derby hero after he flashed to victory over 1,800m last start.
“It’s been 30 years of being a horse owner, so it’s amazing to have a Derby runner for the first time,” said Lo.
“Every season, only 14 owners can get into this race. If you can win, for sure you will be in a dreamland.
Bundle Award punches his 2025 @BMW Hong Kong Derby ticket! 🔥@BenThompson2102 gets John Size's galloper home from the back of the field for a first Class 2 win at Sha Tin... #HKracing pic.twitter.com/erpfaq3dNP
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 9, 2025
“He’s got a tremendous turn of foot, he showed everybody that in the last race, so we’re all very excited. Hopefully he can step up a bit on Sunday.”
Whatever happens, Lo knows the feeling of watching the latest of his “Bundle” horses carrying his pink and green silks in the city’s most prestigious race will be special.
“Nearly 20 years ago, I got a PP special permit with David Hall and his name was Bundle O’ Gold in Australia,” said Lo.
“After that, my kids were so young – six or seven years old – and they just kept on saying Bundle, Bundle, Bundle. So I said ‘OK, that’s it’ and we kept going with the Bundles.”
Jockey Ben Thompson, trainer John Size (centre) and owner Colin Lo enjoy Bundle Award’s recent victory.
Bundle Award will have a mix of experience and youthful exuberance in his corner when he steps out at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon.
Sourced by leading bloodstock agent David Price and prepared by 12-time champion trainer John Size, Bundle Award will be ridden by 27-year-old Australian jockey Ben Thompson, who lines up in his first Derby.
“Without Benny, we’re not here. He will be the perfect partner for him. The team has done a really good job – you can’t ask for more,” said Lo.
Thompson partnered Bundle Award on his Hong Kong debut and then jumped back aboard for the last-start win that springboarded the Shamus Award gelding into the Derby field.
“It’s an amazing opportunity and I’m very grateful to his owner, Colin Lo, and John Size for the opportunity,” said Thompson.
Bundle Award rockets to victory at Sha Tin earlier this month.
“To pick up the ride on him last time after riding him in his first start here, he was a horse that I was very, very hopeful of getting back on and to do that and to win and be in Hong Kong’s biggest race is a huge thrill.
“He was fantastic last time and it came as no surprise, given his credentials before landing in Hong Kong, his win two starts prior and runs behind some nice horses in each of his five runs here. There were plenty of merit to all of those performances.”
While Lo will be focused on only one horse throughout the Derby, Size has the unenviable task of trying to please three groups of owners.
They’re not just any old owners, either, with the 70-year-old also sending around Mickley for the Siu family and Beauty Alliance for the Kwoks.
But while there is no doubt some expectation that comes with training for two of the city’s biggest owners, Lo certainly won’t be adding to the pressure.
“I’m excited but I don’t say ‘John, you need to win for me’. That’s not horse racing. I’ve just wanted him to have a good prep and he’s gone 1,400m, 1,600m, 1800m and now 2,000m. We will see how he can go,” he said.
